Advanced Creation Mode
Role: Lead Designer
Company: Rec Room
Timeline: 4 Months
Team: 8 Engineers + Me
Key Outcomes:
Increased creation efficiency by 66% by reducing excessive menu interactions from 75% to 25%
Improved internal dev velocity by 30%, cutting project timelines from 6 to 4 months
Defined new Creator Segmentation, now used company-wide to prioritize creator-focused features
Introduced an in-app Creator Feedback Survey, now the primary feedback channel across all Rec Room features
I led strategy and product design for Advanced Creation Mode, a PC-based toolset in the social VR platform Rec Room, delivering a 150% improvement in creation efficiency while validating a broader strategy for power creator workflows.
Context & Challenge
75% of user engagement was in first-party rooms, revealing a content supply imbalance.
Internal teams faced 6–9 month timelines per project, creating dev bottlenecks and engagement gaps.
The Creator org lacked a cohesive strategy, relying on anecdotal Discord feedback over structured insight.
Creator tools were built for VR, but ported to desktop with a first-person shooter interface that didn’t meet the needs of advanced PC creators.
Methodology & Insight Development
Ecosystem Mapping:
Developed a creator segmentation model to clarify audience needs. This framework became the basis for org-wide feature prioritization.Creator Research:
Ran 4 waves of monthly in-app surveys and follow-up interviews with internal and external creators. These uncovered workflow pain points and platform mismatches — especially on PC.Data Analysis:
Identified that 75% of creation actions occurred in menus, revealing major UX inefficiencies.
Core Insight: Tailor UX to platform strengths, starting with PC-first workflows for internal teams.
Strategic Vision
Rec Room’s PC creation tools were originally built for VR and awkwardly adapted for desktop, leading to major friction for advanced creators. (Video example included)
I defined a strategy to modernize creator tools across platforms:
Vision:
Deliver platform native creation experiences that scale with creator skill.Initial Focus:
Start with PC workflows, where inefficiencies were most acute, to validate the strategy with internal teams.Principles:
Tailored UX – Design natively, not ported
Efficiency – Minimize friction, maximize flow
Scalability – Serve both internal and community creators
Proof of Concept:
Advanced Creation Mode was built for first-party content teams on PC, serving as the first real-world test of this strategy.
Inclusive Ideation
Led 20 ideation sessions across disciplines
Engaged over 25% of the company in the brainstorming process (Post-it session image included)
Captured and themed ideas collaboratively
Used a filter matrix to prioritize based on user value and feasibility (Matrix image included)
High Velocity Development
Partnered with 8 engineers to build directly in-engine
Delivered over 40 features without relying on formal Figma flows
Prioritized real-time collaboration and iteration over documentation
Maintained alignment with strategic goals while executing at speed
Smart connector for Rec Room’s visual scripting system, enabling faster, context-aware logic setup.
Always-on UI with drag-and-drop object placement.
2D panel for fast object selection and organization.
Clickable bar with keyboard shortcuts for quick access.
Improved cursor with fast, intuitive multi-object selection.
Delivery & Impact
Shipped Scope:
Delivered Advanced Creation Mode in 4 months, with 40+ features designed and implemented collaboratively.Adoption:
Achieved 100% adoption by internal content teams within two weeks of launch.Efficiency Gains:
Reduced menu interactions by 66%
Cut first-party project timelines from 6 to 4 months
Strategic Outcomes:
Validated the platform-native strategy for creator tools
Established creator segmentation as the org-wide framework for prioritization
Deployed the in-app survey tool, now standard for feature feedback across Rec Room