USA Today's Sudoku
Reimagining a daily puzzle as a calm, distraction-free extension of the USA TODAY Crossword experience.
- Role
- Product Designer
- Timeline
- Mar — May 2023 · 10 weeks
- Year
- 2023
- Tools
- Figma · UserTesting.com
OVERVIEW
An extension of the USA TODAY Crossword platform, the Sudoku experience was reimagined as a pared-down daily puzzle built around a calm timer, a reading-room aesthetic, and a distraction-free solving experience.
CHALLENGE
How might we transform a third-party Sudoku app into a seamless extension of the USA TODAY Crossword experience while addressing key user frustrations and improving overall usability?
USER RESEARCH
We asked players what was working—and what wasn't.
- 01
Surveyed 16 daily puzzle players on what they actually value.
- 02
Studied digital and print puzzle layouts from top competitors for visual rhythm.
- 03
Conducted usability testing on current interface and created a prioritized backlog of bugs, errors, and aesthetic improvements.
INSIGHTS
Experienced Players
73% of users had been playing Sudoku for years, but many were new to USA TODAY's version
Platform-Agnostic
Players switched freely between apps, websites, and books — 73% used multiple platforms
Minimal Setup
86% checked difficulty before playing; most didn't change settings, valuing simplicity
High Satisfaction
53% said they wouldn't change anything — the UI was "good enough" for casual play
DESIGN PROCESS
Main Play Flow
Mapped the end-to-end solve loop — from difficulty selection to a completed board — to surface friction points and decision moments where the interface needed to disappear.
Timer Start / Stop
Diagrammed how the timer pauses and resumes around interruptions so the ritual of solving is never punished by real life.
Hints & Notes
Drafted the optional assistance path — pencil notes and hint requests — as a side branch that never blocks the primary solve flow.
FINAL SOLUTION
A Seamless Sudoku Experience, Reimagined for the USA TODAY Crossword Brand.
Play the Desktop Prototype
CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
Supporting marketing visuals and campaign assets created to promote the Sudoku experience across channels.
08 · Impact & Results
Play options
Expanded
Usability issues
Alleviated
Engagement boost
+15%
09 · REFLECTION
"Fix what's broken. Don't reinvent the wheel."
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