Mug Clubs
Creative Director of App & UX/UI Design, Lead Designer
Mug Clubs was an innovative bar loyalty app designed to unify individual bar “mug clubs” under one central platform, allowing customers to track beers, earn rewards, and explore new bars. At the time, no other company had created a universal system that could be used across multiple locations. The founder needed a strong brand identity to differentiate Mug Clubs from other bar loyalty programs, compelling marketing materials to pitch the idea to bar owners, and a fully designed app that was both user-friendly and visually appealing.
Client:
Mug Clubs
Agency:
Ruckus
My Role:
Creative Director
Creative Director of App & UX/UI Design
Lead Designer
My Role
I led the branding, and visual design, working closely with the founder and development team to bring the UX/UI strategy and concept to life. Beyond leading these initiatives, I was hands-on throughout the entire creative process, ensuring the app was both visually appealing and functionally seamless. My contributions included:
Designing the logo and establishing the visual identity
Collaborating on the sitemap and user flow to create an intuitive experience
Developing marketing materials to promote the platform
Designing a modern, clean UI that appealed to both bar owners and customers
The Challenge
Mug Clubs was entering an untapped market. While many bars had their own individual mug clubs, no company had created a single, centralized platform for customers to track their beers and earn rewards across multiple locations. The app needed to be:
Simple and fun for users, with a gamified experience
Seamlessly functional with an intuitive interface for all
Easy to manage for bar owners with minimal effort
Visually polished to stand out from competitors and gain credibility
The Solution
To create a seamless and engaging UX/UI, we implemented:
A guided onboarding tutorial to help users quickly set up their accounts
A searchable database of participating bars
Features for customers to log and rate beers, build beer lists, and track rewards
A straightforward management system for bar owners to update beer lists and track customer engagement
A clean, modern design that balanced fun and professionalism
The Results & Accomplishments
Strong brand launch with a recognizable identity that resonated with both bar owners and customers
High industry interest, as bar owners saw value in a universal loyalty platform
Gamified rewards system that increased customer engagement and drove foot traffic to participating bars
First-of-its-kind digital loyalty solution, modernizing an industry that relied on paper-based tracking
Demonstrated success in strategic UX, branding, and design execution, despite the app being live for a limited time
Mug Clubs remains a standout example of innovation, problem-solving, and creative execution, proving how smart UX and strong branding can transform an industry.
