LAIC 2025

The project did not start from a dedicated LAIC website. The available reference was closer to a flat content source from a previous International Championships event. The information existed, but it was not organized as a web experience for this edition.

Before visual design, the content needed structure. There were no clear internal pages for each need, no dedicated structure for competitor categories and no event-specific web system applying the visual identity for this LAIC edition.

Karma Beam provided the event content, Pokémon event references and a basic seasonal identity guide. The guide defined the general visual direction, typography, character usage and supporting materials, but extending that system into a complete website experience was part of my work.

The main challenge was organizing a large amount of event information without making the site feel heavy. Each audience needed different information:

• Competitors: rules, formats, registration guidance, prizes and tournament details
• Spectators: activities, side events, broadcast information and access details
• Staff: a quick reference during the event

Discovery was practical and tied to the project materials. I reviewed:

• Reference content
• The seasonal identity guide
• Official Pokémon event references
• The information Karma Beam needed to publish for LAIC

My understanding of the Pokémon competitive scene helped during discovery. I was already familiar with the games, the community, the tournament formats and the type of questions competitors usually need answered before an event. Combined with Karma Beam's content and feedback, this helped me organize the site around real information needs without framing the project as a formal research engagement.

The main insight was that different users needed different paths. Competitors would likely arrive with specific questions about their category, rules, requirements, registration steps and prizes. Spectators needed to understand activities, side events, broadcast information and access. Staff needed a public reference point for common event questions.

This shaped the early structure. Instead of treating the site as one long information page, I separated the content into clearer paths based on user intent.

The first major decision was the sitemap. The reference content was not structured as a dedicated website, so I started by defining the main navigation and internal page structure. This was presented early to the team and became the foundation for the rest of the project.

The navigation separated the site into four main areas:

• About: badge pickup, accessibility and accommodations, FAQ and key event policies
• Competitor Info: Pokémon VGC, Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO and Pokémon UNITE
• Fan Experience: activities, side events and broadcast information
• Registration: competitor registration and spectator registration guidance

This structure made the site easier to scale. Once the main content groups were clear, I could define page patterns instead of designing every screen as an isolated layout.

The strategy focused on a few key decisions:

• Use the Home page as a summary hub for registration, competition formats, fan experience, schedule, venue information and venue map.
• Give Competitor Info pages a shared structure so each category could have specific content while keeping the reading pattern familiar.
• Treat Side Events as an exploration component instead of a static list.

Side Events required a different approach. Added during a second content wave, it contained many activities across categories and days. A static list would have forced users to scan too much information manually, so I designed and developed it as an exploration component with keyword search, category filters, day-based tabs and multiple view modes.

After defining the sitemap, I created low-fidelity wireframes with real content. I avoided lorem ipsum because the content itself was part of the UX problem. The team needed to review not only layout direction, but whether the information was ordered clearly.

Once the structure was approved, I moved into visual design. I used the seasonal identity guide as a starting point and extended it into a complete web interface: layouts, sections, cards, buttons, navigation patterns, content blocks, states and interaction behavior.

The visual direction needed to feel connected to official Pokémon event materials, which often reference games, cards and physical event graphics. At the same time, content-heavy sections needed restraint. Competitor pages prioritize headings, modular blocks, lists and predictable spacing so users can scan information quickly.

The final prototype was designed in Figma. I later refined interaction details in code until they felt natural.

The site was built in Astro using TypeScript, JavaScript, Stylus/CSS and GSAP for motion. Content was managed through JSON files, making it easier to keep English, Spanish and Portuguese versions aligned while allowing each language to have its own content.

The project also had phased releases:

• Wave 1: main event information, Home, About, Competitor Info, Registration base and general site structure
• Wave 2: Broadcast, Side Events and additional registration date blocks

Accessibility-related decisions included:

• Reduce Motion, consistent with Pokémon event sites
• Dark Mode, proposed as an additional reading preference for a content-heavy experience
• Contrast checks across colors, backgrounds, cards, text, states and illustration patterns

During implementation, I reviewed contrast and motion behavior with accessibility tools. This was a practical accessibility check.

The site launched in September 2025 and was used during the event in November. Before launch, the site went through QA and content review with Karma Beam. This included:

• Checking content directly in the website
• Reviewing language versions
• Adjusting notices, dates and event information
• Making minor content updates before release

The result was a dedicated multilingual website for LAIC 2025 that gave competitors, spectators and staff a clearer way to access event information.

Competitors could review category-specific information, rules, requirements, registration guidance and prizes. Spectators could explore activities, side events, broadcast information and registration details. Staff had a public reference point for answering common event questions.

The project did not include public performance metrics, so the outcome is best described qualitatively: the site was launched, used during the event and well received by the Karma Beam team. The collaboration continued into the following edition.