Hwatu (aka Go-Stop) is a fast-paced Korean card game that’s rich in tradition — but its scorekeeping often slows players down, especially beginners. To reduce the friction and make the game more accessible, I designed a mobile-first scorekeeper that blends intuitive UI, cultural inspiration, and playful visual design.
Highlights
Leveraged AI to quickly explore features and screen layouts
Designed a clean, intuitive interface focused on clarity and ease
Built a reusable design system to support consistency — and open doors for future expansion (e.g., mobile game or physical version)
The Challenge
The game is fun, but scoring is complex and the learning curve is high
While the gameplay itself is simple (just match cards and score points), the scoring rules can be confusing, especially for first-time players.
I wanted to remove that friction and make it easier for anyone to jump in and enjoy.
The Vision
Create an app to help players easily calculate scores after playing game matches
I set out to design a mobile app that automates scorekeeping, so players can enjoy the game without worrying about rules and math.
My goal was to make scoring feel as effortless as the gameplay — clear, fast, and frustration-free.
Planning
To move quickly and stay focused on craft, I used AI to explore and organize early features and layout structures.
Design
I designed a clean, approachable interface and built a reusable mini design system to ensure consistency across the app.
Design Intent
Users needed I focused on clarity, approachability, and emotional warmth — drawing inspiration from the physical cards and game night traditions.
Visual hierarchy, icon style, and layout spacing were crafted to reduce overwhelm and keep attention on what matters.
Design
Onboarding
I crafted the onboarding experience to offer a calm and inviting entry point, featuring a subtle animated logo and quick access to key actions. The design emphasizes clear separation of core features, using a traditional red palette paired with minimalist neutrals — creating a modern, yet culturally grounded visual identity.
Game Setup
The multi-step setup flow was designed for clarity and ease, guiding users through player entry, rules configuration, and point customization. With a focus on customization and usability, the interface reduces friction and supports quick game starts, even in live-play environments.
Game Status & Scorekeeper
This is how the app handles the core game loop — managing rounds, tracking scores, and providing a smooth experience for ongoing sessions and ensuring users can manage multi-round games with ease.
Design System
I'm creating structured design system composed of reusable UI components and foundational styles to ensure visual consistency and scalability.
Hwatu Scorekeeper
Designed a mobile app to help users easily track game scores, and built a design system to ensure a consistent user experience
Project Type
Personal Project
Timeline
2025
Tool
Figma
Background
The game is fun, but scoring is complex and the learning curve is high
Hwatu, also known as GoStop, is a traditional Korean card game—often compared to Korean poker. The goal is simple: match cards and score as high as possible. While I enjoy playing the game, I’ve found that the steep learning curve and complicated scoring rules make it hard for new players to get started—especially those unfamiliar with the game.
Product Vision
Create an app to help players easily calculate scores after playing game matches
To make the game more user-friendly, I decided to design a mobile app that automates score tracking, replacing the need for manual calculations to make the game more user-friendly.
To move faster, I used AI tools to plan key features and screen layouts early on. I also created a simple, reusable design system to keep the experience consistent—and to support future ideas like a full digital version of the game.
Building a Design System for a Mobile App – Hwatu Scorekeeper
Feb '25 - Mar '25 • Personal project
context
Hwatu, also known as GoStop, is a traditional Korean card game—often compared to Korean poker. The game’s goal is simple: match cards and score high to win. However, keeping track of scores can be challenging, especially for those unfamiliar with the game. I designed this app to help users easily calculate scores after playing game matches.
Project summary
Project vision
As much as I enjoyed playing this game, I initially considered creating a physical card game version. However, I soon realized that the high learning curve and complex scoring system made it difficult for many players—especially non-Koreans. To make the game more accessible and user-friendly, I first decided to design a mobile app that automates score calculation.
Strategy
To speed up development, I leveraged AI-powered tools for early product planning. This helped me efficiently define key features and screen structures.
To ensure a consistent user experience, I focused on developing a scalable design system that could be used for the app—and potentially for larger projects in the future, including a full digital game version.
