Ryan Cheng

Work
About

Creator Monetization Platform

Marketplace, Content Creation

Overview

Creators often rely on fragmented tools — subscriptions on one platform, paid content on another, livestreaming elsewhere — making sustainable fan revenue difficult.

This early-stage creator monetization platform unifies creator monetization into a single cross-platform ecosystem spanning subscriptions, paid content, livestreams, and direct interactions.

I led end-to-end product design across iOS and web for both creator and fan experiences.

Role

Lead Product Designer

Scope

iOS, Mobile & Desktop Web

Stage

0 to 1 Product

Focus

Creator Monetization & Marketplace

The Problem

Most creator platforms optimize for reach and advertising rather than direct fan monetization.

Creators struggle with:

  • Scattered monetization tools

  • Fragmented fan relationships

  • Inconsistent revenue streams

Fans experience:

  • Multiple purchase flows

  • Unclear access states

  • Device-dependent experiences

The Solution

I designed a unified monetization system integrating:

  • Subscriptions

  • Paid photos & videos

  • Ticked livestreams

  • 1:1 video calls

  • Messaging access

Creators manage revenue in one place.

Fans access content consistently across devices.

My Role

Lead product designer responsible for:

  • Product architecture and feature scope

  • Creator and fan journeys

  • Cross -platform UX patterns

  • Monetization and lifecycle flows

  • Design system and components

  • Founder and engineering collaboration

Cross-Platform Strategy

The app supports different usage contexts:

  • iOS: Primary fan consumption and purchase

  • Mobile web: acquisition and lightweight access

  • Desktop web: creator management

I defined shared interaction models so monetization concepts and access states remained consistent across platforms.

Monetization Architecture

I structured the platform around four revenue pillars:

  1. Subscription access

  1. Paid content library

  1. Live experiences

  1. Direct interactions

Each channel functions independently while sharing pricing, access, and lifecycle states.

Key Experience: Paid Content

Creators upload media with price or subscriber access.

Creators experience supports:

  • Choose their own prices

  • Making content subscriber-exclusive

  • Uploading previews / trailers

  • Attaching products to advertise

Fans experience supports:

  • Preview browsing

  • Paid / Exclusive / Locked states

  • Purchase flow

  • Library access

Key Experience: Live sessions

Creators schedule paid or subscriber-included "live sessions."

Fan lifecycle:

  • Discovery

  • Purchase / RSVP

  • Pre-live reminders

  • Live viewing

  • Replay

Key Experience: Video Calls & Messaging

Creators offer 1:1 video calls and direct messaging for deeper fan connection.

Design focused on:

  • Availability visibility

  • Booking clarity

  • Session lifecycle

  • Creator consistency

Design System

I built a scalable cross-platform system including:

  • Monetization state components

  • Media cards

  • Pricing modules

  • Access badges

  • Interaction CTAs

  • Core UI elements

Components are responsive across iOS and web.

Components are responsive across iOS and web.

Outcomes

This app launched with a complete cross-platform monetization suite:

  • Subscriptions

  • Paid media

  • Livestreams

  • Direct interactions

The platform established a unified foundation for creators to manage fan relationships and revenue streams.

Reflection

Designing this app required me to integrate a variety of marketplace features, monetization UX, and live interaction systems into a cohesive digital product across multiple platforms. The design system I built for this project is also the most comprehensive I've built so far, which has proven to be strong system to rely on that scales well and increases design efficiency.