Emeka OkonkwoLounges.tv Live Streaming Platform
Designing a live streaming platform that helped creators monetise their audiences without losing the connection of performing live.
The Challenge
Lounges.tv set out to give creators a more direct way to monetise online performances through ticket sales, an 80% revenue share and fast payouts. But research with musicians, comedians, teachers and fitness instructors exposed a deeper problem. Many creators, particularly musicians, felt livestreaming could not recreate the atmosphere, audience feedback and shared energy of performing in person. The challenge became designing a paid online experience that felt participatory rather than like broadcasting into a camera, while still being reliable enough to support ticketed events across desktop and mobile.
The Solution
I worked across the product from research through to delivery, helping shift the proposition from conventional paid livestreaming towards a more participatory event experience. We explored audience walls, reactions and different forms of direct interaction, then worked with Engineering to balance emotional presence against bandwidth, moderation and live-performance complexity.
The final model combined visible applause and reactions, optional audience views and the ability for creators to bring selected viewers into the public stream. We prioritised this alongside the core event lifecycle of discovery, ticketing, streaming, replay and earnings, while delaying more technically risky ideas such as continuous audience video and unlimited broadcast customisation.
My Approach
- 1
Led creator research across musicians, comedians, teachers and fitness instructors, uncovering that the biggest barrier was not monetisation or video quality, but the loss of audience energy and interaction online.
- 2
Explored multiple approaches to audience presence, including conventional livestreaming, continuous audience video and a layered participation model, then evaluated them against creator focus, viewer participation, reliability and engineering scope.
- 3
Worked with the CEO, Design and Engineering to move away from a full audience-wall concept and towards visible reactions, optional audience views and creator-controlled participation that preserved connection without overwhelming performers.
- 4
Prioritised the MVP around a complete event lifecycle, from discovery and ticket purchase through to live participation, replay and earnings, while delaying higher-risk ideas such as unlimited layouts and continuous audience video.
- 5
Designed the experience across desktop and mobile, using testing and creator feedback to refine onboarding, discoverability, event publishing and the balance between audience participation and performer control.
Inside the Design
A closer look at how Lounges.tv evolved — from creator research about the loss of live audience energy to a participatory event experience spanning discovery, ticketing, streaming, replay and earnings.
