"Sure, you guys can redesign planningpoker.com. I'll even give you the URL as long as you keep a free version."
- Mike Cohn, Mountain Goat Software
Biz/Org
352 Inc. and Mountain Goat Software
Year
2015
Agile Software Development
Gamification UX
Product Overview
PlanningPoker.com is a widely used agile estimation tool. I led a full redesign and rebuild, modernizing its experience while preserving core user flows.
Rebuilt the platform from legacy PHP into modern JavaScript and APIs.
Introduced card customization, team invites, and moderator controls.
Designed for speed, clarity, and ease-of-use under live team pressure.
Partnered with Mountain Goat Software to honor the tool’s legacy.
Enabled usage across distributed and hybrid teams.
Product Goals
How might we support consistent estimation rituals for teams in every format?
PlanningPoker was deeply embedded in agile rituals, but its dated experience held teams back. We aimed to evolve the product while keeping it instantly familiar.
Make it easier to onboard and run effective sessions.
Support remote teams without losing energy.
Allow flexible estimation styles and point scales.
Preserve reliability at scale with thousands of daily users.
Challenges
No initial funding - it was actually a hackathon project!
Customers had strong expectations and vocal feedback.
Legacy tech made redesign risky and complex.
Needed to migrate existing users seamlessly.
Solutions
Conducted user testing with agile coaches and remote teams.
Rebuilt backend for scalability and future flexibility.
Delivered roadmap-based updates in weekly sprints.
Added usage analytics to guide improvements.
Outcome & Impact
Thousands of teams adopted the new platform post-launch.
Supported distributed planning across global teams.
Maintained brand trust while modernizing UX.
Built product-led growth into a formerly static experience.
