IA.md

brand	Kickstarter
tagline	Bring creative projects to life. The world's largest crowdfunding platform for creative work.
category	Crowdfunding
website	https://www.kickstarter.com

Kickstarter — Information Architecture

Overview

Kickstarter is the world's largest reward-based crowdfunding platform, specifically focused on creative projects. The mental model is all-or-nothing funding — creators set a funding goal and deadline; if the goal is met, pledges are collected and rewards fulfilled; if not, no money changes hands. Kickstarter differentiates through its strict all-or-nothing model (unlike Indiegogo's flexible funding), curated project review process (projects must be approved), creative-only focus (no charity, equity, or personal causes), community engagement (updates, comments, backer interaction), and cultural influence as the launchpad for iconic products (Pebble, Exploding Kittens, Oculus). The platform takes a 5% fee on funded projects.

Site Map

Backer Side

├── Discover (Home)
│   ├── Search Bar
│   ├── Featured Project (hero, editor's pick)
│   ├── Recommended for You
│   ├── Trending Right Now
│   ├── Nearly Funded (close to goal)
│   ├── Just Launched (new projects)
│   ├── Projects We Love (staff picks)
│   ├── Categories (quick links)
│   └── "What We Do" explainer (first-time visitors)
├── Explore
│   ├── Category Browse
│   │   ├── Art
│   │   ├── Comics & Illustration
│   │   ├── Design & Tech
│   │   ├── Film
│   │   ├── Food & Craft
│   │   ├── Games (Tabletop Games, Video Games)
│   │   ├── Music
│   │   ├── Publishing
│   │   └── Each with Subcategories
│   ├── Filter: Location, Goal Amount, % Funded, "Projects We Love"
│   ├── Sort: Magic (algorithm), Popularity, Newest, End Date, Most Funded, Most Backed
│   ├── Ending Soon
│   └── Collections (curated themed lists)
├── Project Page (Core Experience)
│   ├── Project Header
│   │   ├── Video / Hero Image
│   │   ├── Project Title
│   │   ├── Creator (name, avatar, location)
│   │   ├── Category / Subcategory Badge
│   │   └── "Projects We Love" Badge (if selected)
│   ├── Funding Stats Bar
│   │   ├── Amount Pledged / Goal (progress bar)
│   │   ├── Number of Backers
│   │   ├── Days to Go (or "Funded!" / "Funding Unsuccessful")
│   │   └── % Funded
│   ├── Pledge Button (green "Back this project" CTA)
│   ├── Tabs
│   │   ├── Campaign
│   │   │   ├── Story (rich text, images, GIFs)
│   │   │   ├── Risks and Challenges (required section)
│   │   │   └── Environmental Commitments
│   │   ├── Rewards
│   │   │   ├── Pledge Without a Reward
│   │   │   ├── Reward Tiers (cards)
│   │   │   │   ├── Pledge Amount
│   │   │   │   ├── Title & Description
│   │   │   │   ├── Includes (list of items)
│   │   │   │   ├── Estimated Delivery
│   │   │   │   ├── Shipping (where and how much)
│   │   │   │   ├── Backers Count
│   │   │   │   ├── Limited (X of Y left) — if limited
│   │   │   │   └── [Select] Button
│   │   │   └── Add-Ons (optional extras)
│   │   ├── FAQ (creator-authored)
│   │   ├── Updates (creator posts)
│   │   │   ├── Update List
│   │   │   ├── Backer-Only Updates (locked for non-backers)
│   │   │   └── Comment on Updates
│   │   └── Comments (backer discussion)
│   │       ├── Comment Thread
│   │       ├── Creator Responses (highlighted)
│   │       └── Sort (newest, oldest)
│   ├── Reward Sidebar (desktop, sticky)
│   │   ├── All reward tiers (scrollable)
│   │   └── "Back this project" CTA
│   ├── Creator Section
│   │   ├── Creator Bio, Location
│   │   ├── Past Projects (track record)
│   │   ├── Created / Backed Count
│   │   ├── Last Login
│   │   └── Contact Creator
│   ├── Social Share (Twitter, Facebook, email, embed)
│   └── Related Projects ("You might also like")
├── Pledge Flow
│   ├── Select Reward (or "Pledge without a reward")
│   ├── Set Pledge Amount (can go above minimum)
│   ├── Add-Ons (select optional extras)
│   ├── Shipping Country Selection
│   ├── Payment Information (card — charged only if funded)
│   ├── Review Pledge
│   └── Confirm ("Remember, this is an all-or-nothing project")
├── Backed Projects (Your Profile)
│   ├── Backed Projects List
│   │   ├── Status: Live / Successfully Funded / Unsuccessful / Completed
│   │   └── Pledge Detail
│   │       ├── Pledge Amount & Reward
│   │       ├── Estimated Delivery
│   │       ├── Survey Status (not sent / sent / completed)
│   │       ├── Modify/Cancel Pledge (if campaign still live)
│   │       └── Shipping Tracking (post-campaign)
│   ├── Saved Projects (bookmarked)
│   ├── Recommended Projects
│   └── Backed History (lifetime stats)
├── Profile
│   ├── Public Profile (bio, location, backed projects, created projects)
│   ├── Superbacker Badge (if eligible)
│   └── Connected Social Accounts
├── Messages
│   ├── Creator Messages
│   └── Backer-to-Creator Conversations
├── Notifications
│   ├── Project Updates
│   ├── Funding Milestones
│   ├── Survey Requests
│   ├── Reward Shipping
│   └── Recommended Projects
├── Account Settings
│   ├── Profile (name, bio, avatar, location)
│   ├── Email / Password
│   ├── Payment Methods
│   ├── Notification Preferences
│   ├── Privacy Settings
│   └── Connected Apps
├── Help
│   ├── How Kickstarter Works (for backers)
│   ├── Backer FAQ
│   ├── Creator Guidelines
│   ├── Trust & Safety
│   ├── Community Guidelines
│   └── Contact Support
└── Footer
    ├── About (company, charter, stats, press, jobs)
    ├── Support / Education
    ├── Arts & Culture
    └── Legal (terms, privacy, cookie policy)

Creator Side

├── Start a Project
│   ├── Choose Category
│   ├── Basics
│   │   ├── Project Title
│   │   ├── Short Blurb
│   │   ├── Category & Subcategory
│   │   ├── Project Image
│   │   └── Location
│   ├── Rewards
│   │   ├── Create Reward Tiers
│   │   │   ├── Pledge Amount (minimum)
│   │   │   ├── Title
│   │   │   ├── Description
│   │   │   ├── Items Included
│   │   │   ├── Estimated Delivery Month
│   │   │   ├── Shipping (destinations + costs)
│   │   │   └── Limit Availability (optional cap)
│   │   ├── Add-Ons (optional extras)
│   │   └── Reorder Tiers
│   ├── Story
│   │   ├── Video (strongly recommended, hosted by Kickstarter)
│   │   ├── Campaign Story (rich text editor: text, images, GIFs)
│   │   ├── Risks and Challenges (mandatory)
│   │   └── Environmental Commitments (optional)
│   ├── People
│   │   ├── Creator Profile (bio, photo, website)
│   │   ├── Collaborators
│   │   └── Social Links
│   ├── Payment
│   │   ├── Verify Identity
│   │   ├── Bank Account (for fund transfer)
│   │   └── Tax Information
│   ├── Funding
│   │   ├── Goal Amount
│   │   ├── Campaign Duration (1-60 days, 30 recommended)
│   │   └── Launch Date (immediate or scheduled)
│   ├── Preview (full project page preview)
│   └── Submit for Review (Kickstarter approval required)
├── Creator Dashboard (post-launch)
│   ├── Campaign Overview
│   │   ├── Funding Progress (real-time)
│   │   ├── Backer Count
│   │   ├── Pledge Amount by Day (chart)
│   │   ├── Referral Sources (internal, direct, social, external)
│   │   ├── Pledge Distribution by Tier
│   │   └── Video Play Rate
│   ├── Backers
│   │   ├── Backer List (pledge level, survey status)
│   │   ├── Backer Detail
│   │   ├── Export Backer Data (CSV)
│   │   └── New Backer Notifications
│   ├── Updates
│   │   ├── Post Update (rich text, backer-only or public)
│   │   ├── Update History
│   │   └── Engagement Stats (views, likes, comments)
│   ├── Comments (moderate, respond)
│   ├── Messages (direct backer communication)
│   ├── Surveys (post-campaign)
│   │   ├── Create Survey (reward fulfillment questions)
│   │   ├── Send to Backers
│   │   ├── Survey Responses
│   │   └── Address Collection (shipping addresses)
│   ├── Post-Campaign Tools
│   │   ├── Pledge Manager (late pledges, add-on upgrades)
│   │   ├── Reward Fulfillment Tracking
│   │   ├── Shipping Status
│   │   └── Mark Rewards as Fulfilled
│   ├── Finances
│   │   ├── Pledged vs Collected (card failures)
│   │   ├── Kickstarter Fee (5%)
│   │   ├── Payment Processing Fee (3-5%)
│   │   ├── Payout Status
│   │   └── Tax Documentation
│   └── Analytics
│       ├── Traffic Sources
│       ├── Conversion Funnel (page view → pledge)
│       ├── Social Sharing Stats
│       ├── Geographic Distribution
│       └── Referrer Breakdown

Navigation Model

Layer	Pattern	Behavior
Header	Fixed top bar (minimal)	Kickstarter logo, Explore (dropdown), Start a Project, Search, Account
Category Nav	Dropdown on Explore or sidebar on browse	Category list with project counts
Project Tabs	Horizontal tabs	Campaign, Rewards, FAQ, Updates (count), Comments (count)
Reward Sidebar	Sticky right sidebar (desktop)	All reward tiers with "Select" CTAs
Funding Progress Bar	Persistent on project page	Green progress bar + stats (amount, backers, days left)
Pledge Flow	Step indicator	Reward → Amount → Add-Ons → Shipping → Payment → Confirm
Creator Dashboard Nav	Left sidebar	Overview, Backers, Updates, Comments, Messages, Surveys, Finances, Analytics

Content Model

Entity	Key Attributes	Relationships
Project	title, blurb, category, subcategory, goal, currency, deadline, status, location, video_url, story_html, risks_html, launched_at, funding_amount, backer_count, percent_funded	belongs to Creator
Creator	name, bio, avatar, location, created_count, backed_count, verified, last_login, websites[]	has Projects
Reward	title, description, pledge_amount, includes[], estimated_delivery, shipping_type, shipping_destinations[], limit, backers_count, add_ons[]	belongs to Project
Pledge	amount, reward, status, add_ons[], shipping_address, survey_status	belongs to Backer and Project
Update	title, body_html, is_public, likes_count, comments_count, published_at	belongs to Project
Comment	body, author, likes, created_at, is_creator_response	belongs to Project or Update
Survey	questions[], sent_count, response_count	belongs to Project
AddOn	name, description, price	belongs to Project, added to Pledge

Project Status Flow (Kickstarter-specific)

draft → submitted → in_review → approved → live → funded / not_funded
                  → rejected (with feedback → revise → resubmit)
live → suspended (policy violation)
funded → collecting_pledges → funds_transferred → fulfilling → completed

Funding Model

• All-or-Nothing (only model on Kickstarter): funds collected only if goal met by deadline
• If goal not met: all pledges cancelled, no money charged
• Kickstarter fee: 5% of funds raised (only on success)
• Payment processing: 3% + $0.20 per pledge

Pledge Status

active → collected (goal met) → survey_sent → survey_completed → reward_shipped → fulfilled
active → cancelled (goal not met — no charge)
active → cancelled_by_backer (during campaign)
collected → refunded (creator-initiated)

User Flows

Back a Project

Discover → Browse category (Games) or search → Project card → Project page → Watch video → Read story → Browse rewards → Select reward ($50 tier) → Set pledge amount ($55 to add extra support) → Add-ons (dice set $15) → Select shipping country → Enter payment → Confirm → "You're a backer!" → Receive updates → Goal met → Charged → Survey → Receive reward

Create a Campaign

Start a Project → Category (Design & Tech) → Basics (title, blurb, image) → Rewards (create 4-5 tiers) → Story (video + narrative + risks) → Funding (goal: $50,000, duration: 30 days) → Identity verification → Preview → Submit for Review → Approved (2-3 days) → Launch → Share → Campaign runs → Goal met → Funds collected → Surveys → Fulfill rewards

Stretch Goals

Campaign funded at 100% → Creator posts update: "Stretch Goal at $75K: Deluxe Edition" → Backers share → More backers join → $75K reached → New stretch goal at $100K → Community excitement grows → Campaign ends → All stretch goals included

Failed Campaign

Campaign live → Tracking pledges → Day 25: only 40% funded → Creator posts update encouraging sharing → Day 30: 65% funded (short of goal) → Campaign ends: "Funding Unsuccessful" → No charges → Creator may relaunch

URL / Route Structure

/                                      → Discover / Home
/discover                              → Explore
/discover/categories/:category          → Category Browse
/discover/categories/:category/:sub     → Subcategory
/discover/advanced?term=:query         → Search Results
/projects/:creator/:slug              → Project Page
/projects/:creator/:slug/description  → Campaign Tab
/projects/:creator/:slug/rewards      → Rewards Tab
/projects/:creator/:slug/faqs         → FAQ Tab
/projects/:creator/:slug/posts        → Updates Tab
/projects/:creator/:slug/posts/:id    → Update Detail
/projects/:creator/:slug/comments     → Comments Tab
/projects/:creator/:slug/pledge/new   → Pledge Flow (Select Reward)
/projects/:creator/:slug/pledge/edit  → Modify Pledge
/profile/:username                     → Public Profile
/profile/:username/backed              → Backed Projects
/profile/:username/created             → Created Projects
/profile/settings                      → Account Settings
/messages                              → Messages
/help                                  → Help Center
/help/handbook                         → Creator Handbook
/rules                                 → Project Guidelines
/charter                               → Kickstarter Charter
/about/stats                           → Platform Stats

Search & Filter

Context	Search Scope	Filter Dimensions	Sort
Discover	Project title, blurb, creator	Category, Subcategory, Location, Goal Range, % Funded, Status (live), "Projects We Love"	Magic (algorithm), Popularity, Newest, End Date, Most Funded, Most Backed
Creator Backers	Backer name, email	Reward Tier, Pledge Amount, Survey Status, Shipping Country	Pledge Amount, Date, Name
My Backed	Project title	Status (live/funded/unfunded/complete), Category	Date Backed, End Date

Responsive Behavior

Breakpoint	Project Grid	Project Page	Reward Sidebar	Pledge Flow
Desktop (>=1024px)	3-4 column cards	Content + sticky reward sidebar	Right sidebar, scrollable	Centered modal/page
Tablet (768-1023px)	2 column cards	Stacked, rewards inline below	Inline after content	Full page
Mobile (<768px)	1 column cards	Stacked, sticky "Back this project" button	Full-screen on tap	Full-screen steps

Kickstarter-Specific UX

• All-or-nothing messaging: prominently displayed — "This project will only be funded if it reaches its goal"
• Funding progress bar: green fill with exact numbers — the emotional center of every project
• Video-first: project video is the hero element, autoplay on desktop
• "Projects We Love" badge: editorial curation signal (green heart)
• Superbacker badge: for prolific backers (backed 25+ projects in past year)
• Stretch goals: not a platform feature — communicated through Updates (creative use of updates)
• Social proof: "X backed in the last 24 hours" creates urgency
• Limited rewards: "X of Y remaining" creates scarcity
• Creator track record: past projects shown with funding success/failure history
• Community-first: comments section often very active, creator engagement expected
• Minimal advertising: Kickstarter doesn't show ads — discovery is organic + editorial
• Charter / B-Corp: Kickstarter emphasizes its public benefit corporation status

Access Control

Role	Browse	Back	Create	Comment	Manage
Guest	✅	—	—	—	—
Registered	✅	✅	✅ (after verification)	✅ (on backed projects)	Own pledges
Creator (verified)	✅	✅	✅	✅	Own projects
Superbacker	✅	✅ (badge visible)	✅	✅ (badge visible)	Own pledges

Kickstarter Review Process

• All projects must be submitted for review before launch
• Review takes 1-3 business days
• Projects must meet guidelines (creative, not charity/equity)
• Prohibited: reselling, charity, "fund my life," illegal items
• Rejected projects receive feedback and can revise and resubmit