User-Centered Research and UX for Streaming App Show Detail Page
Project Summary
I collaborated with our UX Researcher to improve the show detail page of our streaming platform. The goal was to gather insights through user interviews on how users discover new shows, what draws their attention on the detail page, and how they engage with the episode listings. Based on the findings, we designed and tested high-fidelity prototypes to refine the user experience for these features.
The Problem
The primary objective of the user research was to understand how our users discover new shows and what elements on the show detail page influence their decision to watch a program. We also wanted to explore how users interact with the episode listings and whether we could improve their experience. Specifically, we aimed to introduce new metadata, such as cast members, and assess how users navigate within the show detail page.
The Research
Research Goals
Our research focused on two main areas: (1) identifying what makes users engage with a new show and how they explore show details, and (2) improving the way episodes are displayed, particularly for incomplete seasons, to help users quickly understand episode availability.
User Recruitment
We recruited participants using a previous list of candidates and a homepage advertisement. Potential participants filled out a screener questionnaire to qualify for the study. We used Userlytics to conduct moderated interviews, where participants interacted with high-fidelity prototypes of the show detail page.
Design Approach
Prototyping for User Testing
I designed a high-fidelity mockup to test a new layout for the show detail page, including additional metadata such as cast members and a grid view for episode listings. We wanted to see how users would interact with these elements, focusing on their behavior when deciding to watch a show and their ability to navigate episode listings efficiently.
During the interviews, our moderator shared a link to the Figma prototype, allowing participants to explore the new layout. We observed how they interacted with the show detail page and sought feedback on whether the new layout made the content easier to understand.
User Testing Process
Participants were asked to navigate the prototype as if they were exploring a new show. We specifically looked for feedback on:
- The ease of discovering cast member information and other metadata.
- How effectively the episode grid communicated the availability and order of episodes.
- How intuitive the navigation within the show detail page was, particularly when users switched between different sections.
Key Insights and Design Iterations
Impact of Insights
One major insight was that users struggled to understand when they had navigated to a new section within the same show detail page. The sub-navigation tabs didn’t clearly indicate a shift between sections, leading to confusion. On the positive side, the episode grid layout successfully communicated the availability of episodes, particularly for incomplete seasons. Users appreciated the clear organization of episodes and were able to quickly assess how many episodes were available.
Design Adaptations
Based on user feedback, I updated the design to eliminate the sub-navigation tabs that were causing confusion. Instead, I introduced a modal to display additional metadata, such as cast members, to ensure the experience was more intuitive and clear for users. The modal helped keep users focused on the primary content while offering easy access to extra information without disrupting the flow of the page.
Challenges and Solutions
Challenges
There were minimal challenges in interpreting user feedback, as responses were consistent across participants. The key challenge was ensuring that we addressed the navigation confusion without overcomplicating the design.
Solutions
The decision to replace the sub-navigation tabs with a modal was driven by user feedback. This solution simplified the navigation while still providing easy access to all relevant information, which improved the overall user experience on the show detail page.
Final Outcome
Results and Outcomes
After the user interviews, I updated the prototype to reflect the new design, which included the modal for additional metadata. While this project was still in its early stages at the time of my involvement, the user feedback confirmed that the changes improved usability, particularly around episode navigation and content discovery.
Stakeholder Engagement
Before finalizing the design, I presented the prototype and user feedback to stakeholders, ensuring alignment on the design updates. Once approved, the design was ready for further development.
Learnings
This project highlighted the importance of user feedback in refining design decisions. Through close collaboration with the UX researcher and detailed user testing, we were able to create a more intuitive experience that addressed key pain points around navigation and content discovery. The insights gathered from this research significantly influenced the final design of the show detail page, ensuring it met user expectations.