MIRU
MIRU
MIRU
January - February 2023
Social, B2C, mobile app
UI/UX Designer & UX Researcher
The Case Study in a Mighty Bento
The Case Study in a Mighty Bento
Because not everybody has time to read through the whole thing... Here’s the project in a bento.
Because not everybody has time to read through the whole thing... Here’s the project in a bento.
The Solution
Miru aims to solve this by developing a community-driven mobile app that allows seamless film and TV tracking.
The Solution
Miru aims to solve this by developing a community-driven mobile app that allows seamless film and TV tracking.
The Solution
Miru aims to solve this by developing a community-driven mobile app that allows seamless film and TV tracking.
Our Watching Habits
Our Watching Habits
Our Watching Habits
Who doesn’t spend, like, an hour scrolling through Netflix to find out what to watch next? Or maybe you have a growing watchlist and have no way to keep track of it unless you go to every single streaming app you subscribe to… Nobody has the energy for that.
Who doesn’t spend, like, an hour scrolling through Netflix to find out what to watch next? Or maybe you have a growing watchlist and have no way to keep track of it unless you go to every single streaming app you subscribe to… Nobody has the energy for that.
Identifying the challenge
Identifying the challenge
Identifying the challenge
Track and Talk
This is where Miru comes in. It’s an app to keep track of whatever you’re watching, and find your community while you’re at it. The challenge is to design a product that will allow users to easily keep track of their watchlist and join discussions.
This is where Miru comes in. It’s an app to keep track of whatever you’re watching, and find your community while you’re at it. The challenge is to design a product that will allow users to easily keep track of their watchlist and join discussions.
Conducting research
Conducting research
Conducting research
The Rise of Streaming Services
The Rise of Streaming Services
The Rise of Streaming Services
61% of young adults primarily use online streaming to watch TV (PewResearch, 2017). Because of this, there were nearly 100 different streaming websites in US alone (Herbert et al., 2018). With half of TV consumers subscribed to three or more streaming services (Winslow, 2022), having a product that keeps track of all your watchlist will ultimately improve the watching experience of consumers.
61% of young adults primarily use online streaming to watch TV (PewResearch, 2017). Because of this, there were nearly 100 different streaming websites in US alone (Herbert et al., 2018). With half of TV consumers subscribed to three or more streaming services (Winslow, 2022), having a product that keeps track of all your watchlist will ultimately improve the watching experience of consumers.
Know Your Competition
Know Your Competition
Know Your Competition
Understanding how apps like these work as well as analyzing what features work and what aspects they lack are important for the designer to recognize the different solutions to implement and create a better product. Using SWOT analysis, Miru was analyzed against its primary competitors Letterboxd, Serializd, and TVTime.
Strengths
Strengths
Miru offers tracking of both films and TV shows, which is a leverage compared to the apps tracking only one of the two. One other strength is the ease of use. Either through data syncing or app's user experience, users can easily log their watchlist to the app.
Weaknesses
Weaknesses
One of the biggest draw-backs of the product is the competitive market. Because this is just a product idea for now, it might be hard to get as much users on the first release.
Opportunities
Opportunities
Implementing new features from users once the product launches such as the ability to share on Instagram story and having end-of-the-year wrap up will impact how the product can improve its service.
Threats
Threats
Because this product utilizes data syncing, there are security threats regarding the user data the app will be getting from streaming sites.
Strengths
Miru offers tracking of both films and TV shows, which is a leverage compared to the apps tracking only one of the two. One other strength is the ease of use. Either through data syncing or app's user experience, users can easily log their watchlist to the app.
Weaknesses
One of the biggest draw-backs of the product is the competitive market. Because this is just a product idea for now, it might be hard to get as much users on the first release.
Opportunities
Implementing new features from users once the product launches such as the ability to share on Instagram story and having end-of-the-year wrap up will impact how the product can improve its service.
Threats
Because this product utilizes data syncing, there are security threats regarding the user data the app will be getting from streaming sites.
Analysis and planning
Analysis and planning
Analysis and planning
Let Your Users Be Known
Let Your Users Be Known
Let Your Users Be Known
In order to accurately and effectively design Miru, it is important to understand and empathize with the potential users and learn about their needs, thoughts, and behaviors.
Getting Insights from Direct Users
Getting Insights from Direct Users
5 film and TV show critics, aged between 18 to 35, who are the most potential users of the app, are interviewed to obtain perspective on their watching behaviors.
Navigating the Streaming Landscape
Navigating the Streaming Landscape
Gathering information from the interviews, the pain points were determined by sorting their answers into categories through affinity mapping.
Know Your Priorities
Know Your Priorities
Using a 2x2 matrix, I then prioritized the pain points based on the users’ needs (x-axis), which was assumed from the user interviews, and the amount of effort required to complete a task (y-axis).
User Pain Points
User Pain Points
Based on the research, I have identified the user pain points which served as a foundation for the design decisions for the product.
Oversaturated streaming market
Oversaturated streaming market
There are way too many streaming apps on the market, which makes it difficult to manage your watchlist.
Socially motivated recommendations
Socially motivated recommendations
Social media plays a big role on influencing users on watching decisions.
Tracking is too much work
Tracking is too much work
Users want a quicker and more efficient way to track their watchlist.
Need for a community
Need for a community
Users want to express their opinions and learn about other people’s reviews.
Oversaturated streaming market
There are way too many streaming apps on the market, which makes it difficult to manage your watchlist.
Socially motivated recommendations
Social media plays a big role on influencing users on watching decisions.
Tracking is too much work
Users want a quicker and more efficient way to track their watchlist.
Need for a community
Users want to express their opinions and learn about other people’s reviews.
User Personas
User Personas
User Personas
Lucy and Reese will serve as the personas that are ideated from the interviews and research.
Lucy, 26
Lucy, a registered nurse, finds comfort for TV series across genres despite her busy schedule.
Lucy's Needs: Due to her busy schedule, she seeks an app that seamlessly tracks her extensive watchlist, recommends new content, and fosters engaging discussions.
Crafting Solutions: To design a time-efficient app experience for individuals with busy schedules, allowing them to effortlessly track their watchlist and join conversations.
Reese, 34
Reese is a developer who, along with his wife, is a big film and TV nerd. He loves conversing with other people about film and TV discussions.
Reese's Needs: Reese is looking for an app that not only tracks his entertainment choices but also provides a space for connecting with fellow enthusiasts.
Crafting Solutions: To create an app experience that caters to Reese's desire for a welcoming community, fostering engaging discussions, diverse recommendations, and shared experiences in the world of entertainment.
Lucy, 26
Lucy, a registered nurse, finds comfort for TV series across genres despite her busy schedule.
Lucy's Needs: Due to her busy schedule, she seeks an app that seamlessly tracks her extensive watchlist, recommends new content, and fosters engaging discussions.
Crafting Solutions: To design a time-efficient app experience for individuals with busy schedules, allowing them to effortlessly track their watchlist and join conversations.
Reese, 34
Reese is a developer who, along with his wife, is a big film and TV nerd. He loves conversing with other people about film and TV discussions.
Reese's Needs: Reese is looking for an app that not only tracks his entertainment choices but also provides a space for connecting with fellow enthusiasts.
Crafting Solutions: To create an app experience that caters to Reese's desire for a welcoming community, fostering engaging discussions, diverse recommendations, and shared experiences in the world of entertainment.
Improving the User Journey
I crafted a journey map in order to understand the user's needs, wants, and emotions at every point of the user journey. To better identify the potential opportunities for the product, I used an As-Is & To-Be journey map.
As-Is
To-Be
As-Is
To-Be
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
The Information Architecture of the app is mapped out to understand and identify the hierarchies and navigation in the app.
Design
Design
Design
From Insight to Ideation
From Insight to Ideation
From Insight to Ideation
After the foundation has been laid out and all important insights have been realized, I began brainstorming and coming up with creative solutions for the problem.
Sketches
Sketches
Sketches
I brainstormed various ideas and strategies to address the issue, aiming to outline the app's layout and ensure a seamless user experience.
Mid-fidelity wireframes
Mid-fidelity wireframes
Mid-fidelity wireframes
I designed mid-fidelity wireframes for the app. The wireframes were tested on 4 users, in which the feedback allowed me to revise and refine the solutions for the high-fidelity wireframes.
A Social App but for Movies and TV
A Social App but for Movies and TV
A Social App but for Movies and TV
With the user personas, Lucy and Reese, in mind, the following solutions are designed to address the users' concerns.
Oversaturated streaming market
SOLUTION
A one-stop tracking app for all your streaming platfroms
Because of the increasing number of streaming platforms, creating a product that tracks your watchlist across different streaming platforms is efficient and convenient.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese download the app to keep track of their growing watchlist, in its entirety, from numerous streaming platforms.
Oversaturated streaming market
SOLUTION
A one-stop tracking app for all your streaming platfroms
Because of the increasing number of streaming platforms, creating a product that tracks your watchlist across different streaming platforms is efficient and convenient.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese download the app to keep track of their growing watchlist, in its entirety, from numerous streaming platforms.
Socially motivated recommendations
SOLUTION
Building a space where users can share their reviews and read other users' opinions
The Community page allows users to share reviews and partake in discussions about films and TV shows.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese use the app to write reviews on and discuss episodes or films they have watched.
Socially motivated recommendations
SOLUTION
Building a space where users can share their reviews and read other users' opinions
The Community page allows users to share reviews and partake in discussions about films and TV shows.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese use the app to write reviews on and discuss episodes or films they have watched.
Tracking is too much work
SOLUTION
Implementing data syncing and designing effortless watchlist logging
Allowing users to sync their data from their watch data from their streaming platforms which enables the app to automatically update users’ status in their respective watchlists. The titles have multiple one-touch flows that give users more options to achieve the goal.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese want to find out the amount of films and TV shows they have watched so far. They sync their streaming platforms to easily transfer watchlists to the app.
Tracking is too much work
SOLUTION
Implementing data syncing and designing effortless watchlist logging
Allowing users to sync their data from their watch data from their streaming platforms which enables the app to automatically update users’ status in their respective watchlists. The titles have multiple one-touch flows that give users more options to achieve the goal.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese want to find out the amount of films and TV shows they have watched so far. They sync their streaming platforms to easily transfer watchlists to the app.
Need for a community
SOLUTION
Personalized feed and topic pages
A personalized feed shows posts from users and topics they follow. Additionally, topic pages are pages that users can follow so they can keep up and join discussions about the topic.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese use the app to get more film or TV recommendations from users with same tastes.
Need for a community
SOLUTION
Personalized feed and topic pages
A personalized feed shows posts from users and topics they follow. Additionally, topic pages are pages that users can follow so they can keep up and join discussions about the topic.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese use the app to get more film or TV recommendations from users with same tastes.
Need for a community
SOLUTION
Personalized feed and topic pages
A personalized feed shows posts from users and topics they follow. Additionally, topic pages are pages that users can follow so they can keep up and join discussions about the topic.
How it will help Lucy and Reese: Lucy and Reese use the app to get more film or TV recommendations from users with same tastes.
Design System
Design System
The design system creates a consistent mood throughout the app.
Everything you watch, all in one place.
Everything you watch, all in one place.
View gallery
Testing the Designs
Testing the Designs
I gathered 13 participants ranging from 18 to 38 who are avid movie and TV show watchers to test the prototype. I provided them with goals to achieve, namely finding their watchlist, logging an episode, writing a review, and creating a post in the community page.
Results
Results
Majority of the participants have successfully completed the goals of the usability testing.
13/13
found their watchlist
All users were able to find their watchlist and switch through different statuses.
11/13
logged an episode
Most users successfully found the Title Home and logged an episode as “Viewed”.
13/13
wrote a review
All users were able to write a review on a particular episode.
13/13
created a post in community
All users were able to create a post in the community page.
Testing the Designs
I gathered 13 participants ranging from 18 to 38 who are avid movie and TV show watchers to test the prototype. I provided them with goals to achieve, namely finding their watchlist, logging an episode, writing a review, and creating a post in the community page.
Results
Majority of the participants have successfully completed the goals of the usability testing.
13/13
found their watchlist
All users were able to find their watchlist and switch through different statuses.
11/13
logged an episode
Most users successfully found the Title Home and logged an episode as “Viewed”.
13/13
wrote a review
All users were able to write a review on a particular episode.
13/13
created a post in community
All users were able to create a post in the community page.
Simplicity is Key
Simplicity is Key
Simplicity is Key
While designing this product, I have learned that keeping the design simple and easy to understand are key to a great user experience. Providing a straightforward design will increase the chances of users achieving the end goal without any blockers or pain points.
Majority of my time was spent on ideating and brainstorming what the product would become. I have learned the importance of writing down ideas, no matter how silly it may seem, because some of these ideas can become creative solutions to the problem.
While designing this product, I have learned that keeping the design simple and easy to understand are key to a great user experience. Providing a straightforward design will increase the chances of users achieving the end goal without any blockers or pain points.
Majority of my time was spent on ideating and brainstorming what the product would become. I have learned the importance of writing down ideas, no matter how silly it may seem, because some of these ideas can become creative solutions to the problem.
What's next
What's next
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