Credits - Spring/Summer, TDC/YouSee Play
Activities - Wireframing, user flow design
Tools - Omnigraffle, Keynote,
Challenge
At Spring/Summer we were set out to design the integration of Googles Chromecast technology in YouSee and TDC's streaming service YouSee Play. That involved app design for tablet, smartphone and initial layouts for a smart TV design. Different commercial interests and overall strategy from the client, made the project a bigger challenge than desgining a chromecast flow. For Spring/Summer, that required a close collaboration with different stakeholders in the company to make sure that everyone was satisfied with the work that we did through this project.
The Chromecast flow
On the project in question, I worked closely with an Art Director. We went through several iterations of wireframing and designs, to create a chromecast flow that aligned with the clients commercial interests - still keeping the user in mind. We worked on the designs and wireframes seperately, and had stand ups a couple of times a week to discuss and make decisions on what to do next.
Start - First time user
Using Chromecast for the first time, demands a certain attention from the user and a simple guidance to figure how to connect to the to device. So we focused on drawing the attention to the Chromecast icon as the first step.
Connect - find the device
Connecting the phone to the chromecast device was about telling the user, which devices are available in the home. The user might have several devices, and it should be easy to choose the one connected to the TV in front of the user. This would be the first step after connecting to the device for the first time.
Playback - watch TV
At the playback state we focused on drawing the users attention to the TV by creating a static frame, explaining that chromcast is playing on the TV. The controls are still available, and in that way the device becomes a remote for controlling the TV.
Disconnect - stop watching
Using Chromecast on the TV should be very easy, but it should also be very easy to pause or completely stop the streaming. With two taps the user would be able to disconnect the device with the chromecast in e.g. the livingroom and reconnect in the bedroom.
Receiver - the TV state
The TV interface was important to look at as well. Connecting the chromecast to the mobile device generates a lot of signal transmitting back and worth in order to maintain the connection. This requires feedback for the user on both screen, so the user knows what is going on - even when an error occures. So we started creating the different states for the TV as well:
Not connected
Connecting
Connected
Buffering
Playback
Paused
Additionally we started thinking about how to promote the different features within the app when the chromecast is connected to the TV.
