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TVO Today

TVO Today

TVO Today

Creating digital first, content experiences

Creating digital first, content experiences

Building two iOS and Android apps for articles and streaming

The Task: To create a new digital experience for TVO Today on both the web and two custom built, iOS and Android apps

The Client: TVO

My Role: UX Designer and Researcher

Skills involved: user research, usability testing, affinity diagram, customer journey mapping, interaction design, prototyping, wireframing

Tools: Figma, Adobe Suite (XD), Miro

Timeline: 1 year for major release - ongoing iterations and improvements


My role involved leading the app's design while championing innovative and
user-centric approaches within the digital product space.


My role involved leading the app's design while championing innovative and user-centric approaches within the digital product space.

I played a key role in initiating significant transformations across TVO's digital platforms, establishing myself as a prominent advocate for user experience within the broader organization. I designed and tested prototypes, spearheaded the adoption of crucial design features, and advocated for revamping the design processes both within our team and across the organization as a whole.


The overall need? Modernize our approach to connect with younger, more
diverse audiences with digital experiences they expect.


The overall need? Modernize our approach to connect with younger, more diverse audiences.

Since 2017, there has been a pressing need to enhance our digital offerings to attract young, informed millennials. The onset of COVID-19 intensified this urgency. Additionally, we aimed to engage marginalized groups and share more stories from an Ontario perspective to drive our success.

*Based on GA analytics between 2020 & 2021

When COVID-19 hit, a 12% spike in usage underscored the urgent need to modernize an outdated experience.

25-34

52%

40%

25-34

Gen-Z and Millennials significantly boosted TVO's growth pre-pandemic.

COVID 19

2021

When COVID-19 hit, a 12% spike in usage underscored the urgent need to modernize an outdated experience.

25-34

*Based on GA analytics between 2020 & 2021

40%

52%

Gen-Z and Millennials significantly boosted TVO's growth pre-pandemic.

25-34

2020

COVID 19

2021

When COVID-19 hit, a 12% spike in usage underscored the urgent need to modernize an outdated experience.

25-34

*Based on GA analytics between 2020 & 2021

40%

52%

Gen-Z and Millennials significantly boosted TVO's growth pre-pandemic.

25-34

2020

We found that there's a strong desire for credible yet diverse content presented
on a user-friendly and organized platform

After delving into the insights, we found that there's a strong desire for credible yet diverse content presented on a user-friendly and organized platform

Ensuring access to credible journalistic sources was paramount for fostering trust in the content provided. However, alongside this, there was a clear demand for diverse content formats. Users expressed a desire to disconnect from the chaos of the world and seek relaxation.


Creating a well-designed and organized app with compelling content emerged as a crucial priority. When users find themselves on a trusted platform, they want to effortlessly unwind and immerse themselves in the content.

Ensuring access to credible journalistic sources was paramount for fostering trust in the content provided. However, alongside this, there was a clear demand for diverse content formats. Users expressed a desire to disconnect from the chaos of the world and seek relaxation.

Creating a well-designed and organized app with compelling content emerged as a crucial priority. When users find themselves on a trusted platform, they want to effortlessly unwind and immerse themselves in the content.

Visuals and hype keep me engaged

Journalistic Sources are important

Organization is Key

I like consuming quality content but, I also need to tune out.

I like consuming quality content but, I also need to tune out.

COVID 19

25-34

*Based on GA analytics between 2020 & 2021

40%

52%

Gen-Z and Millennials significantly boosted TVO's growth pre-pandemic.

When COVID-19 hit, a 12% spike in usage underscored the urgent need to modernize an outdated experience.

25-34


In this multiplatform project, one of our solutions was to enhance content accessibility
by developing an Article and Streaming App for both iOS and Android, designed
based on our research to deliver impactful user experiences.

Solution 1: Build the
TVO Today App for iOS
and Android

Given our constraints in terms of time and capacity, we developed an app designed to deliver the experience that users anticipate. This app not only meets their expectations but also grants us the opportunity to introduce more personalized features compared to our web platform.


This included enabling our users to enjoy content anywhere, with the capability
to download and manage content directly on their devices.

We added the ability to download docs and series so that TVO users can access our content at their convenience, even without an internet connection.


  • Manage Videos

    Series episodes are thoughtfully managed in a responsive sheet making navigating from a series to episode simple and straightforward

  • Expiring Videos

    Due to differing streaming rights privileges, we had to ensure that people didn't have access content beyond a 30 day period, therefore, after a video is expired they must renew the content if it is available. 

  • Offline Mode Screen

    When offline, a user can still access downloaded content stored on their device.

  • Manage Videos

    Series episodes are thoughtfully managed in a responsive sheet making navigating from a series to episode simple and straightforward

  • Expiring Videos

    Due to differing streaming rights privileges, we had to ensure that people didn't have access content beyond a 30 day period, therefore, after a video is expired they must renew the content if it is available. 

  • Offline Mode Screen

    When offline, a user can still access downloaded content stored on their device.

  • Manage Videos

    Series episodes are thoughtfully managed in a responsive sheet making navigating from a series to episode simple and straightforward

  • Expiring Videos

    Due to differing streaming rights privileges, we had to ensure that people didn't have access content beyond a 30 day period, therefore, after a video is expired they must renew the content if it is available. 

  • Offline Mode Screen

    When offline, a user can still access downloaded content stored on their device.

To provide the best video experience, we custom designed it every step of the way
with our viewers needs in mind


Leveraging our existing SDK, we redesigned a sleek and intelligent video system that allows users to enjoy our content in the best way they feel like watching

TVO Today is Your Ultimate Destination for News, Current Affairs,and Global Documentaries
and Series told from an Ontario Context

TVO Today: One App for
Current Affairs, Docs and
Series

To design our app, we collaborated with the current affairs and documentary division. As a resource-constrained organization, we encountered several challenges, including:

  • Integrating articles, documentary videos, and series within a single app.

  • Developing the app concurrently for both Android and iOS platforms.

  • Enabling video downloads with a 30-day availability.

These requirements added complexity to the app development process. My role was to ensure that the app's information architecture met the needs of two primary user groups.

Results

A highly rated app in both Google Play and Apple App Stores  🎉 

Our app consistently receives 5-star ratings from users, thanks to its thoughtful development. To keep up with our diverse community and uncover new experiences, we will continue to test and enhance the app.

Improved Engagement

As a result of these efforts, engagement with our new iOS and Android apps increased by over 6 percent, meeting our loyal followers where they are and providing them with meaningful resources to stay informed and connected with Ontario and global issues, thus contributing significantly to this benchmark.

Whats Next?

We plan to track each section's performance using Google Analytics to retain and attract our audience. Our priority is to enhance the section's performance by reducing page times and showing titles more frequently. We also want to improve accessibility features, such as transcripts and closed captioning, to create a more unified experience.

Other potential improvements include building an iPad app, adding a sign-in feature, introducing live streaming, and offering voice-generated articles and downloads.

Results

© 2023 Eric William Hanson - All Rights Reserved

The Results? A highly rated app in both Google Play and Apple App Stores  🎉 

A highly rated app in both Google Play and Apple App Stores  🎉 

Our app consistently receives 5-star ratings from users, thanks to its thoughtful development. To keep up with our diverse community and uncover new experiences, we will continue to test and enhance the app.

Our app consistently receives 5-star ratings from users, thanks to its thoughtful development. To keep up with our diverse community and uncover new experiences, we will continue to test and enhance the app.

Our app consistently receives 5-star ratings from users, thanks to its thoughtful development. To keep up with our diverse community and uncover new experiences, we will continue to test and enhance the app.

Improved engagement to TVO Today content through the app

A highly rated app in both Google Play and Apple App Stores  🎉 

As a result of these efforts, engagement with our new iOS and Android apps increased by over 6 percent, meeting our loyal followers where they are and providing them with meaningful resources to stay informed and connected with Ontario and global issues, thus contributing significantly to this benchmark.

As a result of these efforts, engagement with our new iOS and Android apps increased by over 6 percent, meeting our loyal followers where they are and providing them with meaningful resources to stay informed and connected with Ontario and global issues, thus contributing significantly to this benchmark.

As a result of these efforts, engagement with our new iOS and Android apps increased by over 6 percent, meeting our loyal followers where they are and providing them with meaningful resources to stay informed and connected with Ontario and global issues, thus contributing significantly to this benchmark.

Whats next?

We plan to track each section's performance using Google Analytics to retain and attract our audience. Our priority is to enhance the section's performance by reducing page times and showing titles more frequently. We also want to improve accessibility features, such as transcripts and closed captioning, to create a more unified experience.

Other potential improvements include building an iPad app, adding a sign-in feature, introducing live streaming, and offering voice-generated articles and downloads.

We plan to track each section's performance using Google Analytics to retain and attract our audience. Our priority is to enhance the section's performance by reducing page times and showing titles more frequently. We also want to improve accessibility features, such as transcripts and closed captioning, to create a more unified experience.

Other potential improvements include building an iPad app, adding a sign-in feature, introducing live streaming, and offering voice-generated articles and downloads.

We plan to track each section's performance using Google Analytics to retain and attract our audience. Our priority is to enhance the section's performance by reducing page times and showing titles more frequently. We also want to improve accessibility features, such as transcripts and closed captioning, to create a more unified experience.

Other potential improvements include building an iPad app, adding a sign-in feature, introducing live streaming, and offering voice-generated articles and downloads.

Want to learn more? Lets talk

Want to learn more? Lets talk


What do they really want or need?

To gain a comprehensive understanding of our users, we conducted interviews with five individuals who fit the following criteria:


  • Avid or occasional current affairs consumers

  • Within the target demographic of Gen-Z and Millennials

  • Some or little familiarity with the TVO brand

© 2023 Eric William Hanson - All Rights Reserved

© 2023 Eric William Hanson - All Rights Reserved

© 2023 Eric William Hanson - All Rights Reserved

Visuals and hype keep me engaged

Journalistic Sources are important

Organization is Key

I like consuming quality content but, I also need to tune out.

Docs & Series viewers

News Readers

Balancing Act: Crafting an
App for Documentary
Enthusiasts, Series Buffs,
and News Junkies

Addressing a significant challenge, our app needed to serve both documentary and series enthusiasts, alongside current affairs and news readers. This required careful navigation and finesse to ensure a seamless experience for all users.

News Readers

Docs & Series viewers

At the start of COVID-19 Pandemic we saw a +5% increase in our Millennial users.


  • Downloads

    These flows helped to show the logic required for creating a successful download experience

    View in Miro

    Green & Red Path

  • Connectivity States

    Scenarios that define when a user would be offline and online such as Airplane Mode and a Loss of Connection

    View in Miro

    Online & Offline

this page currently works best on desktop

(for now)

this page currently works best on desktop

(for now)