The TiVo Guide Transformation: From Static Grid to Dynamic Discovery

App Design

Overview

About the project

TiVo's journey to revolutionize its guide interface showcases a remarkable shift from a dated, text-heavy design to an engaging, user-centric experience. This transformation addressed key challenges and yielded impressive results.

Date
July 31, 2024
My Role
Product Design Lead
Reimagining the Classic Guide

The redesign process focused on streamlining the interface and enhancing user engagement:

  • Simplified Visual Design: The team removed clutter and aligned the guide with modern design principles, creating a cleaner, more intuitive layout.
  • Horizontal Full-Screen Grid: A new grid concept optimized for live viewing was introduced, featuring sticky filters and improved navigation.
  • Personalization Features: Category-based filters and live event reminders were added to tailor the guide to individual preferences.
Elevating the Live Viewing Experience

The integration of live playback features significantly enhanced user interaction:

  • Mini-Player Innovation: A live playback feature above the guide allowed users to preview content visually, speeding up decision-making.
  • Intuitive Controls: Single-tap gestures for playback controls and smooth transitions to full-screen mode improved usability.
  • User-Friendly Defaults: Features like default-muted playback and sticky last-watched channels ensured a polished experience.
Impressive Outcomes

The redesign efforts led to tangible improvements:

  • Viewership increased by 20% following the mobile app redesign release in July and August.
  • Leading customers provided overwhelmingly positive feedback, with product managers praising the new experience.
  • The stage was set for the TiVoOS update in December, introducing new functionalities like TiVo Plus and Download to Go.

This transformation not only modernized the TiVo Guide but also reimagined how users interact with their content, creating a more dynamic and engaging viewing experience. The success of this project demonstrates the power of user-centric design in driving engagement and satisfaction in the competitive landscape of digital video services.