UX/UI DESIGN - MOBILE APP
PROJECT - THE NEW YORKER
Introducing a cutting-edge personalization engine, leveraging machine learning to tailor content recommendations uniquely for each user, crafting a highly individualized and engaging reading journey
(ROL) GRAPHIC & PRODUCT DESIGNER, RESEARCHER
(SKILLS) BRAND DEVELOPMENT/ USER RESEARCH/ INTERACTION DESGIN / PROTOTYPING / VISUAL DESIGN
(TOOLS) FIGMA / ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE
(TIMELINE) 2023
CONTEXT
Established in 1925, The New Yorker is a multi-platform publication known for its detailed reporting, political commentary, cultural criticism, fiction, and humor. It is available in print, online, and via a mobile app, serving a global audience. Facing challenges in the digital age, The New Yorker must improve digital engagement through intuitive navigation and personalized content, balancing editorial excellence with modern user experience practices to sustain its reputation and grow its digital subscribers.
PROBLEM DISCOVERY
The primary issue with The New Yorker app is information overload and the difficulty in finding relevant content. Users struggle to navigate the extensive selection of articles, essays, and multimedia, leading to a sense of overwhelm that impedes their ability to discover content tailored to their interests.
KEY ISSUES
Information Overload
Ineffective Personalization
Limited Community Interaction
Suboptimal Use of Multimedia
MAIN OBJECTIVE
The project sought to address these challenges by implementing advanced personalization features to enhance the user experience. It focused on delivering tailored content recommendations and streamlining interactions within the app, making content consumption more enjoyable and relevant for each user.
SOLUTION
To address the challenges faced by The New Yorker in the digital age, a new feature was developed for its app, leveraging advanced machine learning algorithms to enhance content personalization and user experience. This solution simplifies the content discovery process by tailoring article recommendations to individual user preferences, which helps mitigate information overload and improves navigation efficiency. The implementation of this feature aims to boost user engagement, increase subscription rates, and strengthen The New Yorker's position in the competitive digital media landscape.
OPPORTUNITY
POTENTIAL FEATURES
GOALS
INITIAL OBJECTIVES
Enhanced User Experience
Increased User Engagement
Streamlined Editorial Workflow
User Acquisition and Retention
Business Growth
Innovation and Creativity
KEY RESULTS
FOR THE BUSINESS
Increased revenue through higher subscriptions and advertising.
Improved brand reputation and market positioning.
Greater market share and competitiveness in the digital magazine industry.
A strong and loyal customer base.
FOR THE USER
A more engaging and user-friendly app.
Access to high-quality content tailored to their interests.
An improved reading experience with more interactive and personalized features.
Increased satisfaction and loyalty toward The New Yorker brand.
USER FLOW
HEURISTICS ANALYSIS
TARGET AUDIENCE
DEMOGRAPHICS
AGE:Adults 25-65 years
GENDER: All genders
INCOME LEVEL: Middle to high income levels (professionals and upper-income individuals)
OCCUPATION: Diverse backgrounds (academics, writers, artist, and intellectuals)
PSYCHOGRAPHICS
INTERESTS AND VALUES: Intellectually curious and value in-depth analysis (journalism)
LIFESTYLE: Cosmopolitan lifestyle and urban living. Engage in cultural events.
MEDIA CONSUMPTION HABITS: Print, digital and podcasts. Regular readers of books, essays and literally works.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT: Active on social platforms sharing and discussing articles. Participating in book clubs. Support social causes and political activism.
TECH-SAVVINESS: Comfortable with digital devices and technology for reading. Embrace online communities.
PRECAUTIONS
Maintain High Editorial Standards
Avoid Sensationalism
Cultural Relevance
Engage with the Audience
Stay Technologically Current
Avoid Over commercialization
Adapt to Changing Preferences
Content Variety
TEST PLAN 1
GOAL
To gain insights into how individuals consume news through social media platforms and use these insights to enhance the functionalities of The New Yorker app for a more engaging and user-centric news consumption experience.
METHOD
A mixed-method research approach that includes in-depth user interviews, observation of participants using The New Yorker app, and analysis of social media interactions with news content.
HMW’s
How might we deliver more personalized content recommendations based on users' preferences, reading history, and interests?
HYPOTHESIS
Introducing a personalized content feature in The New Yorker app, powered by an algorithm that relies solely on the app's existing content and adapts to user interactions and preferences (e.g., following content, customizing categories), will enhance the user experience.
This algorithmic approach aims to dynamically curate content based on individual user interests, ultimately leading to increased user engagement, higher content consumption, and improved app retention.
TEST PLAN 2
GOAL
To evaluate the user experience, satisfaction, and effectiveness of the new personalization features in The New Yorker app.
METHOD
Conduct one-on-one interviews with selected users. The sessions will be a mix of structured and semi-structured formats, including hands-on exploration of the new features.
FINAL OVERVIEW
NEW FEATURE
CUSTOMIZE YOUR FEED
Experience a customization process where you select your interests based on The New Yorker's rich content. Tailor your feed with precision and dive into a news experience that aligns perfectly with your personal interests.
ALTERATIONS
NEW FEATURE
Have the power to effortlessly access your customized feed, carefully curated based on your previous interest selections. Tailored just for you, this feature ensures that your content journey is seamless, enjoyable, and filled with topics that truly matter to you
LANDING PAGE - TOP STORIES
Introducing a Gallery Feature for Horizontal Scrolling to Explore More Related Articles
SWIPE THROUGH ARTICLES
This integrated feature not only refines your content preferences but also streamlines actions, providing a comprehensive and efficient user experience.
ARTICLE INTERACTION
VISUAL BREAKS
These interstitials not only showcase the graphic excellence of the magazine but also provide a captivating pause, allowing you to appreciate the artistic brilliance that defines The New Yorker.
NEXT STEPS
Ability to change interests and follow specific people or content for continuous feed customization.
Strengthening the library structure for a more organized and personalized user experience.
LIBRARY SECTION ENHANCEMENT
STRUCTURES CATEGORIES FOR MAGAZINE CONTENT
Implementation of structured categories and accurate labels for articles to facilitate easy navigation and search.
IMPROVED SEARCH FUNCTIONALITY
Enhancing the search bar with better filters for a more efficient and feature-rich content search experience.
Addition of more interactive elements throughout the layout to enhance overall user engagement.
INTERACTIVE LAYOUT ELEMENTS
WHAT COULD BE DONE DIFFERENTLY?
Introduced a tagging system to further refine the organization of articles and improve search functionality.
Conducted a thorough analysis of user preferences to determine the most relevant and desired content categories.
Prioritized user-friendly design elements
Ensuring the visual language aligns with user expectations and enhances overall usability.