Netflix Recommend Feature
Recommend shows and movies to friends with ease.
Project Overview
Role
UX & UI Designer
Preview the Solution
Friend Management: Users can add, remove, and manage friends.
Friends’ Recommendations: Highlight shows liked or recommended by friends.
Project Type
Add a Feature
Finding a streaming services that has a social aspect to them is very hard to find. Especially in this day and age, everyone is trying to find ways to connect with others. Creating a convenient and user-friendly way for people to recommend shows can enhance their entertainment experience and make it easier for them to share their favorite content with others. Having a feature where you could recommend your favorite shows/movies to friends would be the perfect way to solve this dilemma.
Timeline
2 Months
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The Problem
Netflix is an amazing streaming service that is popular around the world. As an avid Netflix user, I noticed how many times I said to myself, “I wish I knew what my friends were watching” or "I wish I could easily recommend a show to them through the service.” Users are looking for ways to share their favorite shows on Netflix, and sharing through their service would be the perfect idea.
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The Solution
Having a friends list feature and the ability to recommend shows would make communicating to friends easier, and it would be right at their fingertips. No more trying to remember that show their friend recommended. Implementing more sharing features within the app could indeed save users time and make sharing content more convenient.
User Goals
Find new ways to connect socially through Netflix.
The ability to recommend shows to friends and family.
Find joy and connection when sharing favorite shows.
Business Goals
Increase sales with the addition of a new feature.
Bring more exposure to a large and established company like Netflix.
My Process
Research
*
Define
*
Ideate
*
Design
*
Prototype
*
Test
*
Iterate
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Research * Define * Ideate * Design * Prototype * Test * Iterate *
Research Goals
My research goal is to find out what users need when trying to connect with their friends through Netflix, and how they can recommend shows/movies to them. Having a social aspect on Netflix can keep people connected by bringing them a recommend feature.
Research
Competitive Analysis
During competitive analysis I was able to look at 2 different companies and compare their advantages and disadvantages. I was also able to decide what new feature my users needed on Netflix to connect with friends and make recommendations.
Key Findings
All streaming services have a cost/plan to purchase.
All have shows, movies, and series.
You can download from all services.
None of the companies had a recommend feature.
User Interviews
During the user interviews and surveys, I conducted, I was able to find out the user pain points about recommending shows to their friends. I found out that people love getting recommendations but often forget the name of the show.
“With the my list feature I can easily find shows I have started watching.”
“I love giving recommendations to family and friends, but I sometimes forget.”
“I usually forget the recommendations that someone told me.”
“I love getting recommendations.”
Interview Data
Knowing what shows users watch, which features they use, and their usage of the Netflix app can provide valuable context for understanding their viewing habits and preferences. To further explore the "when, why, and how" of recommending shows, I can ask specific questions related to these aspects during the interview.
Key Findings
Users love to give and receive recommendations on their favorite shows on Netflix.
Most users recommend their favorite shows to their family and friends, or when they see them in person.
Most people forget the recommended show.
Key Takeaways
Introducing a social sharing feature within the Netflix streaming service can facilitate users in communicating their favorite shows to friends.
Recommending and receiving recommendations for Netflix shows and movies can enhance the experience and facilitate connections among friends.
Users are looking for ways to remember the shows that have been recommended to them, and a recommend feature would be the perfect solution.
Define
Who is my Persona?
Creating a persona based on the common traits and needs of the individuals from my user interviews, helped me understand my target audience better.
“College Student”
Gabby has a passion for science and the human body, which is a great fit for someone on the Physician Assistant track. Gabby's love for socializing with friends and connecting through her favorite streaming service is a common way for people to relax and unwind. It's important for her to strike a balance between her academic pursuits and social life to maintain a healthy and fulfilling college experience.
Site Map
While creating my site map, I had my user in mind, when deciding where the new feature should be placed and how easily she could find it.
You can see the color-coded topics I choose, in addition to the new feature, how to add friends, and creating a list for Netflix.
Ideate
User Flows
I focused on a task flow that would lead users to the recommend screen. After the user clicks on the recommend icon, they would be taken to a new screen to add friends and create their favorites list.
User Flow : As a 20 year old college student, I want to find a good balance between my studies and social life, including connecting with friends through activities like watching Netflix.
Sketches
Designing a new feature and icon for different task flows can greatly enhance the user experience and make your platform more visually appealing. These were my initial sketches for my wireframes. After receiving feedback, I focused on the first five screens for the high-fidelity wireframes.
Design
Wireframes
Designing with the user in mind can greatly enhance the user experience and make your product more intuitive and user-friendly. Maintaining a consistent design and user experience across all screens within the Netflix platform is crucial for brand recognition and a seamless user journey.
Prototype
Using Figma, I translated my mobile app sketches into high fidelity wireframes. I created these designs using both Netflix UI kits and my own designs. I especially enjoyed creating my own recommend screen where users can add friends and create their favorite lists. This way they can easily connect their friends to their favorite shows.
Total Participants: 5
Goal: To determine if the navigation flow in the wireframes were easy to understand, I employed a variety of methods to gather feedback and evaluate the user experience.
Test
Usability Testing
User testing is a crucial step in the design process to ensure that your platform is user-friendly and meets the needs of your target audience.
I tested the “recommend” user flow, to see if they could easily find the recommend icon to lead them to the next main screen.
Creating an icon to lead users to the main recommend page was essential for improving the user experience.
Task 1: Users will click on the recommend icon and invite friends.
There was a 100% success rate when conducting the usability testing. All participants completed the test from start to finish.
Analysis of Test Results
Feedback:
No changes were recommended or required, and I was able to complete the project without the need for further iterations or revisions. The initial work met the desired standards or objectives.
Final Thoughts
By offering a simple and quick way for them to connect with their friends through a popular streaming service, I am providing an excellent solution that caters to their needs while watching their favorite entertainment. While testing this feature, many of the users loved it and wished Netflix actually had a recommend feature.
Next Steps:
Create wireframes for both the add friends and create list user flows.
Test the new screens and make into prototypes.
Create new icons for the shortcuts tab.
The final screen could be animated when they recommend to their friends.
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