After the launch of their Freeview Play offering and a complete brand re-design, Freeview decided it was high time they updated their seven year old website. So they tasked us with building it.
To ensure their customers got the best possible experience, I challenged myself and the team with creating a super fast, fully responsive site that utilised CMS as well as their favoured WordPress platform.
This project was also an opportunity for me to introduce component-based design practices to the team, allowing us to split the building of the user interface into smaller, more manageable aspects. Meaning that new content could be added easily while the site design retained its consistency.
With over 1 million users a year, the only design principle was speed and efficiency. Giving the whole team as well as the client a clear focal point as we developed the work. A key area of our focus for the UX, UI and the build was around the TV guide. The service that generated the most traffic and return visits.
The source of most site traffic, it was important we managed the introduction of the TV guide carefully. Being wary of how users might respond to a 'new' experience, we created a research group composed of regular users and were able to minimise the risk of a negative response. First, defining a clear list of enhanced functionalities to improve the user experience:
• Text only (for light loading)
• Top Picks
• Filter by taste
• Regional Viewing options
• Program Reminders
• Available episodes on Catch Up
Then, after the enhanced user needs were defined, we looked at how the transition could be seamlessly managed:
• Setting up an ongoing user test group
• Notifying customers of the change via email
• Launching the site as a beta option from the menu
When it came to testing it, we created a bespoke dynamic test platform built in-house that alongside the style guide ensured we were able to take any new component and review it quickly.
This process meant we were in constant touch with the client, taking them on every step of the journey, as well as providing them with the ability to monitor the progress of the site. Ensuring fewer shocks for them, fewer amends for us, a better end product for their customers.