Secret password? 🤫

My role

Led UX|UI design

Client

Verizon

Platform

TV, web, app

Timeline

July 2023 - February 2024

The product

Fios TV presents Kids Universe

Over the years Verizon has expanded within their TV space releasing Fios and Stream TV. Now they are looking to explore and implement a kids experience within their current Fios TV platform. Fios TV is available on multiple devices including TV, web, and app. The brief from the client is to design a MVP with features including an entry point, thoughtful curated content for kids, and the option to filter by age groups. Parental controls are still to consider, but for phase 1 the approach is to provide a playground for kids content while utilizing the existing navigational patterns to implement a quicker release.

Over the years Verizon has expanded within their TV space releasing Fios and Stream TV. Now they are looking to explore and implement a kids experience within their current Fios TV platform. Fios TV is available on multiple devices including TV, web, and app. The brief from the client is to design a MVP with features including an entry point, thoughtful curated content for kids, and the option to filter by age groups. Parental controls are still to consider, but for phase 1 the approach is to provide a playground for kids content while utilizing the existing navigational patterns to implement a quicker release.

The problem

Profiles aren't available

The challenge with Fios TV is that currently there are no profiles due to the complexities of it being an aggregated product combined with different streaming services. This makes it difficult to create individual profiles for users so we had to look into other ways to implement future experiences such as Kids and Sports into the product.

The challenge with Fios TV is that currently there are no profiles due to the complexities of it being an aggregated product combined with different streaming services. This makes it difficult to create individual profiles for users so we had to look into other ways to implement future experiences such as Kids and Sports into the product.

MVP outcome

Seamless integration to kids experience

6 months later after many iterations, below we have our latest design that our client Verizon wants to proceed with. This approach would be the most feasible to implement without heavy lifting. Before going on with further enhancements, it’s important for our client to test out the skin of the product before adding in more features. This video showcases the kids entry point through a shortcut card, age filtering option, and kid-friendly curated content rails.

6 months later after many iterations, below we have our latest design that our client Verizon wants to proceed with. This approach would be the most feasible to implement without heavy lifting. Before going on with further enhancements, it’s important for our client to test out the skin of the product before adding in more features. This video showcases the kids entry point through a shortcut card, age filtering option, and kid-friendly curated content rails.

Research and user interviews

What do parents think?

We started off by interviewing a variety of parents to try and identify key important features and concerns. The insights we gathered helped shape the important things we can focus on first:

• Playful visuals for kids engagement
• Valuing kid-friendly content and parental controls
• Personalization that caters to uniqueness
• Curated content for specific age groups
• Assistance with discoverability and reliable recommendations

These insights helped us realized that we are designing for 2 user groups (parents and kids). We discovered that the kids experience is more than just entertainment, but can also be a strong influence on the child’s growth and development. This brings importance to the curation of content and age groups that should be considered in our product.

We started off by interviewing a variety of parents to try and identify key important features and concerns. The insights we gathered helped shape the important things we can focus on first:

• Playful visuals for kids engagement
• Valuing kid-friendly content and parental controls
• Personalization that caters to uniqueness
• Curated content for specific age groups
• Assistance with discoverability and reliable recommendations

These insights helped us realized that we are designing for 2 user groups (parents and kids). We discovered that the kids experience is more than just entertainment, but can also be a strong influence on the child’s growth and development. This brings importance to the curation of content and age groups that should be considered in our product.

Synthesizing research

Fostering mindsets, not personas

Through our research, we discovered that calling our user groups “personas” would be slightly too limiting. The age groups that fall within the mindsets have very particular behaviors and actions that come along with aging up. By using the word “mindset”, our designs help answer the question of ‘how do kids at this particular age behave and what do they need?.

Through our research, we discovered that calling our user groups “personas” would be slightly too limiting. The age groups that fall within the mindsets have very particular behaviors and actions that come along with aging up. By using the word “mindset”, our designs help answer the question of ‘how do kids at this particular age behave and what do they need?.

Design approach

Building a foundation

To kick off the designing, I played a key role in creating components to establish a visual design language for the project. We discussed as a team to portray a playful tone so I experimented with graphics, gradients, animations, and really honed in on prototyping to provide an impactful presentation.

To kick off the designing, I played a key role in creating components to establish a visual design language for the project. We discussed as a team to portray a playful tone so I experimented with graphics, gradients, animations, and really honed in on prototyping to provide an impactful presentation.

(Scroll over image to view more)

MVP design solutions

How might we enter the kids experience?

As per the MVP ask, we had to explore an entry point into the kids experience without using profiles. We looked into a few blue sky ideas along with the most feasible options to implement as per our client's request.

Design solution 1: Toggle entry in top level navigation
This option was explored as a blue sky idea since the toggle component doesn't currently exist in the top level menu. The idea is to allow the viewer to flip between the core and kids experiences.

As per the MVP ask, we had to explore an entry point into the kids experience without using profiles. We looked into a few blue sky ideas along with the most feasible options to implement as per our client's request.

Design solution 1: Toggle entry in top level navigation
This option was explored as a blue sky idea since the toggle component doesn't currently exist in the top level menu. The idea is to allow the viewer to flip between the core and kids experiences.

Design solution 2: Immersive full screen banner
Based on our research we found kids to be drawn to visual imagery. Filling the hero promo banner with kids content can entice our younger audience to want to view more. This option also works as a promotional feature to introduce the kids experience.

Design solution 2: Immersive full screen banner
Based on our research we found kids to be drawn to visual imagery. Filling the hero promo banner with kids content can entice our younger audience to want to view more. This option also works as a promotional feature to introduce the kids experience.

Design solution 3: Jump to shortcut cards 🏆
Based on user data from our client researcher, the jump to shortcut cards have a lot of traffic due to it's location being on top of the screen. It's functionality is similar to a top level navigation but it's usage it to bring you to specific content rather than being a technical component. We found this to be the most feasible approach as it's an existing component within the design system, and also quicker to access the kids experience because of the top level placement. This entry point option can also be used for additional add-on experiences such as sports and so on.

Design solution 3: Jump to shortcut cards 🏆
Based on user data from our client researcher, the jump to shortcut cards have a lot of traffic due to it's location being on top of the screen. It's functionality is similar to a top level navigation but it's usage it to bring you to specific content rather than being a technical component. We found this to be the most feasible approach as it's an existing component within the design system, and also quicker to access the kids experience because of the top level placement. This entry point option can also be used for additional add-on experiences such as sports and so on.

Design enhancements (Parents)

Parents are in control

To offer reassurance to parents, I came up with a few features that will allow for parental controls to manage their kids viewing experience. The lock feature displays an educational tooltip on how the content can be locked by long pressing down 'OK' on the remote, and also instructions on unlocking. Another feature is having a time limit on viewing. Parents don't want their kids consuming television for long periods of time. Adding a playful message "Ready for a break?" can help the kids feel less in trouble but more encouraging to reduce screen time activity.

To offer reassurance to parents, I came up with a few features that will allow for parental controls to manage their kids viewing experience. The lock feature displays an educational tooltip on how the content can be locked by long pressing down 'OK' on the remote, and also instructions on unlocking. Another feature is having a time limit on viewing. Parents don't want their kids consuming television for long periods of time. Adding a playful message "Ready for a break?" can help the kids feel less in trouble but more encouraging to reduce screen time activity.

Design enhancements (Kids)

Now that we're done with the grownups…

Let's jump into the fun stuff! We wanted to create a visually friendly environment for the kids experience. Based on our conversation with parents, there has been a lot of statements about kids having their favorite characters and how it excites them. I created a "Choose your character" rail to enhance kids interaction by allowing them to select a character. The selection will proceed into a collections page filled with content based on the character selected. Another fun visual I created is drawing attention to content. I had a play with graphic placement and added the Peanuts characters on top of the curated content row to entice young viewers. (See 2nd example below)

Let's jump into the fun stuff! We wanted to create a visually friendly environment for the kids experience. Based on our conversation with parents, there has been a lot of statements about kids having their favorite characters and how it excites them. I created a "Choose your character" rail to enhance kids interaction by allowing them to select a character. The selection will proceed into a collections page filled with content based on the character selected. Another fun visual I created is drawing attention to content. I had a play with graphic placement and added the Peanuts characters on top of the curated content row to entice young viewers. (See 2nd example below)

Futher explorations

Additional features

Throughout this journey, we have created a lot of design iterations to enhance the kids experience. Although some of these additional features may not be implemented in phase 1, there will be a potential need for them in the upcoming phases based on discussions we had with our clients.

Throughout this journey, we have created a lot of design iterations to enhance the kids experience. Although some of these additional features may not be implemented in phase 1, there will be a potential need for them in the upcoming phases based on discussions we had with our clients.

The potential

Future scope and possibilities

Future scope and
possibilities

Research shows that most American children spend about 3-7 hours of total screen time per day. The Verizon Fios kids experience could capture an increase of young viewers as research shows that kids screen time can go up to 90% in the summer months. There is also opportunity to drive revenue within the Verizon Fios TV space by simplifying discoverability for kids content.

We also took into consideration that kids aren’t only viewing through their television but also across different devices. As shown below, designs were also created for desktop web, tablet, and mobile app as we think about the future of this product.

Research shows that most American children spend about 3-7 hours of total screen time per day. The Verizon Fios kids experience could capture an increase of young viewers as research shows that kids screen time can go up to 90% in the summer months. There is also opportunity to drive revenue within the Verizon Fios TV space by simplifying discoverability for kids content.

We also took into consideration that kids aren’t only viewing through their television but also across different devices. As shown below, designs were also created for desktop web, tablet, and mobile app as we think about the future of this product.

Retrospective

What I learned 💭