Netflix

Netflix is a global streaming service that offers a wide variety of TV shows, movies, documentaries, and original content across various genres. With a subscription-based model, it provides on-demand entertainment to millions of users worldwide, accessible on multiple devices.

Many people struggle to figure out what they want to watch when faced with Netflix's vast library of content. While playlists are commonly used for organizing music, there is no similar feature for curating and saving favorite films and TV shows by mood or genre, making it challenging for users to quickly find and enjoy their preferred content.

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My goal is to enhance the Netflix user experience by redesigning  "My List" into a playlist feature that allows users to curate and save their favorite films and TV shows by mood or genre. This will enable users to easily access their preferred content, making their viewing experience more personalized and efficient. By organizing content into playlists, users can make quicker decisions on what to watch, reducing the time spent scrolling through endless options.

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Why is this product or feature important?‍

The playlist feature addresses users' frustration with deciding what to watch by allowing them to organize favorites by mood or genre.

What problem are we trying to solve?

We aim to reduce decision fatigue and enhance the user experience by providing an easy way to curate and access favorite content quickly.

What impact does it have on the world?

Customers save time and effort with personalized playlists, making it easier to revisit favorite shows and movies tailored to their preferences.

How does it extend the company's mission?

The feature aligns with Netflix's mission to entertain the world by providing a personalized, accessible way to enjoy top-tier content, catering to users' tastes worldwide.

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I considered many ways to redesign features for Netflix, but enhancing the "My List" feature to include playlists emerged as the most impactful and easiest to implement for developers.

This Smart Playlists feature would allow users to create, manage, and access personalized playlists based on mood or genre with minimal effort. Other ideas included enhanced search options and watch party integration, but the playlist feature stood out for its simplicity and effectiveness.

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I aimed to maintain Netflix's consistent branding while ensuring users could easily distinguish that they were not on the landing page. I retained the original landing page formatting but changed the title to reflect the playlist name. The layout includes two distinct rows: one showcasing all of a user's playlists and the other displaying the contents of each playlist.

For the playlist tiles, I wanted something that stood out from traditional show tiles, so I utilized gradients from the profile images to maintain brand consistency. This dual use of gradients not only ensures cohesion but also highlights the unique identity of each playlist, adding a layer of customization.

Aligned with Netflix's "My List" feature, I designed mini screens enabling users to select a playlist for each piece of media.

See a show you recognize but don’t want to watch right now? I designed a mini screen with a scrolling playlist bar to quickly add media to your playlists.

This project really taught me about brand consistency. Designing something for an already existing company like Netflix forced me to figure out new ways to be creative with brand content while maintaining the company's established identity. It was a valuable experience in balancing innovation with brand cohesion.

It also taught me to focus on small details and logistical considerations. Replacing the "My List" feature, which is a one-function button, with a multi-step process for smart playlists was a challenging task. Ensuring that the new feature remained fast and intuitive for users required careful planning and design. Despite the complexity, I am happy with the result and believe it enhances the user experience while aligning with Netflix's brand and mission.