Sports, from the inside out.
Sports Dissected; A series driven video streaming platform that takes a look at sports from a different perspective, and a place to call home for their millions of viewers.
Overview
Picture This:
You're sports fan, and you have a curious mind. The season is officially over and wont be back until next fall, and now you feel an emptiness and void that your favorite teams once filled. But keep in mind, you're an athlete yourself. In fact, you're an NCAA athlete for the men's division basketball team, as well as a college student. With a very active lifestyle and busy schedule, your passion as a sports fan drives your goals and aspirations of playing at the professional level. You use your down time to watch your favorite games, but lately you've been interested in learning about sports from a different perspective.
The Problem:
Sports enthusiasts follow their favorite teams, but there are only so many games per season, and beyond that, they are left to wait until the next season. Leaving them to desire more content, they want more. They want to discover a behind the scenes approach that will reveal the immense amount of time, preparation, training, and practice, that is necessary to fulfill the demands of an 82 game season. Viewers want a better understanding of the desire, blood, sweat, and tears, that brings each team closer to becoming champions.
The Solution:
Sports Dissected is a multi-platform media brand that covers a behind the scenes perspective of player interviews, locker room facilities, practice, and even a series on "how it's made" that has never been seen before. Spread across a catalogue of 242 videos on youtube. Accumulating a massive following of 340 thousand subscribers, and 74 million views, Sports Dissected is now delivering a cohesive platform that is separate from Youtube where sports fans can engage with their content with the rest of the community, all in one place. Different from Youtube, viewers now have the chance to pay for episodes and bonus footage that would not have been available otherwise.
Explore several different series to discover videos that examine the inner workings of sports.
Or search for videos that are specific to your interests.
Alternate between full page vertical scrolling, or solid state scrolling, to keep watching while you search for what's next.
Engage with our community by liking, commenting, sharing, and downloading to your device.
Pressing play on each video will bring them to the video player, without switching screens, or losing time stamps.
Play while browsing, multi tasking, or while on the go.
Enter full screen mode by selecting the icon on the bottom right, or simply turn your phone sideways to enter landscape mode.
Play and pause videos, scroll time lines to fast-forward and rewind, adjust volume, playback speed, and quality.
Airplay to your smart tv, and favorite devices.
Leave comments and respond to others, let us know what you like most about our content and leave suggestions on what you'd like to see next.
View detailed descriptions on each video. Get to know the Sports Dissected brand and learn more about the sports divisions that we showcase and interview.
Watch our content on several different devices from separate locations. all while using the same account.
Home Page
Choose series, airplay, like, share, download. Dive into sports from a different point of view.
Comment Section / Device Streaming
Video Description & Community Engagement
Full Page Vertical Scroll
Instead of fixed scrolling while watching, Scroll through the entire page, accessible when the video is paused.
Make this feature permanent in settings.
Make this feature permanent in settings.
Adaptive Screen Orientation & Playback Tool Bar
Enter full screen mode or simply turn your phone to enter landscape mode.
Play and pause videos, scroll timelines to fast-forward and rewind, adjust volume, playback speed, and resolution.
All of which accessible to your Smart TV during airplay.
The Process:
From my own desire of discovering the inner workings of how things are made, I asked myself;
What kind of video-streaming platform can I build that will make such content easy to find, but categorized into collections that are no longer divided, lending itself to a communal experience, where users can like, comment, share, and even subscribe to premium content that they can't access anywhere else. I picture sports fans watching this content on the go as they would anything else, but also interested in streaming it to their tv and other devices, receiving notifications when new videos drop so they can share them with friends, and even leave comments to discuss what they would like to see next. Wont users also need the ability to search for videos, toggle between series, and create playlists on what to watch next? Will the videos they choose to watch create an algorithm of suggestions on videos that will be recommended to them?
We begin by conducting research to understand how and when users (sports fans) watch events and games, and even similar content by investigating stressors and constraints that make that process difficult. To get a better understanding of our user problem, and target users, our research goals are to:
Discover any problems or obstacles they encounter watching videos online using other platforms.
Empathize by developing an understanding how sports fans feel when they miss out on watching their favorite teams succeed by having to check several different social media platforms to make sure they haven't missed something that intrigues them.
Ideate a host of problem solving brainstorming sessions amongst designers to produce as many ideas as possible.
Define a solution based on tool(s) participants currently use to find and observe sports news and media that might offer a similar perspective.
Analyze user interviews by gathering insight into with the users needs, empathizing for their reasoning, and using such information to define user personas, affinity maps, and empathy maps.
Sketching wireframes helps us visualize the necessary path to achieve our solution .
Bringing this solution to life, we prototype our solution in low, and high fidelities that will be reiterated, and refined, as we conduct several usability tests in the final stages of our research.
The Research:
I issued several surveys amongst subscribers of Sports Dissected on Youtube, and conducted several over the phone interviews with agents and coaches of the college football and basketball facilities in the NCAA division, asking what their experience was like working with Sports Dissected, and what fans of their teams look for precisely with the content that they enjoy.
Research Questions
1. How often do you use video playing apps to watch sports content?
2. What specific features or functionalities do you find essential in a sports video app?
3. Can you describe a positive experience you've had with a sports video app, and what made it enjoyable for you?
4. Are there any challenges or frustrations you encounter while using sports video apps? If so, please explain.
5. How important is the user interface design in enhancing your overall experience with a sports video app?
6. What types of sports content do you prefer watching on a video app, and why?
7. How do you typically discover new sports content within video apps?
8. Do you engage with social features within sports video apps, such as sharing or commenting on content? Why or why not?
9. What factors influence your decision to continue using a particular sports video app over time?
10. Can you recall a situation where you found it difficult to navigate or find specific content within a sports video app?
Interview Insights
Content Preferences:
- Users express a strong preference for a diverse range of sports content.
- Many users appreciate a mix of live events, highlights, and behind-the-scenes footage.
Usability and Navigation:
- Clarity in navigation is crucial; some users mentioned difficulties finding specific features.
- Users generally find straightforward navigation more appealing for quick access to desired content.
Personalization Features:
- Personalized recommendations based on viewing history are highly valued.
- Participants express interest in features like customizable playlists and tailored content suggestions.
Video Playback Experience:
- Consistent and smooth video playback is essential for user satisfaction.
- Users highlighted occasional buffering issues and delays as areas for improvement.
Social Interaction:
- Social features, such as sharing content and engaging with others, contribute positively to the overall experience.
- Users appreciate integration with social media platforms for easy sharing of favorite sports moments.
Notification System:
- A well-implemented notification system for live events and updates is seen as a positive aspect.
- Users enjoy staying informed about upcoming matches, news, and relevant content.
Customization and Themes:
- Users express a desire for more customization options, including themes and layout choices.
- Personalization contributes to a sense of ownership and enhances the overall user experience.
Technical Performance:
- Technical issues, such as glitches during video playback and delays in switching between categories, impact user satisfaction.
- Users emphasize the importance of a reliable and responsive app performance.
Accessibility Features:
- Accessibility features, such as subtitles and audio descriptions, are appreciated by a segment of users.
- Enhancing accessibility can broaden the app's appeal and inclusivity.
Retention Factors:
- Users are more likely to continue using an app that consistently provides high-quality, up-to-date, and diverse sports content.
- Loyalty is often tied to the app's ability to adapt to user preferences and address feedback promptly.
"Sports Dissected has shown me a perspective on sports that has never been seen before. There is no one else out there that is doing this type of content, and I can't wait to see more"
"I like being able to get a backstage look, not just what we see on tv, but what we see behind the scenes"
"I love seeing the preparation before the game, exclusive interviews with players, and all the work that goes into every sporting event."
These interview insights provide a comprehensive understanding of user expectations, preferences, and pain points. Addressing these insights in app development can lead to a more engaging and user-friendly sports video playing experience.
User Persona
Affinity Map
Map Insights
From synthesizing the results of my interviews into my affinity map, I have learned sports fans are interested in history and would like to see a wider variety of sports covered, with interviews and content from the athletes. Sports fans claim they love the unique perspective Sports Dissected gives them and that they would pay for more behind the scenes content, and that they are encouraged to subscribe by being offered discounts and promotions. They also enjoy leaving comments and engaging with the community, and find it necessary to have a clear search function and layout.
Competitive/ Comparative Analysis
User Flows/Site Map
Wireframes
Interactions
Usability Test Results
Test Participant 1:
- Successfully navigated to the desired sports video content.
- Found the video playback controls intuitive and easy to use.
- Liked the feature that allowed for adjusting video quality based on the internet connection.
- Encountered a slight delay when switching between different sports categories.
- Suggested adding a "Continue Watching" section for easy access to previously viewed content.
Test Participant 2:
- Found the video recommendation algorithm to be accurate and aligned with personal sports preferences.
- Provided feedback on the need for clearer labels on certain icons for better navigation.
- Encountered no difficulties in sharing favorite sports moments on social media via the app.
- Expressed a desire for personalized playlists to curate a collection of favorite sports videos.
Test Participant 3:
- Experienced occasional buffering issues during video playback, affecting the overall user experience.
- Liked the dark mode feature but suggested more customizable themes for personalization.
- Found the app's notification system helpful for live sports event updates.
- Encountered a minor glitch when attempting to resume playback after pausing a video.
- Provided positive feedback on the user-friendly layout and easy access to sports highlights.
The users took approximately 1:15 seconds to operate the task of finding videos, exploring different series, toggling menus, leaving comments, reading descriptions, and using community tools.
90% of users thought the platforms navigation was user friendly, and felt most people would find it easy to use.
85% found the functionality of the platform well integrated, and stated they enjoyed the layout enough, encouraging them to use the platform.
Overall, the usability test results highlight a generally positive user experience, with some participants identifying minor issues that could enhance the app's functionality and overall usability. Addressing concerns related to search functionality, buffering, and customization options could contribute to a more seamless and satisfying experience for users.
First Iteration
Final Prototype
