Starz

Role: Senior UX Designer / 2014-2015

Before STARZ rebranded and introduced a standalone service, I worked on various iterations of the app that investigated the concept of an independent offering. At that time, STARZ operated three streaming services: STARZ Play, Encore Play, and MoviePlex Play, each with a significant user base. We sought a solution that preserved these three brands while consolidating the content libraries into a unified experience tailored by roles and permissions. Another significant project I completed was enhancing the entire Chromecast experience, which helped establish STARZ as a valuable streaming partner on the Google Chromecast platform.

Starz Play Tablet & Mobile App

Immersive, Content-Driven Design for a Cinematic Experience

The STARZ Play tablet experience was designed with one core principle: putting the content front and center. Every interface element was meticulously crafted to enhance the viewing experience by creating an immersive, cinematic environment for users.

To achieve this, we increased the prominence of images across the app, using larger, high-quality visuals that truly showcase the rich storytelling and breathtaking cinematography that STARZ is known for. Background imagery was seamlessly integrated to create a sense of immersion, drawing users into the world of each show or movie. This approach transformed the app from a functional viewing platform into a more visually captivating space, making the content feel as dynamic and engaging as it truly is.

One of the standout features of the tablet design is the dynamic color banners in the featured content section. These banners adapt to the content they represent, pulling color dynamically from the artwork itself to create a cohesive and vibrant visual experience. This not only adds a layer of polish but also reinforces the unique identity of each title, making the app feel personalized and in tune with its content.

Overall, the STARZ Play tablet experience elevates content discovery by turning the browsing process into a visually rich journey. The intuitive, image-driven design ensures that users are always engaged, whether they’re exploring new releases, catching up on past episodes, or browsing the app’s extensive catalog. The focus on content and immersion creates a more memorable and enjoyable experience that encourages users to spend more time exploring and discovering new favorites.

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PLAY | Concept by STARZ

An Immersive, Unified Streaming Experience

PLAY is a visionary concept designed to merge the individual STARZ Play, MoviePlex Play, and Encore Play apps into one cohesive, multi-dimensional experience. PLAY focuses on creating an immersive environment and taps into the psychological concept of "flow state" to foster seamless content discovery and interaction. This approach enhances user engagement and encourages users to immerse themselves in a continuous discovery cycle where content feels curated, personalized, and ever-evolving.

The core concept behind PLAY was to consolidate the capabilities of three distinct streaming services while maintaining the integrity of content rights across the platforms. By blending the strengths of STARZ Play, Encore, and MoviePlex, we sought to create a singular experience that would maximize user satisfaction and simplify navigation. This concept, part of an R&D initiative, aimed to explore the potential for a unified platform without sacrificing each service's unique content.

At the heart of the app lies an advanced content recommendation engine driven by user interactions and engagement. PLAY would continuously adapt based on individual viewing habits, delivering tailored content suggestions while prioritizing the seamless transition between different media types. The app’s design was built to foster cognitive synergy, allowing users to flow from one piece of content to the next without feeling the disruption often found in traditional browsing and app switching.

The app’s interface was designed to reduce cognitive load and keep users in a "content discovery bliss" state by making navigation as intuitive and natural as possible. The goal was to ensure that each experience felt connected and fluid, removing friction from finding something new to watch. By merging these services, the user is not only presented with more content but is empowered with the freedom to explore seamlessly across multiple genres and offerings in a straightforward app experience.

PLAY was more than just a conceptual design. It explored the future of streaming platforms, acknowledging users' evolving needs in a constantly shifting media landscape. It aimed to push the boundaries of traditional content delivery, creating a space where entertainment feels effortless, intuitive, and deeply immersive.