DESIGN: PRINCIPLES

I have developed a series of principle to follow whilst designing the future of YouTube, these core principles will be used as a basis for design consideration when designing any element of the website.

Responsive and Device Agnostic
All of the designs will be built for web specification however all times it must be considered how whatever element or interaction that is being design will work across other devices. The key here is that the experience, look and feel must be the same no matter what device the user is on and therefore all the design elements and functionality must work across all devices such as Mobile, Tablet and Television.

Inherently Flat allowing content to scream
the aesthetics of the should remain subtle and unobtrusive to the user experience, the content should form the main aesthetic of the design, content is key. Designed elements must fit around content but content should always be the primary focus throughout the entire experience.

Always there video 
The progression of the YouTube redesign will be in never removing of the video player, at all times within the experience the youtube video player will always be present, the player represents the core content on the site and is how content is view therefore the user should always be connected to the player. The interface should so focus on this aspect mostly, the interface interaction should be based on content being placed as overlays over the video.

DESIGN: Plan

The entire design of the site will be designed for Web use, this will then be translated across other devices in relevant circumstances. This plan outlines each of the screens and concepts that need to be designed and for which devices. 

DEFINE: Existing iPad Experience

DEFINE: Exiting iPhone Experience

DEFINE: User Interface Concepts

 

 

I have been looking into some UI concepts and conventions that could potentially be applied to my YouTube redesign. I have looked across a range of user interfaces that are primarily focused on the aggregation of content or the discovery of content, two aspects which are key to YouTube's user experience. 

Discovered

• 'Flat' aesthetic, this is common place in many of the interfaces that I have looked it, I think this is an effect aesthetic tool within interface as it allows the content to be the focus of the experience and the interface, the interface should be effortless and disappear around the content
• Large typography will need to be used on Television interface to cater for user's distance from the screen
• Content heavy, the current user experience of YouTube is sparse, content is small and hide to find, whereas content should scream out to user and excite users to interact with new content 
• High contrast between bright whites and dark greys
• Brand created through the use of brand colours throughout an interface rather than just through use of a logo or symbol
• Large buttons and icons make them easy to understand and interact with on any device

DEFINE: Existing YouTube 'Redesigns'

There are some existing YouTube redesigns that I have found online however they only aim to change the platform aesthetically and do not offer any changes which enhance or provide new concepts for how the platform can evolve. 

DEFINE: Exisitng YouTube TV Experience

The current experience on the TV with YouTube is an experience drastically different from how the service functions on other platforms. Although the application is easy to use, it's still hard to either find specific content or engage and discover new content. Furthermore with such a large real estate on screen more content could be shown to attract users to new content where as right now only a maximum of three piece of content are shown at anyone time. 

DEFINE: TV Interfaces

As I have already looked at the interface of the Xbox OneGuide which is designed for TV and a large part of my redesign will focus around making the current YouTube TV experience much efficient and enhancing that experience as well as creating an experience that is the same no matter what device you are on.

DEFINE: Existing YouTube UI

YouTube UI in 2005

YouTube UI in 2006

YouTube UI in 2007

YouTube UI in 2008

YouTube UI in 2009

YouTube UI in 2010

YouTube UI in 2011

YouTube UI 2012

YouTube UI in 2013

As is evident from the timeline of screenshots above the YouTube user interface has remained largely unchanged since it's introduction in 2005. The platform has made incremental changes to the service but essentially videos exist on a single page, comments and related video surround the video. But in the today's world with modern web browser a much more immersive experience could be happening with YouTube especially across internet connected devices. Great emphasis could be placed on showcasing and discovering new content.