UI/UX Case Study
Scene Seeker
Visit the real world locations of your favourite TV shows.
Location-Based Recommendations Responsive Web App.
Oct 27, 2023 - Jan 10, 2024 | Jess Cope
Objective
To design a web app that meets the needs of TV shows fans wanting to participate in screen tourism, by providing the audience with filming location information and recommendations, all in one place, without them needing to scour multiple sites across the web.
MVP Hypothesis
I believe providing information on popular TV show locations, all in one interface,
for users to search for and plan routes to,
will result in the most intuative site that TV show fans can use to participate in screen tourism.
The User
Curious TV show fans who wish to participate in screen tourism.
User Goals
Using a map to find recommended filming locations.
Searching for TV shows to find it’s filming locations.
Viewing screenshots from TV shows to compare to it’s locations.
My Role
Competitive Analysis
Design Strategy
Information Architecture
Usability Testing
User Interviews
Paper prototyping
User Personas
Wireframes
User Research
Visual Design
Competitive Analysis Design Strategy Information Architecture Usability Testing User Interviews Paper prototyping User Personas Wireframes User Research Visual Design
Design Thinking Process
For this project, the design thinking process was applied to understand and define the problems TV Show fans had in finding filming locations to visit, and to come up with solutions to solve these.
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Competitor Analysis
User Research
User Interviews
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User Personas
JTBD
MVP document
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User Flow Diagram
Brainstorming
Rapid prototyping
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Paper Wireframes
Mid- fidelity wireframes
High-fidelity designs
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Usability testing
A/B & Preference Testing
Peer reviews
Competitor Analysis
Referring to themselves as “the ultimate guide to the world’s most iconic filming locations” Movie World Map’s mission is to be “your reliable guide to the silver screen’s real-life stages”.
Omio is an online travel comparison and booking website, with a section of their site dedicated to screen tourism, with the strapline:
“Exploring old familiar places from your personal favourite films and series!”
Qualitative User Research
User Interviews
User interviews were conducted to better understand and empathise with those who would be likely to interact with the web app.
Three people of a mixture of age groups and gender identities were interviewed to gather a diverse range of insights. All of whom expressed interest in visiting TV show filming locations.
Key Insights Derived
Importance of accessibility
All participants said they would need practical information about a locations (e.g. public transport, opening times).
2/3 participants revealed the need for photos (for comparisons between the location & TV show).
Interview Questions
Roughly how many filming locations have you visited in your lifetime?
How about in the past 12 months?
What motivates you to visit filming locations?
How do you find out about each location?
What do you look for when researching a filming location?
What do you normally do during your visit to a filming location?
What, if anything, has prevented you from visiting a filming location in the past?
What features do you think would be most useful to you in a filming location app?
Direct Quote
“I don't have the capacity for research due to ADHD, so I don't really find out about locations. The app would be really good for this, because it would be easy to access and, like, all in one place for me.”
Defining the web app
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Scene Seeker was designed for TV Show fans who participate in screen tourism (visiting public filming locations).
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Tasks and goals the audience would be accomplishing as they use Scene Seeker:
Using a map to find recommended filming locations.
Searching to find TV show, episode and filming location information.
Viewing screenshots and video clips from TV shows to compare to it’s locations.
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Scene Seeker’s audience would be engaging with the product:
When looking up where something was filmed.
When looking for recommended filming locations.
When planning routes to recommended filming locations.
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Scene Seeker will likely be used:
When researching filming locations at home
When visiting the locations e.g for directions or TV show screenshots.
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Scene Seeker’s audience would choose to use the web app because it provides the information they need to find and visit filming locations, all in one place, without them needing to scour fandom blogs or subreddits.
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The users will accomplish their goals by utilizing the easy to digest information and interactive map the web app provides.
Personas
Desmond
61 | Retired | Bristol, England
Bio
Desmond is a huge fan of a particular TV show. He aims to take photos at some of the TV shows filming locations, that line up with the exact shot in the show. He wants to find out as much information as he can on each location, to make sure the photos are as accurate as possible.
Frustrations
Has to be at the location at a certain time of day & year to snap the most accurate recreation of the TV show still.
Location needs to look recognisable/ hasn’t changed too much since filming.
Goals
To take shot-for-shot photos at the locations.
To visit when it’s quieter (less people to get in way of camera).
Needs
Precise location information.
To view screenshots for comparing at the location.
“I feel connected to my favourite TV show when I stand where the actors stood, and re-capture it’s iconic shots on my camera.”
Boe
21 | office worker | South West, England
Bio
Boe has ADHD, so needs support with research and a clean / easy interface to navigate. They enjoy watching TV in their free time, but want to be more active to improve their wellbeing. They want to use the thrill of visiting locations, from their favourite shows, to get outside more.
Frustrations
Low attention capacity for location research.
Lack of free time due to job.
Goals
To To get outside & improve wellbeing.
To take photos at the locations.
Needs
Has ADHD; needs engaging interface.
Has to be incentivised/ rewarded for getting outside/ visiting locations.
“I find it hard to motivate myself to get outside, so visiting the locations of my favourite TV shows really help.”
26 | unemployed | Glasgow, Scotland
Johnathan
Bio
Johnathan is looking to go on holiday to visit some filming locations for a sense of nostalgia. Due to not having a job he needs to be mindful of how much the trip will cost. He also doesn’t have a car so will need to make his way using public transport.
Frustrations
Limited by cost.
Reliant on public transport.
Goals
To participate in screen tourism on a low budget.
To have fun/ feel nostalgic.
Needs
A way to filter locations based on cost to visit
Ability to find nearby accommodation & public transport.
“I want to get away and visit the locations of some of my favourite TV shows of all time, but I need to watch my spending.”
Jobs To Be Done
When I open the web app, I want to be greeted by an intuitive layout, so I can easily find my way and complete my goals.
Requirements: Accessible colours, consistent UI patterns, clear visual hierarchy.
When I am planning to visit a location, I want to have access to practical information, such as opening times, admission costs, and nearest access to public transport, so I can plan when I’ll go and how I’ll get there.
Requirements: Ability to click location on the map and view a pop up of practical information, further info on individual page.
When I am watching a scene in a show, I want to be able to search for the show in the app, so I can find the location where the scene was filmed.
Requirements: Search bar, results page, individual pages for TV shows and locations.
When I’m at a location, I want to find stills from the TV show within the app, so I can confirm I’m viewing the same perspective that the show was shot.
Requirements: Search bar, results page, individual pages for TV shows and locations.
User flow
Style Guide
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Responsive design
Mobile-first design was implemented due the likelihood of users accessing the site on smartphone screens, whilst at a filming location or watching TV.
Screens were then adapted to multiple device sizes to ensure the best user experience on any screen.
Project Retrospective
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The user interviews gave a lot of valuable insight that had not been previously thought of, such as how someone with ADHD would interact with the web app and the different goals and motivations users may have.
The 12 column grid vertical grid, used in the initial mobile designs, made scaling up to other screen sizes quick and efficient, leaving only minor adaption needed to provide the best user experience at each size.
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More time and consideration should have been spent during the ideation stage to condense the user journeys, so users were able to reach their goals as quickly as possible, as many screens were not needed.
Due to this issue not being addressed earlier, a revision of the user flow diagram had to be made after many of the, now redundant, screens had been designed, therefore wasting a lot of time.
In future more time will be spent user testing paper prototypes to get the user journeys ironed out and finalise at an earlier stage.
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If Scene Seeker were to have a second iteration further problems raised in the user interviews would be addressed, such as:
The ability to filter locations by admission cost to help users on a budget.
Nearby accommodation recommendations for locations perhaps using API to a hotel booking site.
Gamification to help users with ADHD, such as the ability to mark locations as visited to receive rewards in the form of digital badges.
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