INDUSTRY:
Entertainment
CLIENT:
YouTube
DURATION:
6 months
SKILLS:
Mobile design, design thinking
YouTube Media Hub
about.
YouTube was developing a way to manage multiple videos playing on various devices, called the MediaHub. As a last-minute replacement, I was tasked with executing the agreed-upon design for an MVP.
challenge.
However, the design had significant problems. As a contractor with limited sway and the only design voice on a PM-led team already fully on track to deliver, I had to figure out a way to bring the team on board by pausing their engineering work and taking the time to design a proper experience.
solution.
Instead of stalling the project over an inherited design, I identified practical areas for improvement. The transfer button was both confusing and non-compliant with accessibility guidelines (needed to be 48px). Additionally, MediaHub’s UX allowed users to land on nested pages without visiting the parent, misaligning with Google’s ecosystem and causing engineering issues.
To address accessibility, I consulted with the Accessibility Team, who guided our direction. For the transfer issue, I explored alternative designs and shared iterations with the team to highlight critical flaws. With executive approval, I reimagined the design from scratch, proposing solutions from inline expansion to a single-tap UX, acknowledging potential re-engineering but ensuring long-term success.
results.
An MVP was delivered and has been a success, saving the eng and pm functions work in the long term and ensuring that the project will launch.
