DeepCast Content Discovery
DeepCast Content Discovery
Explored ways to improve content discovery by identifying UX gaps in navigation and simplifying the homepage, aiming to help users more easily explore, save, and engage with podcasts.
Explored ways to improve content discovery by identifying UX gaps in navigation and simplifying the homepage, aiming to help users more easily explore, save, and engage with podcasts.
MY ROLE
MY ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
TOOLKIT
TOOLKIT
Figma
Figma
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
Sept 2024 - Dec 2024
Sept 2024 - Dec 2024
01. CONTEXT & IMPACT
01. CONTEXT & IMPACT
The work I did and the difference it made 👍
The work I did and the difference
it made 👍
DeepCast is an AI podcast platform that helps users discover and interact with audio content more meaningfully. At the time of this project, DeepCast was still in the early stages of product development, which meant there was a lot of room for exploration and shaping the direction of the platform. While the designs didn’t go live, a big part of my role was to identify key UX gaps and pitch forward-thinking ideas around content discovery, saved content, and native navigation patterns. Users were struggling to find core features like bookmarks and lists, especially on mobile, which impacted engagement and retention. My work focused on reimagining how user-generated content could be surfaced more intuitively, while also laying the groundwork for a native experience in the future. Here’s what that work led to:
DeepCast is an AI podcast platform that helps users discover and interact with audio content more meaningfully. At the time of this project, DeepCast was still in the early stages of product development, which meant there was a lot of room for exploration and shaping the direction of the platform. While the designs didn’t go live, a big part of my role was to identify key UX gaps and pitch forward-thinking ideas around content discovery, saved content, and native navigation patterns. Users were struggling to find core features like bookmarks and lists, especially on mobile, which impacted engagement and retention. My work focused on reimagining how user-generated content could be surfaced more intuitively, while also laying the groundwork for a native experience in the future. Here’s what that work led to:
Redesigned nav system to prioritize user-generated content
Redesigned nav system to prioritize user-generated content
Audited 7 platforms to inform best practices
Audited 7 platforms to inform best practices
Proposed mobile-native nav for future expansion
Proposed mobile-native nav for future expansion
02. OVERVIEW
02. OVERVIEW
Designing for the future 🔮
Designing for the future 🔮
I designed both desktop and mobile MVPs to make content discovery on DeepCast feel more intuitive. I started by researching competitor patterns, pulled together inspiration, and worked with the team weekly to share progress and align on goals. My focus was on spotting key UX gaps early and exploring design opportunities that could scale with the product as it grew. The result of this was a cleaner structure that gave more visibility to underused features and would make it easier for users to jump back into content they care about.
I designed both desktop and mobile MVPs to make content discovery on DeepCast feel more intuitive. I started by researching competitor patterns, pulled together inspiration, and worked with the team weekly to share progress and align on goals. My focus was on spotting key UX gaps early and exploring design opportunities that could scale with the product as it grew. The result of this was a cleaner structure that gave more visibility to underused features and would make it easier for users to jump back into content they care about.
03. THE CHALLENGE
03. THE CHALLENGE
Why navigation is so important 🧭
Why navigation is so important 🧭
Users weren’t finding content that matched their interests, and a big part of that came down to navigation. Important features like bookmarks, lists, and saved episodes were either hidden or felt difficult to access, especially on mobile. It made the experience feel a little aimless, like people weren’t sure where to go or what to do next. As a result, they either missed out on features or dropped off completely. We needed to rethink how people explored and engaged with content on DeepCast. The goal was to make discovery more natural, encourage early interaction with user-generated features, and increase overall stickiness so users would actually come back.
Users weren’t finding content that matched their interests, and a big part of that came down to navigation. Important features like bookmarks, lists, and saved episodes were either hidden or felt difficult to access, especially on mobile. It made the experience feel a little aimless, like people weren’t sure where to go or what to do next. As a result, they either missed out on features or dropped off completely. We needed to rethink how people explored and engaged with content on DeepCast. The goal was to make discovery more natural, encourage early interaction with user-generated features, and increase overall stickiness so users would actually come back.
04. RESEARCH
04. RESEARCH
User patterns from competitors 📚
User patterns from competitors 📚
To validate how we should surface user-generated content, I ran a competitive analysis of seven different platforms focusing on where personal features like bookmarks and lists were placed, how intuitive they felt, and how they supported engagement. Here's what I learned:
To validate how we should surface user-generated content, I ran a competitive analysis of seven different platforms focusing on where personal features like bookmarks and lists were placed, how intuitive they felt, and how they supported engagement. Here's what I learned:
Common Patterns 🧩
Most platforms use familiar locations like the top-right profile dropdown or sidebar to house user-based content. Some even use a hybrid of both to boost visibility and ease of access.
Common Patterns 🧩
Most platforms use familiar locations like the top-right profile dropdown or sidebar to house user-based content. Some even use a hybrid of both to boost visibility and ease of access.
Mental Models 🧠
Users are trained to expect certain features in specific places. Aligning with these expectations helps reduce any confusion.
Mental Models 🧠
Users are trained to expect certain features in specific places. Aligning with these expectations helps reduce any confusion.
Engagement Boosters 👏
The more visible and accessible user content is, the more likely people are to engage with it regularly, which supports long-term retention goals.
Engagement Boosters 👏
The more visible and accessible user content is, the more likely people are to engage with it regularly, which supports long-term retention goals.
What does this mean for the product?
I found that most competitors use a hybrid approach to make user-generated content (UGC) features more accessible, combining methods like sidebars, top-right profiles, and links. This improves the experience across devices and increases the chances users will discover and engage with features.
What does this mean for the product?
I found that most competitors use a hybrid approach to make user-generated content (UGC) features more accessible, combining methods like sidebars, top-right profiles, and links. This improves the experience across devices and increases the chances users will discover and engage with features.
05. IDEATION
05. IDEATION
Design goals for accessibility 🎨
Design goals for accessibility 🎨
My main focus was redesigning the nav bar to better surface user-generated features like lists, bookmarks, and digests. Since we were introducing an entirely new navigation system, I also explored how the homepage could support content discovery without feeling cluttered. Even though DeepCast was still a web app, I knew the team wanted to eventually move toward a native mobile experience, so I took the initiative to design a mobile-friendly bottom nav. I met weekly with the product and engineering team to share updates and gather feedback, which helped me stay aligned and iterate quickly despite a tight timeline. Here are a few iterations I worked on:
My main focus was redesigning the nav bar to better surface user-generated features like lists, bookmarks, and digests. Since we were introducing an entirely new navigation system, I also explored how the homepage could support content discovery without feeling cluttered. Even though DeepCast was still a web app, I knew the team wanted to eventually move toward a native mobile experience, so I took the initiative to design a mobile-friendly bottom nav. I met weekly with the product and engineering team to share updates and gather feedback, which helped me stay aligned and iterate quickly despite a tight timeline. Here are a few iterations I worked on:
07. FINAL DESIGNS
07. FINAL DESIGNS
A foundation for what’s next 🏔️
A foundation for what’s next 🏔️
I created both mobile and desktop versions of the new DeepCast experience, using competitor research as a foundation for layout and flow decisions. After analyzing patterns from platforms with strong navigation systems, I applied those insights to our designs, focusing on future-proofing and user familiarity. I presented the designs and research to the team, and the response was really positive: stakeholders appreciated how the direction made things more accessible without overwhelming users.
The final designs included a simplified homepage with visible entry points into saved content, as well as a native-style bottom nav for mobile to support future app development. I also introduced a few new pages to demonstrate how the navigation would scale across different parts of the product, helping the team visualize the broader system. While the designs didn’t go live, they were used as a strong foundation for product conversations around growth and engagement.
I created both mobile and desktop versions of the new DeepCast experience, using competitor research as a foundation for layout and flow decisions. After analyzing patterns from platforms with strong navigation systems, I applied those insights to our designs, focusing on future-proofing and user familiarity. I presented the designs and research to the team, and the response was really positive: stakeholders appreciated how the direction made things more accessible without overwhelming users.
The final designs included a simplified homepage with visible entry points into saved content, as well as a native-style bottom nav for mobile to support future app development. I also introduced a few new pages to demonstrate how the navigation would scale across different parts of the product, helping the team visualize the broader system. While the designs didn’t go live, they were used as a strong foundation for product conversations around growth and engagement.
Old Home Page
Old Home Page
New Home Page
New Home Page
Old Subscription Page
Old Subscription Page
New Subscription Page
New Subscription Page
Final Designs
Final Designs
08. REFLECTION
08. REFLECTION
What I learned 🤔
What I learned 🤔
Through this project, I learned a lot about the importance of feature placement and how much user familiarity plays a role in navigation design. Researching competitor patterns showed me how even small decisions around where features live can make a big difference in how users engage with a product. This is something I’ll carry with me and apply to future designs to ensure that features are both easy to find and feel intuitive to use.
Through this project, I learned a lot about the importance of feature placement and how much user familiarity plays a role in navigation design. Researching competitor patterns showed me how even small decisions around where features live can make a big difference in how users engage with a product. This is something I’ll carry with me and apply to future designs to ensure that features are both easy to find and feel intuitive to use.
