Design the “supporting content” for BBC iPlayer TV experience

Wendy Xiuwen Chen

UX designer at BBC, based in London, UK

Design the “supporting content” for BBC iPlayer TV experience

Intro

As part of the BBC's 80/20 Career Development Scheme, I worked with the Research and Development (R&D) team to enhance the BBC iPlayer TV experience. My role focused on designing and developing "supporting content" for both on-demand and live TV, collaborating with the creative director to finalise key content categories such as Plot, Cast, Extras, and Views. I also developed and prototyped new media player features, showcasing how additional content could enrich the viewer's experience.

Project type and timeline
Design discovery, 06/2024 to 08/2024

Product
BBC iPlayer

My role
UX designer

Skills
Research analysis, UI/UX design, Prototyping, Content Strategy

Feature 01
Plot & Characters (Fictional Content Only)

This content category enhances the viewer's experience by providing detailed information about the storyline and characters in fictional content. It can include: Plot recap, Characters infomation to remind you what they are, Dialogue/Lyrics, Fictional Locations like Hogwarts, Mordor etc..

Feature 02
Cast (for all content)

This content gives viewers a closer look at the talent and craftsmanship behind the production, enhancing their appreciation for the work. This can include:

Music in the Scene: Details about the music featured in specific scenes, adding context to the mood or atmosphere.

Actors & What They're Famous For: Information about key cast members, such as Gary Lineker, known for Match of The Day, and their notable roles.

Director & Notable Talent: Highlighting key figures behind the camera, including the director and other essential crew members.

Filming Location: Information about real-world locations used in filming, such as Scotland or Croatia, offering insight into the production’s setting.

Feature 03
Static content aka “Extras”
Small, bite-sized content attached to a specific timepoint that’s not tied to the scrub-bar

These extras enrich the viewing experience, offering more interactive, behind-the-scenes, and contextual content that deepens audience engagement. These can include: Behind-the-Scenes & Photo Galleries, Editors and users comments, interative polls, links to related content etc..

Behind-the-Scenes & Photo Galleries: Exclusive glimpses into the production process with images and videos.

Static graphics (e.g., election result visuals) or 3D objects (e.g., a 3D trajectory of a ball during a goal).

Interactive Features: Reactions