Good1s - Indie Film Platform Redesign

Designed an indie film discovery tool for clarity, flow, and daily use.

UX Redesign

UX Redesign

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Media & Culture

Media & Culture

Client / Academic

Client / Academic

My Role

My Role

My Role

Product Designer

Product Designer

Product Designer

Timeline

Timeline

Timeline

Jan. 2024 - Mar. 2024

Jan. 2024 - Mar. 2024

Jan. 2024 - Mar. 2024

Team

Team

Team

6 Student Designers

6 Student Designers

6 Student Designers

Skills / Tools

Skills / Tools

Skills / Tools

Figma; Heuristic Evaluation, User Research, Wireframing, UI Design, Prototyping

Figma; Heuristic Evaluation, User Research, Wireframing, UI Design, Prototyping

Figma; Heuristic Evaluation, User Research, Wireframing, UI Design, Prototyping

Good1s

Good1s

Good1s

What is Good1s?

What is Good1s?

What is Good1s?

Good1s is a passion project that curates daily movie listings across Los Angeles, offering users a simple and indie-inspired way to find screenings, shows, talks, and more. Developed by Cole, the platform aims to serve LA’s vibrant film community with an authentic and minimalist experience.

Good1s is a passion project that curates daily movie listings across Los Angeles, offering users a simple and indie-inspired way to find screenings, shows, talks, and more. Developed by Cole, the platform aims to serve LA’s vibrant film community with an authentic and minimalist experience.

Good1s is a passion project that curates daily movie listings across Los Angeles, offering users a simple and indie-inspired way to find screenings, shows, talks, and more. Developed by Cole, the platform aims to serve LA’s vibrant film community with an authentic and minimalist experience.

Overview

Overview

Overview

Good1s is not a discovery platform—it’s a tool for users who already know what movie they want to see. With its quirky design elements and straightforward layout, Good1s has carved out a niche in LA’s indie film scene. However, user feedback revealed challenges with navigation, clarity, and engagement.

Good1s is not a discovery platform—it’s a tool for users who already know what movie they want to see. With its quirky design elements and straightforward layout, Good1s has carved out a niche in LA’s indie film scene. However, user feedback revealed challenges with navigation, clarity, and engagement.

Good1s is not a discovery platform—it’s a tool for users who already know what movie they want to see. With its quirky design elements and straightforward layout, Good1s has carved out a niche in LA’s indie film scene. However, user feedback revealed challenges with navigation, clarity, and engagement.

As part of a class project in the UCLA graduate course, INFO STD 279: User Experience Design, this redesign aimed to address these issues by refining the site’s usability while maintaining its authentic indie aesthetic.

As part of a class project in the UCLA graduate course, INFO STD 279: User Experience Design, this redesign aimed to address these issues by refining the site’s usability while maintaining its authentic indie aesthetic.

As part of a class project in the UCLA graduate course, INFO STD 279: User Experience Design, this redesign aimed to address these issues by refining the site’s usability while maintaining its authentic indie aesthetic.

As a designer on this project, I focused on improving navigation, enhancing hierarchy, and creating visually engaging layouts that aligned with Cole’s vision of thoughtful simplicity.

As a designer on this project, I focused on improving navigation, enhancing hierarchy, and creating visually engaging layouts that aligned with Cole’s vision of thoughtful simplicity.

As a designer on this project, I focused on improving navigation, enhancing hierarchy, and creating visually engaging layouts that aligned with Cole’s vision of thoughtful simplicity.

Problem


Problem


Problem


Usability Challenges

Usability Challenges

Usability Challenges

Confusing Layout

The vertical structure lacked hierarchy, making it difficult for users to scan information quickly.

Minimal Visual Cues

While stars and cursors added charm, they felt unprofessional and failed to guide user actions effectively.

Limited Engagement

The lack of intuitive navigation reduced user motivation to interact with the site.

Solution


Solution


Solution


The redesign focused on balancing simplicity with usability enhancements:

The redesign focused on balancing simplicity with usability enhancements:

The redesign focused on balancing simplicity with usability enhancements:

Improved Navigation & Hierarchy

The vertical layout was restructured with clear visual hierarchy and intuitive navigation. Redundant elements were removed to streamline user interactions while retaining signature design elements like stars.

Thoughtful Design Philosophy

Cole emphasized that Good1s should avoid shallow visual elements like movie posters that could lead users to “judge a book by its cover.” Instead, subtle design cues were introduced—such as hover effects and clean spacing—to guide user actions thoughtfully while maintaining authenticity.

Improved Possibles List

The “Possibles List” feature was revamped into a more intuitive system, similar to an Amazon shopping cart, with movies being organized by date and time.

Improved Invitation Page

The new interactive invitation page was created with a better layout to allow users to share their "Possibles List" more easily with friends.

Design Explorations


Design Explorations


Design Explorations


In the early stages of the project, we explored a variety of design directions to ensure the final product aligned with both user needs and the client’s vision. This phase involved experimenting with different color palettes, layouts, and visual elements to strike the right balance between usability and authenticity.

In the early stages of the project, we explored a variety of design directions to ensure the final product aligned with both user needs and the client’s vision. This phase involved experimenting with different color palettes, layouts, and visual elements to strike the right balance between usability and authenticity.

In the early stages of the project, we explored a variety of design directions to ensure the final product aligned with both user needs and the client’s vision. This phase involved experimenting with different color palettes, layouts, and visual elements to strike the right balance between usability and authenticity.

By iterating through multiple design concepts, we were able to refine our ideas and pitch a direction that resonated with both the client and users. These experiments allowed us to address usability challenges while staying true to Good1s’ unique identity as a tool for LA’s indie film community.

By iterating through multiple design concepts, we were able to refine our ideas and pitch a direction that resonated with both the client and users. These experiments allowed us to address usability challenges while staying true to Good1s’ unique identity as a tool for LA’s indie film community.

By iterating through multiple design concepts, we were able to refine our ideas and pitch a direction that resonated with both the client and users. These experiments allowed us to address usability challenges while staying true to Good1s’ unique identity as a tool for LA’s indie film community.

Research


Research


Research


To ensure the redesign addressed user needs effectively, we conducted extensive research using multiple methodologies

To ensure the redesign addressed user needs effectively, we conducted extensive research using multiple methodologies

To ensure the redesign addressed user needs effectively, we conducted extensive research using multiple methodologies

User Interviews

User Interviews

User Interviews

We interviewed eight users ranging from casual moviegoers to dedicated film enthusiasts (“film bros”).

We interviewed eight users ranging from casual moviegoers to dedicated film enthusiasts (“film bros”).

We interviewed eight users ranging from casual moviegoers to dedicated film enthusiasts (“film bros”).

Key Insights

Users found the layout overly linear and repetitive, lacking motivation to explore further.

Users found the layout overly linear and repetitive, lacking motivation to explore further.

Visual cues were requested to make navigation easier without compromising the minimalist design.

Visual cues were requested to make navigation easier without compromising the minimalist design.

Lack of navigation prompts left users unsure about how to interact with the site.

Lack of navigation prompts left users unsure about how to interact with the site.

Competitive Analysis


Competitive Analysis


Competitive Analysis


We analyzed similar platforms like Screen Slate and Fandango to identify opportunities for improvement

We analyzed similar platforms like Screen Slate and Fandango to identify opportunities for improvement

We analyzed similar platforms like Screen Slate and Fandango to identify opportunities for improvement

Analysis

Screen Slate

Screen Slate

Excels at presenting indie films but lacks intuitive navigation for broader audiences.

Excels at presenting indie films but lacks intuitive navigation for broader audiences.

Fandango

Fandango

Offers polished visuals but caters primarily to mainstream movies rather than niche audiences.

Offers polished visuals but caters primarily to mainstream movies rather than niche audiences.

User Personas


User Personas


User Personas


To better understand our target audience, we created detailed user personas representing key user segments. These personas helped guide design decisions by ensuring the platform catered to both casual users and dedicated cinephiles.

To better understand our target audience, we created detailed user personas representing key user segments. These personas helped guide design decisions by ensuring the platform catered to both casual users and dedicated cinephiles.

To better understand our target audience, we created detailed user personas representing key user segments. These personas helped guide design decisions by ensuring the platform catered to both casual users and dedicated cinephiles.

Persona 1: The Casual Moviegoer

Demographics

Demographics

25-year-old professional living in LA.

25-year-old professional living in LA.

Goals

Goals

Wants a simple tool for quickly finding showtimes for popular screenings.

Wants a simple tool for quickly finding showtimes for popular screenings.

Pain Points

Pain Points

Finds overly complex platforms frustrating; prefers minimal design.

Finds overly complex platforms frustrating; prefers minimal design.

Persona 2: The Indie Film Enthusiast

Demographics

Demographics

32-year-old artist with a passion for niche films.

32-year-old artist with a passion for niche films.

Goals

Goals

Seeks curated listings for indie screenings and rare talks/events.

Seeks curated listings for indie screenings and rare talks/events.

Pain Points

Pain Points

Dislikes mainstream platforms that prioritize blockbusters over indie films.

Dislikes mainstream platforms that prioritize blockbusters over indie films.

User Flow Diagram


User Flow Diagram


User Flow Diagram


We mapped out a user flow diagram to visualize how users interact with Good1s from start to finish.

We mapped out a user flow diagram to visualize how users interact with Good1s from start to finish.

We mapped out a user flow diagram to visualize how users interact with Good1s from start to finish.

Usability Testing


Usability Testing


Usability Testing


Nine users tested high-fidelity prototypes in A/B sessions comparing two designs (Alpha vs Beta)

Nine users tested high-fidelity prototypes in A/B sessions comparing two designs (Alpha vs Beta)

Nine users tested high-fidelity prototypes in A/B sessions comparing two designs (Alpha vs Beta)

A/B

Alpha

Alpha

Featured larger buttons and mixed scrolling (vertical navigation, horizontal time selection).

Featured larger buttons and mixed scrolling (vertical navigation, horizontal time selection).

Beta

Beta

Used a fixed grid layout with smaller buttons and vertical scrolling for time selection.

Used a fixed grid layout with smaller buttons and vertical scrolling for time selection.

Findings

Users preferred Alpha’s larger buttons but found mixed scrolling disorienting. Beta’s grid layout improved showtime visibility but needed clearer navigation prompts.

Users preferred Alpha’s larger buttons but found mixed scrolling disorienting. Beta’s grid layout improved showtime visibility but needed clearer navigation prompts.

Impact

Impact

Impact

Empowering LA’s Film Community

Empowering LA’s Film Community

Empowering LA’s Film Community

Good1s is poised to elevate how LA’s indie film enthusiasts engage with daily movie listings by offering a refined yet authentic experience. With its enhanced usability and thoughtful design philosophy, the redesigned platform preserves its indie charm while addressing key user needs.

Good1s is poised to elevate how LA’s indie film enthusiasts engage with daily movie listings by offering a refined yet authentic experience. With its enhanced usability and thoughtful design philosophy, the redesigned platform preserves its indie charm while addressing key user needs.

Good1s is poised to elevate how LA’s indie film enthusiasts engage with daily movie listings by offering a refined yet authentic experience. With its enhanced usability and thoughtful design philosophy, the redesigned platform preserves its indie charm while addressing key user needs.

Improved Clarity & Navigation

The streamlined layout ensures users can quickly find relevant information without feeling overwhelmed by redundant elements or unclear prompts.

Enhanced Engagement

Subtle design cues motivate users to explore listings further without compromising authenticity or simplicity.

Preserving Indie Authenticity

By focusing on thoughtful design rather than superficial elements like movie posters, Good1s maintains its unique identity as an indie-inspired tool tailored for passionate moviegoers.

What I Learned

What I Learned

What I Learned

This project emphasized the importance of aligning design decisions with client vision while incorporating user feedback effectively.

This project emphasized the importance of aligning design decisions with client vision while incorporating user feedback effectively.

This project emphasized the importance of aligning design decisions with client vision while incorporating user feedback effectively.

Pivoting from adding features to refining existing ones ensured clarity over complexity.

Collaborative testing sessions revealed critical insights into user behavior that guided design refinements.