Steep
BRIEF
Steep is a tea timer that ensures a perfect brew every time. Simply input tea type, quantity, and flavor preferences, Steep will calculate an ideal timer tailored towards each unique taste.
SCOPE
UI/UX
Mobile
DURATION
4 weeks
TEAM
Individual
ADVISED BY
Bill Flora
OVERVIEW
What is your cup of tea?
Steep is a customized tea timer for beginners. After collecting information on tea type, quantity, and taste preferences, Steep will calculate the ideal timer for you.
Brainstorming + Goal Priority
DISCOVERY
So many variables.
For beginners, tea steeping can be challenging due to many changing factors: steeping times, water temperatures, types of tea, flavor preferences, etc. These uncertainties complicate the process and may discourage newcomers from fully exploring the art of brewing tea.
DiDi, 2024
The After, 2023
Bao, 2018
Looking for a needle
in a haystack
As someone who is very interested in short films myself, I was like, where do i even find them?
Spoiler alert: short films are the needles in the haystack. They are often overshadowed by popular video content due to the niche nature of the art form and the limited pool of viewers.
01
Unsure where to begin
Competitors like Shortverse tend to present very dense and general information, which may be overwhelming for new users who need more guidance when getting started.
Shortverse Search Page
02
Limited searchability
+ overshadowed by other video content
Short films have much smaller budgets for marketing and distribution, hindering them from reaching a larger audience.
Comparative Analysis
03
Hard to distinguish
quality pieces
On mainstream video platforms like YouTube, it's hard to determine whether a short film is worth watching because they all use different ways to boost their ranking in the algorithm.
YouTube with filter "short films"
OPPORTUNITY
How might we create an intuitive and engaging introductory experience for new viewers, while also giving short films greater visibility and recognition?
IDEATION
How did you get into
short films?
Based on my interviews, participants discovered short films through two main pathways:
01
02
Film recommendations on the "for you" page
Famous festivals like the Sundance Film Festival
Within these two user journeys, I brainstormed features and functions specifically catered to the needs of new viewers.
Brainstorming + Goal Priority
DESIGN + REFINEMENT
Explore Films
For film exploration, I initially designed a Tinder-style swiping/scrolling concept using film trailers.
While participants liked the sneak peeks and how quickly they could get a sense of the films, some were concerned that the concept felt too casual and even undermined the artistic value of short films.
Show Feedback
I also tracked the task completion rates while participants were playing around with the prototype.
6 sec
Average duration watched before scrolling
3 videos
Average number of videos watched before switching screens
Given the low engagement rate along with the previous feedback, I decided to pivot. One key insight I received from the user testing was: while users want more freedom to explore, they still want more control over what they're searching for.
01
More Freedom — Curated Collections
Instead of scrolling through films one by one, grouping recommended films into collections would provide a more guided experience.
Curated Collections (Iterations)
02
More Control — Filters
Users can either narrow down the film options step by step on their own or choose popular filter combinations from other users for a quick and reliable starting point.
Filters (Iterations)
Explore Festivals
Festival exploration is a faster way to discover short films. When designing this user journey, I wanted to present quick and impactful information about award-winning works. This section not only serves as a quality indicator for viewers, but also invites them to get involved in the film community.
Festivals + Awards
FINAL DESIGN
Introducing, Flicks
Flicks is a short film streaming app that helps new audiences find short films in an easy and engaging way. Combining structured guidance and open exploration, Flicks provides an accessible platform for short film lovers while also celebrating the artistry of this genre.
FILMS
Start with our
recommendations
Take a few seconds to look at our suggested collections, curated just for you
Narrow down your options, one filter at a time
Add your own filters, or try one of the filter combinations we provided for you
FESTIVALS
Check out the festivals everyone’s talking about
Explore curated festival collections and easily navigate through quality films within each award category
WATCH A FILM
Enjoy the film with all the info you need
Full credits, notable awards, and audience reviews. They're all in one place for a comprehensive experience
REFLECTION
What I'd do differently
Flicks was the first mobile app I designed on my own. But even after the project ended, I keep coming back, sometimes making small tweaks, other times reworking the entire user flow. Currently, I’m working with my software engineering friend to develop the frontend part of Flicks.
It’s been very rewarding to see how much I’ve grown as a designer and how my design thinking has changed over the past year. Looking back, here are some things I would do differently:
01
Onboarding Survey
Create a set of personal preference questions like "genre," "mood/tone," "length" etc. to help the explore page deliver more tailored recommendations
02
Data + Algorithm
Develop an algorithm that analyzes the qualities of each film and assigns superlative titles, such as "Funniest of All Time" or "Most Heartwarming Story”
03
Short Film Creators!
Design a separate user journey for independent short film creators, focusing on how they can leverage the platform to build their personal brand
©2025 Haipei Chen
Last Update: 2025.05.04