Youfone

Revolutionizing TV for Youfone

Known for its competitive edge, Youfone needed an affordable yet high-quality TV set-top box that could impress users with both its experience and pricing. We identified Android TV as the ideal technology—offering a strong foundation with extensive customisation possibilities.

Crafting a custom experience

As the first Dutch TV operator to launch a set-top box running on Android TV, Youfone presented us with an exciting challenge. A fast time-to-market was essential, so my product design team and I adopted an iterative design approach; launching with a solid base product and rolling out enhancements over time.

We began by crystallising customer needs while conducting user research to understand key user needs and pain points. With these insights, we defined problem statements and explored potential solutions.

For the next step, we created user flows and visualised the information architecture with wireframes. To ensure efficiency, we utilised existing Android TV design patterns and components, which highly reduced development time compared to designing everything from scratch. However, certain flows and screens required a fully custom UX. I took the lead in designing a custom video player and a brand-new channel guide interface, two crucial features where the customer required exceptional usability. Both were designed to integrate with the custom Youfone TV remote, to make sure we achieved a intuitive and accessible experience.

After testing and validation, we began implementing the UI. To ensure scalability and efficiency, I built a custom design system from scratch. With this design system we went on the create the core product for Youfone, while it would facilitate future enhancements to its components and patterns. Proper documentation helped the internal stakeholders to build the solution efficiently.

Bold brand colors

In a landscape where most TV apps blend into black and grey interfaces, Youfone’s brand stands for boldness. Their instantly recognizable purple identity needed to shine, without overwhelming viewers, even in dark environments.

We crafted a dynamic mix of purple tints and gradients, bringing vibrancy to the interface while maintaining accessibility. The result: a distinctive yet user-friendly UI that felt unmistakably Youfone.

Expanding to mobile

Following a successful rollout of the set-top box, Youfone saw an opportunity to extend the experience to mobile devices. Our team designed iOS and Android apps for both phones and tablets, preserving the signature look and intuitive usability while optimising for mobile interactions.

Through rapid prototyping and user testing, we ensured that the seamless Youfone experience wasn’t just confined to the TV screen; it now lived across multiple platforms.

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We helped Youfone achieve a unique feat by launching a 'country-first' set-top box running on Android TV, alongside a seamless multi-platform mobile experience.

Through our iterative approach, Youfone saw rapid development and adoption, going live in just five months after signing the contract; an impressive turnaround in the competitive TV industry. Following the launch, the platform quickly gained traction among users, reinforcing Youfone’s position as an innovator in digital TV.

This rollout not only expanded Youfone’s reach across devices but also enhanced the customer experience, offering a modern and intuitive TV experience across set-top boxes and mobile platforms.