UI/UX Design
WatchSpace
Introduction
WatchSpace was designed in response to a prompt asking for a desktop solution where communities could celebrate shared stories through communal and authentic experiences. The challenge was to create a platform that brought people together around film and media, regardless of physical distance.We envisioned WatchSpace as a virtual space for collaborative movie nights, public or private watch parties, and social film discovery — all tailored to enhance connection and conversation.The Problem
While streaming platforms already exist - and are incredibly popular - many lack features that combine video streaming with communication. We wanted to create a platform that seamlessly blended those experiences, making people feel connected while watching. Our platform was designed to feel as if you were sharing the same space with your viewing buddies, experiencing their energy, commentary, and reactions.For this Creative Jam we were tasked with designing a third-party desktop website or desktop app - not based on the Netflix brand - where the community can celebrate shared stories together through communal and authentic experiences.
Our Approach
We started by identifying the emotional core of the experience. What would we want from an app like this? We wanted to balance ease of use, personalization, and real-time interaction. With limited time, we focused on the following: designing high-impact flows that reflected our priorities: joining or hosting a watch party, discovering content, and engaging socially through reviews or discussion.- The user should be able to host or join a watch party
- The user should be able to discover content that suits their tastes
- Engagement with others should be a priority - the user could join groups, leave reviews, and engage during watch parties with reactions
Empathize
Persona Development
Our primary users were socially driven film watchers — people who enjoy sharing commentary, discovering new media with friends, and curating what they watch. Many were already using tools like Discord, Netflix Party, or Prime Video to watch together, but often found the experience limited.
Key Pain Points
- Fragmented experience - users had to use different apps to chat and watch together
- Streaming was an issue - syncing up streams or stream quality was a concern
- Most platforms are focused on streaming, with collaborative watching experiences being an afterthought
- Platforms for communicating weren’t built around the idea of watch parties, leading to a cluttered experience
- Some platforms had cluttered UI - Discord was not ideal for watching together as users had to navigate multiple channels
Ideate
Brainstorming
Based on our space theme, we thought it would be interesting if we prioritized “pods”, a social feature that let the user discover and join groups interested in particular shows, themes, or genres. We also thought that social engagement should be a priority on WatchSpace, making sure to give users the means to communicate and organize. Another feature we wanted was to gamify it - we thought adding social competitions would be a great way to get users to socialize. Groups could participate in Space Races, getting points for watching together.
User-Flow Diagrams
We focused on clarity and ease. Here are what typical user journeys could look like.
Our Solution
Splash Page + Sign In/Register
We wanted the first moments in WatchSpace to feel simple and welcoming. The splash screen sets the tone with a bold, clean look that hints at what the platform’s all about — shared experiences. From there, signing in or creating an account is quick and straightforward, so users can jump right into exploring or joining a pod without unnecessary steps.
Host Your Own Pods & Join Space Races
On WatchSpace, hosting feels like the main focus. On the Host page, users can set up a pod, invite friends, choose content, and even opt into a “Space Race” — a friendly competition where pods earn points for how much they watch together. Once the pod is live, the Pod page becomes a shared space to chat, plan, and get ready to hit play.