FUTURE EXPLORATION
FUTURE EXPLORATION
InfoFlow
InfoFlow
Rethinking Information & Content Discovery
Rethinking Information & Content Discovery
Background
Background
When JioCinema was just starting out, I was trying to figure out how to design its layout and make it easier for people to find shows or movies in a new, creative way. One day, my sister called and asked, “Where did you keep my stuff in your room?”
As I explained, it hit me: an app is like a house. Just like rooms in a house need to be organized so you know where things are, an app’s menus and features need to feel natural and easy to navigate. This idea became a project where I reimagined the app as a “home” for content, exploring smarter ways to help users discover what they love without feeling lost.
When JioCinema was just starting out, I was trying to figure out how to design its layout and make it easier for people to find shows or movies in a new, creative way. One day, my sister called and asked, “Where did you keep my stuff in your room?”
As I explained, it hit me: an app is like a house. Just like rooms in a house need to be organized so you know where things are, an app’s menus and features need to feel natural and easy to navigate. This idea became a project where I reimagined the app as a “home” for content, exploring smarter ways to help users discover what they love without feeling lost.
Design Summery
Design Summery
This redesign marks a bold shift from earlier versions of JioCinema, focusing on simplicity and user-centricity.
The updated navigation system cuts clutter, simplifies choices, and reorganizes information to reduce mental effort, helping users find what they want faster.
Streamlined Primary Navigation
The interface now features just two core options:
My Space and Search. This intentional minimalism removes distractions, prioritizing only what users need most.
This redesign marks a bold shift from earlier versions of JioCinema, focusing on simplicity and user-centricity.
The updated navigation system cuts clutter, simplifies choices, and reorganizes information to reduce mental effort, helping users find what they want faster.
Streamlined Primary Navigation
The interface now features just two core options:
My Space and Search. This intentional minimalism removes distractions, prioritizing only what users need most.
My Space – Your Personalized Hub
This section acts as a one-stop spot for tailored recommendations, bringing all your likely favorites movies, shows, genres, etc. into a single, easy-to-explore zone. No more jumping through menus; everything you’ll love lives here, curated just for you.
Search – Quick Access
Prefer to hunt for something specific? The Search feature lets you find movies or shows instantly with minimal typing. Simple, fast, and clutter-free.
My Space – Your Personalized Hub
This section acts as a one-stop spot for tailored recommendations, bringing all your likely favorites movies, shows, genres, etc. into a single, easy-to-explore zone. No more jumping through menus; everything you’ll love lives here, curated just for you.
Search – Quick Access
Prefer to hunt for something specific? The Search feature lets you find movies or shows instantly with minimal typing. Simple, fast, and clutter-free.
Secondary Navigation for Flexibility
A slim bar at the top offers options like Watch, Listen, or Read - letting you switch modes based on how you want to consume content. Want to binge a show today or listen to podcasts tomorrow? The choice stays at your fingertips.
The Bigger Picture
By simplifying browsing and prioritizing personalization, this redesign aims to reduce frustration and keep users engaged. Less time searching, more time enjoying—exactly how it should be.
Secondary Navigation for Flexibility
A slim bar at the top offers options like Watch, Listen, or Read - letting you switch modes based on how you want to consume content. Want to binge a show today or listen to podcasts tomorrow? The choice stays at your fingertips.
The Bigger Picture
By simplifying browsing and prioritizing personalization, this redesign aims to reduce frustration and keep users engaged. Less time searching, more time enjoying—exactly how it should be.
Intelligent My Space
Intelligent My Space
Smart Contextual Recommendations
Picture this: It’s 1 PM, and you’re at work, ready for a quick lunch break. You usually have 20 minutes to watch something, but you hate wasting time searching or getting stuck mid-show.
Now imagine the app already knows you’re at work, it’s lunchtime, and you have 20 minutes. It recommends a movie you’ve been watching that wraps up in 20 minutes or starts a 20-minute episode of your favorite show.
How It Works
Time & Location Awareness: The app uses your schedule and location to guess your intent (e.g., “lunch break at work”).
Duration-Based Picks: Suggests content that fits your available time, so you don’t have to rush or pause midway.
Auto-Resume: If you don’t finish, it seamlessly pauses and picks up later.
Why It Matters
No more stressing about what to watch or losing track of time. Just tap and enjoy, let the app handles the rest, making your breaks truly yours.
Smart Contextual Recommendations
Picture this: It’s 1 PM, and you’re at work, ready for a quick lunch break. You usually have 20 minutes to watch something, but you hate wasting time searching or getting stuck mid-show.
Now imagine the app already knows you’re at work, it’s lunchtime, and you have 20 minutes. It recommends a movie you’ve been watching that wraps up in 20 minutes or starts a 20-minute episode of your favorite show.
How It Works
Time & Location Awareness: The app uses your schedule and location to guess your intent (e.g., “lunch break at work”).
Duration-Based Picks: Suggests content that fits your available time, so you don’t have to rush or pause midway.
Auto-Resume: If you don’t finish, it seamlessly pauses and picks up later.
Why It Matters
No more stressing about what to watch or losing track of time. Just tap and enjoy, let the app handles the rest, making your breaks truly yours.
Entertainment Matcher
Entertainment Matcher
The Smart Discovery Widget
Imagine scrolling through the app and instantly seeing a row of shows and movies picked *just for you*. Swipe right if you like one; it starts playing. Swipe left, and the app learns your taste, refining future suggestions.
Features That Make It Effortless
Swipe & Play: Like dating apps, but for content. Swipe right to watch, left to skip.
Decisions Made Easy: Check ratings, top cast, live friend activity (3 friends watching now!), or host a watch party, all in one tap.
Endless Recommendations: Tap the arrow to scroll a horizontal list of options. No dead ends.
You’ll Love It
No more endless scrolling. The widget learns what you enjoy, serves it upfront, and lets you decide in seconds. It’s like having a friend who always knows what you’re in the mood for. 🎬✨
The Smart Discovery Widget
Imagine scrolling through the app and instantly seeing a row of shows and movies picked *just for you*. Swipe right if you like one; it starts playing. Swipe left, and the app learns your taste, refining future suggestions.
Features That Make It Effortless
Swipe & Play: Like dating apps, but for content. Swipe right to watch, left to skip.
Decisions Made Easy: Check ratings, top cast, live friend activity (3 friends watching now!), or host a watch party, all in one tap.
Endless Recommendations: Tap the arrow to scroll a horizontal list of options. No dead ends.
You’ll Love It
No more endless scrolling. The widget learns what you enjoy, serves it upfront, and lets you decide in seconds. It’s like having a friend who always knows what you’re in the mood for. 🎬✨
Overview
Overview
The intention of this project is solely for exploration, experimentation and gathering insights that can help improve the information architecture of JioCinema, India’s top OTT platform. I'm also striving to explore fresh ideas to assist users in discovering new content and to enhance the app's intelligence by introducing several features.
The intention of this project is solely for exploration, experimentation and gathering insights that can help improve the information architecture of JioCinema, India’s top OTT platform. I'm also striving to explore fresh ideas to assist users in discovering new content and to enhance the app's intelligence by introducing several features.
Tasks
Tasks
In this project I was responsible for the following:
• Conceptualization and Exploration
• UIUX Design for Proof of Concept
In this project I was responsible for the following:
• Conceptualization and Exploration
• UIUX Design for Proof of Concept
Scope
Scope
Scope
The JioCinema app, then under construction, features a conventional information and navigational structure that closely resembles many other apps. I'm considering the possibility of introducing a new and improved approach that surpasses the commonly used one.
Exploring innovative methods to enhance the discovery of relevant content.
The JioCinema app, then under construction, features a conventional information and navigational structure that closely resembles many other apps. I'm considering the possibility of introducing a new and improved approach that surpasses the commonly used one.
Exploring innovative methods to enhance the discovery of relevant content.
The Concept & Idea
The Concept & Idea
I began by asking,
What makes a home feel special?
A home isn’t just walls and furniture, it’s a cozy sanctuary where people feel safe, connected and free to be themselves. Families gather in shared spaces, but every corner has its purpose, warmth and personal touch.
I just wanted to capture that feeling of comfort and belonging.
But slowly, it clicked:
Apps are Digital Homes!
They need the same ingredients - intuitive “rooms” (features), warmth (design) and personalization (your unique style).
I began by asking,
What makes a home feel special?
A home isn’t just walls and furniture, it’s a cozy sanctuary where people feel safe, connected and free to be themselves. Families gather in shared spaces, but every corner has its purpose, warmth and personal touch.
I just wanted to capture that feeling of comfort and belonging.
But slowly, it clicked:
Apps are Digital Homes!
They need the same ingredients - intuitive “rooms” (features), warmth (design) and personalization (your unique style).
What it means?
What it means?
Just like a well-designed home, an app should make users feel understood, not lost. This mindset shaped how I structured JioCinema’s navigation and recommendations, prioritizing familiarity, ease and spaces that adapt to how users live, not the other way around.
Just like a well-designed home, an app should make users feel understood, not lost. This mindset shaped how I structured JioCinema’s navigation and recommendations, prioritizing familiarity, ease and spaces that adapt to how users live, not the other way around.
I observed how people naturally move through their homes, where they go, why, and how long they stay.
I observed how people naturally move through their homes, where they go, why, and how long they stay.
Insights ✨
Insights ✨
Bedrooms are private spaces where you can feel at home, a personal escape from the rest of life.
Washrooms are places to get rid of things like clothes, toys, old stuff that don’t need to stay anymore.
Storage rooms keep things you might use later or collect memories in, and they’re also for organizing stuff when it’s not needed right away.
Other bedrooms have been made just for each family member and they’ve been customized so everyone has their own space where everything feels special to them.
The kitchen is a shared place whenever someone wants to cook or make something delicious that others can use too.
The hall/lounge area is like the heart of home, it’s where all your stuff lives, and it’s organized by mom or whoever takes care of keeping things tidy for everyone in the family.
Bedrooms are private spaces where you can feel at home, a personal escape from the rest of life.
Washrooms are places to get rid of things like clothes, toys, old stuff that don’t need to stay anymore.
Storage rooms keep things you might use later or collect memories in, and they’re also for organizing stuff when it’s not needed right away.
Other bedrooms have been made just for each family member and they’ve been customized so everyone has their own space where everything feels special to them.
The kitchen is a shared place whenever someone wants to cook or make something delicious that others can use too.
The hall/lounge area is like the heart of home, it’s where all your stuff lives, and it’s organized by mom or whoever takes care of keeping things tidy for everyone in the family.
Making Sense
Making Sense
Now to converge when we relate this home to an App,
We get the following:
Now to converge when we relate this home to an App,
We get the following:
My Room = My Space (For Me)
This system is highly personalized for each user; users easily find their belongings and receive recommendations. Everything sorted by the user is accessible here, along with other related items.
My Room = My Space (For Me)
This system is highly personalized for each user; users easily find their belongings and receive recommendations. Everything sorted by the user is accessible here, along with other related items.
Kitchen = User Generated Content
Just like family cooks in their kitchen, users create (content) here. Resources needed for creating content are easily accessible here; users can also set personal preferences and options here.
Kitchen = User Generated Content
Just like family cooks in their kitchen, users create (content) here. Resources needed for creating content are easily accessible here; users can also set personal preferences and options here.
Hall = Home Page
The homepage serves as a shared space for all users, displaying various content types. Items are typically shared among users and organized by the backend to address their needs and preferences.
Hall = Home Page
The homepage serves as a shared space for all users, displaying various content types. Items are typically shared among users and organized by the backend to address their needs and preferences.
Other Rooms = Other Sections (content types)
Users usually visit other sections only when they have very specific needs. All items there are relevant to their categories alone.
Other Rooms = Other Sections (content types)
Users usually visit other sections only when they have very specific needs. All items there are relevant to their categories alone.
Relating to Jio Cinema
Relating to Jio Cinema
1BHK house = Mobile App
In JioCinema, the app functions like a 1BHK apartment—personalized for a single user. Just as the hall and bedroom differ only by the presence of a bed, the app’s features are tailored to individual needs. This insight led me to conclude that a common homepage isn’t necessary. Instead, “My Space” can be the landing page, offering a highly personalized experience that simplifies navigation and meets all user needs, evolving naturally into a hyper-personalized section over time.
Therefore, I considered eliminating the homepage altogether and replacing it with a "My Space" section in the mobile app.
1BHK house = Mobile App
In JioCinema, the app functions like a 1BHK apartment—personalized for a single user. Just as the hall and bedroom differ only by the presence of a bed, the app’s features are tailored to individual needs. This insight led me to conclude that a common homepage isn’t necessary. Instead, “My Space” can be the landing page, offering a highly personalized experience that simplifies navigation and meets all user needs, evolving naturally into a hyper-personalized section over time.
Therefore, I considered eliminating the homepage altogether and replacing it with a "My Space" section in the mobile app.
2+ BHK house = Tablet/TV App
When there are multiple rooms, there are also multiple users, much like commonly shared devices such as tablets, desktops, or TVs. In this scenario, we can either display a home screen containing everyone's content in a mixed or organised format, accessible to all. From there, users can navigate to their specific "My Space" section through provided links.
Therefore, here we can have an well structured homepage which caters to multiple users at once.
2+ BHK house = Tablet/TV App
When there are multiple rooms, there are also multiple users, much like commonly shared devices such as tablets, desktops, or TVs. In this scenario, we can either display a home screen containing everyone's content in a mixed or organised format, accessible to all. From there, users can navigate to their specific "My Space" section through provided links.
Therefore, here we can have an well structured homepage which caters to multiple users at once.
Since this was just a proof of concept (POC), I just created a version of the mobile app to showcase "My Space."
Since this was just a proof of concept (POC), I just created a version of the mobile app to showcase "My Space."
The New Navigation (IA)
The New Navigation (IA)
The new navigation removes the need for a home screen and sections like movies or TV in the primary menu. Instead, content is organized under secondary categories like “watch” or “listen.” This ensures users find most of what they need in “My Space,” with easy access to specific categories when needed.
The new navigation removes the need for a home screen and sections like movies or TV in the primary menu. Instead, content is organized under secondary categories like “watch” or “listen.” This ensures users find most of what they need in “My Space,” with easy access to specific categories when needed.
LoFi Wireframes
LoFi Wireframes
So, I grabbed some paper and a pencil to sketch out what was in my mind, it only makes sense if I can see it right in front of me!
So, I grabbed some paper and a pencil to sketch out what was in my mind, it only makes sense if I can see it right in front of me!
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
This experience has been truly enlightening for me. It's fascinating to realise how we've been using applications for so long, essentially living within them while also existing within the tangible world. What I've learned is that everything created by humans is interconnected in some way or another. Just as we've constructed the digital world, we've also shaped the tangible world around us.
This correlation between digital and tangible architecture has provided me with a unique perspective on decluttering optimising and user journey of the applications. By understanding and drawing inspiration from the architecture and usage patterns of homes, I can create more optimised information architectures for digital platforms.
In the future, whenever I encounter difficulties in decision-making or optimising outcomes, I can rely on this learning to guide me through the process. It's a valuable insight that will continue to inform my approach in many various situations and ways.
This experience has been truly enlightening for me. It's fascinating to realise how we've been using applications for so long, essentially living within them while also existing within the tangible world. What I've learned is that everything created by humans is interconnected in some way or another. Just as we've constructed the digital world, we've also shaped the tangible world around us.
This correlation between digital and tangible architecture has provided me with a unique perspective on decluttering optimising and user journey of the applications. By understanding and drawing inspiration from the architecture and usage patterns of homes, I can create more optimised information architectures for digital platforms.
In the future, whenever I encounter difficulties in decision-making or optimising outcomes, I can rely on this learning to guide me through the process. It's a valuable insight that will continue to inform my approach in many various situations and ways.
© 2035 by Sohum Manchanda