Flicks is one tap away from your desired short film. Add customized filters and save time from having to scroll through all other irrelevant video results on YouTube.
Spotlighting short film festivals and their award-winning works increases visibility for exceptional short films, which often rely on festival screenings for exposure.
With the rise of short-form content, short films have become more popular as audiences explore new video forms that are unique and concise. However, many viewers struggle to find short films on mainstream video platforms.
To start my research, I delve into the components of mainstream video platforms and examine how short films establish their presence. 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.
Compared the pre- and post-production processes of short films and feature-length films. It turns out that short films have much smaller budgets, hindering them from reaching a larger audience.
Broke down the components of YouTube and Shortverse, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of how short films are presented alongside regular videos.
Conducted 5 in-depth interviews with viewers of different levels of knowledge and passion for short films. Participants shared frustration in finding short films that resonate with their preferences within the current system.
Considering the niche nature of this genre, I decided to create a separate mobile app to provide an accessible and structured space for short films. I honed in on three design principles to guide the development of this solution.
A short film tells a story that transcends time. I want to create a similar space, blending the classic and the contemporary, and evoking a sense of nostalgic authenticity.
Users can choose to go with what is recommended, or pick their own films with filters.
Showcases award-winning works not only recognizes and celebrates the filmmaker’s achievements, but also serves as a quality indicator for the audience.
Reviews will help potential viewers make informed decisions about whether to watch the film. While critical reviews offer deeper analyses, comments are more concise and accessible to those who are seeking quick overviews.
Flicks distinguishes itself as a video streaming app exclusively for short films, addressing the challenge of content getting overshadowed on mainstream platforms that prioritize monetization and marketing budgets.
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Transforming Flicks into a cross-platform experience, and further enhancing user engagement.
Though I am a short film lover myself, I learned so much about other people’s perspectives during the interviews (one of my friends only watches the short films on DVDs and I thought that was crazy). It’s a very reassuring feeling when I base my design decisions off of tangible insights, and that in itself is an incredibly rewarding experience.
I spent a lot of time on early ideation but didn’t really think through any of my ideas the first time around. It was very helpful for me to write everything down and I ended up eventually combining two concepts together.