Selectable Media: Video Player Redesign
Not a video placement, but a branded viewing environment.
The selector screen was the decision point. The video player was what came after — the moment the user had committed, the brand had full attention, and the product had its best chance to deliver.
The selector screen was the decision point. The video player was what came after — the moment the user had committed, the brand had full attention, and the product had its best chance to deliver.
The selector screen was the decision point. The video player was what came after — the moment the user had committed, the brand had full attention, and the product had its best chance to deliver.
The Problem
A default HTML5 player. No branding, no polish, controls that felt disconnected from the rest of the product. For advertisers paying to reach an engaged user, it was a missed opportunity.
Nobody flagged it. I did.
A default HTML5 player. No branding, no polish, controls that felt disconnected from the rest of the product. For advertisers paying to reach an engaged user, it was a missed opportunity.
Nobody flagged it. I did.
A default HTML5 player. No branding, no polish, controls that felt disconnected from the rest of the product. For advertisers paying to reach an engaged user, it was a missed opportunity.
Nobody flagged it. I did.
The Insight
A user who just chose to watch your video is as engaged as they're going to get. The player wasn't just a container for video — it was the product's most valuable real estate.
A user who just chose to watch your video is as engaged as they're going to get. The player wasn't just a container for video — it was the product's most valuable real estate.
A user who just chose to watch your video is as engaged as they're going to get. The player wasn't just a container for video — it was the product's most valuable real estate.
The Solution
The redesign introduced a branded surround — a customizable frame per advertiser, turning the player into an additional creative surface and a new sales upsell.
The redesign introduced a branded surround — a customizable frame per advertiser, turning the player into an additional creative surface and a new sales upsell.
The redesign introduced a branded surround — a customizable frame per advertiser, turning the player into an additional creative surface and a new sales upsell.
The COO had a preferred placement for the close button. I pushed back — not on preference, but on convention. Users expect it in the top right. Putting it anywhere else creates friction at the worst possible moment. We went with top right.
The COO had a preferred placement for the close button. I pushed back — not on preference, but on convention. Users expect it in the top right. Putting it anywhere else creates friction at the worst possible moment. We went with top right.
The COO had a preferred placement for the close button. I pushed back — not on preference, but on convention. Users expect it in the top right. Putting it anywhere else creates friction at the worst possible moment. We went with top right.
The engineers had centered the triangle mathematically. It looked off. Optical centering shifts it slightly right to account for visual weight — the difference between something that looks right and something that merely is right.
The engineers had centered the triangle mathematically. It looked off. Optical centering shifts it slightly right to account for visual weight — the difference between something that looks right and something that merely is right.
The engineers had centered the triangle mathematically. It looked off. Optical centering shifts it slightly right to account for visual weight — the difference between something that looks right and something that merely is right.
Mathematically centered play icon
Optically centered play icon
The Outcome
The player shipped successfully and led directly to the selector screen redesign, expanding my product ownership within the platform.
The player shipped successfully and led directly to the selector screen redesign, expanding my product ownership within the platform.
The player shipped successfully and led directly to the selector screen redesign, expanding my product ownership within the platform.