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Track your favorite anime with ease.
AniList
AniList.com
Since 2013, AniList has been the premier web-based platform to track, share and discover new anime. By the end of 2021, AniList has grown to over 1.5 million users and contains over 17,000 anime titles.
Timeline
Dec 2021 - Jan 2022
My Role
Product Designer
This is a personal project and is not associated with AniList.
The Problem
AniList recognized the need to redesign how anime enthusiasts interact with their platform by developing a mobile app. The existing tracking system was functional for desktop users but lacked the finesse and engagement that mobile users crave.
How might we...
Create a mobile experience that redefines the app's core features: the anime tracking system, the discovery page, and the user profile, focusing on simplicity, intuitiveness, and a richer user experience.
The Solution
I envisioned a platform where users could not only effortlessly track their anime watching progress but also discover new titles and showcase their anime journey.
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The Results
The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. User engagement increased, and the ease of tracking and discovering anime was praised.
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40% of testers increased in daily active use, indicating a more engaging user experience.
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30% more anime titles added to user watchlists, showcasing the effectiveness of the discovery page.
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Enhanced user satisfaction, with 50% of tested users highlighting the revamped user profile as a major improvement.
Discovery
My journey began with user research, consisting of interviews and competitive analysis to dive deep into the existing app's shortcomings. Feedback highlighted several key areas for improvement:
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"On my phone, it's hard to keep track of what I'm watching and what I want to watch next."
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"I wish there was a better way to discover new anime that fits my taste."
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"I'd love to have a more personalized space in the app that reflects my anime journey."
Current anime tracking apps exist, but often have complicated interfaces, not designed for mobile.
User Personas
The three personas I decided to build for are the following:
01 | Fanatic / Cosplayer
02 | Casual Viewer
03 | Student
Ideation
Initial sketches and ideation helped me understand the four primary buckets a show is put into; completed the series, planning to watch, currently watching, or not watching anymore.
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While wireframing, I mocked up several screens. The layouts included the initial concepts for the dashboard, profile page and anime series page.
I experimented with tracking episode by episode, allowing the user to know exactly where they are throughout the series. Utilizing arrows to move forward to the next episode, users could quickly move on and complete and episode, plan to watch, or even drop the show entirely.
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User Testing
8/10 users expressed no interest in tracking their shows by episode. Instead, users would prefer tracking shows and movies in their entirety, as streaming platforms already track individual episodes.
The Final Designs
Goal 1: Simplify Tracking
I aimed to de-clutter and simplify the anime tracking process. The solution was a streamlined interface where users could easily mark the anime status as Currently watching, Completed, Add to watchlist, or Dropped with just a few taps.
Bookmarks for watch status
Goal 2: Enhance Discovery
The discovery page was reimagined to be simple; present trending and popular titles but also to offer personalized recommendations based on user preferences and watching habits, making anime discovery a journey of its own.
Goal 3: Personalized User Profiles and Insights
We transformed user profiles and insights into a vibrant showcase of their anime journey, displaying watch history, friends and watch lists, personalized statistics, total hours watched, and favorite genres.
User Testing
With the prototyping finished, I set out to get feedback from 10 Anilist users. Here's what some had to say:
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The simplified tracking system was a hit, with users appreciating the ease of updating their watch status.
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The personalized discovery page led to an increase in user engagement, with testers exploring more titles than before.
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The revamped user profile and rich insights pages dig into user viewing habits, received positive feedback for making the app feel more personal and engaging.
Reflection
As a growing designer, I reflect back on my time working on this project and I have learned an incredible amount. Not everything is perfect, far from it actually. However, I believe AniList shows that even with flaws, a product taken from a random idea to fruition is a journey. No journey is perfect and who says where it ends?
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I am very proud of working on something I am passionate about and turning it into a potential product others can use.