Case study
One CityNews app to rule them all
Facing the juggle of multiple apps across several major cities, the CityNews Product Team knew it was time for a change. They tapped into the idea of one consolidated app and reached out to me to make it happen. So, with the challenge set, I got to work on designing a seamless experience that would bring everything together.
DATE
CLIENT
CityNews,
Rogers Sports & Media
Jeffery Halpenny,
Product Owner, News
Jan 2023 – Jan 2024
Balancing the Problem
The main goal for the Product Team was to make sure folks could smoothly switch from the old apps to the new one without messing up the reading vibe for our faithful users. Kept it simple; readers just want to dive into their stories and get on with their day, no need for fancy extras.
Keeping it Simple
In our quest to rein in scope creep, stakeholders couldn't resist throwing in a couple of features that users had been clamoring for. It promised to inject some modern flair into the app. Balancing the expectations of the team, stakeholders, and audience posed an interesting challenge.
The On-going Asks
Devmode & Developers Notes
Figma just released Devmode in the beginning of 2023 and I took the opportunity to start leveraging the new feature.
darkmode
By popular demand, we also introduced dark mode that now lets readers effortlessly toggle between modes for a cozier reading journey.
app widget
Creating an app widget was a major request from our existing customers, and we delivered! (coming soon to iOS)
a new look
In the process of developing the consolidated app, we also took the opportunity to revamp the appearance and user experience.
Before
After
Parting thoughts
With hindsight, there are several things I would have approached differently. Being brought onto the project a few months in, I lacked the opportunity to establish key design processes like user testing and audience research. I had to rely heavily on the Product Owner’s direction and keep things as simple as possible to adhere to the existing schedule and budget constraints.
Overall, the project was a success. The launch of the consolidated app ushered CityNews into a new era at Rogers Media, setting the stage for the development of new products.
