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<p data-start="263" data-end="461">UIC Digital have designed and built the new website for Invictus Games Birmingham 2027, the next edition of the international sporting event for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans.</p>
<p data-start="463" data-end="789">The website needed to introduce the Games, promote Birmingham as host city, and provide a clear place for people to find information as the event develops. Over time, it will need to support a wide range of content, including sports, venues, schedules, tickets, volunteering, sponsorship opportunities and visitor information.</p>
<p data-start="791" data-end="1147">Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 already had a website in place, but there were several issues that needed to be addressed. The visual presentation did not reflect the scale or significance of the event, accessibility needed to be improved, and the way the site had been set up would have made it harder to manage and expand as more content became available.</p>
<p data-start="791" data-end="1147"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3213" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-300x146.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="146" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-300x146.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-1024x497.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-768x373.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-1536x746.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1-1568x761.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p data-start="1149" data-end="1421">The new website also needed to remain in Squarespace. This was an important part of the brief, as the project had to be delivered quickly and efficiently without introducing custom development or creating a platform that would be difficult for the client team to maintain.</p>
<p data-start="1423" data-end="1827">Working within those constraints, UIC reviewed the structure of the site, refined the key user journeys and created a clearer, more confident digital presence for the Games. We worked directly with the Director of Communications and other key stakeholders to make sure the content, navigation and overall experience supported both the immediate launch needs and the longer-term requirements of the event.</p>
<p data-start="1829" data-end="2200">Accessibility was a central consideration throughout. The site had to be easy to navigate, clear to read and responsive across desktop and mobile. For a website connected to the Invictus Games, this was not a secondary requirement. It influenced the way content was structured, how pages were laid out, and how users were guided towards important information and actions.</p>
<p data-start="1829" data-end="2200"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3214" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-300x193.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="193" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-300x193.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-1024x660.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-768x495.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-1536x990.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2-1568x1011.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_2.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>
<p data-start="2202" data-end="2534">A key part of the work was making Squarespace go further without overcomplicating the build. Rather than relying on custom code, we used the platform’s existing templates and modules in a more considered way, creating pages that feel more structured, flexible and visually consistent while still being manageable by the client team.</p>
<p data-start="2536" data-end="2850">The finished site gives Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 a stronger digital foundation in the run-up to the Games. It introduces the event clearly, provides routes into key areas such as volunteering and sponsorship, and is ready to grow as tickets, schedules, venue details and visitor information become available.</p>
<p data-start="2852" data-end="2988" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">The project was delivered in under a month, on budget, and gives the client a website they can continue to update as the Games approach.</p>
<p data-start="2852" data-end="2988" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3215" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-300x182.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="182" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-300x182.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-1024x621.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-768x466.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-1536x931.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-2048x1242.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Invictus_CS_3-1568x951.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></p>


Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 : Website design and build

<p><span class="TextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="auto"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0">Hymans Robertson partnered with UIC Digital to harness the power of AI to solve one of pension administration’s most complex </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0">challenges</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0">,</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0"> extracting and verifying key data buried within decades of unstructured member documents. The resulting AI-driven platform uses machine learning to read, interpret and cross-reference millions of records, enabling faster, more </span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0">accurate</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW233394570 BCX0"> data validation and transforming a previously manual, time-intensive process into an intelligent, scalable workflow.</span></span></p>
<div style="padding: 60.15% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Hymans Robertson Full" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1140093046?h=7d77d235e6&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479&amp;autoplay=1&amp;muted=1&amp;loop=1" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Data shown is for demonstration purposes only<br />
<script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3>Results:</h3>
<ul>
<li>
<h5><strong>90% reduction in manual effort</strong></h5>
</li>
<li>
<h5><strong>10x faster data discovery and validation</strong></h5>
</li>
<li>
<h5><strong>Multi-million £ potential cost savings anticipated on large-scale cleanses</strong></h5>
</li>
<li>
<h5><strong>Full compliance readiness for upcoming 2026 regulations</strong></h5>
</li>
<li>
<h5><strong>Higher staff confidence and significantly less rework</strong></h5>
</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The Challenge</h3>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Hymans Robertson, one of the UK’s leading pension and investment consultancies, administers over 200,000 pension scheme members across more than 70 clients. For decades, structured member data in their UPM system has been accompanied by millions of unstructured “backfiles” — scanned letters, forms, and PDFs dating back 40 years or more.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Historically, every backfile review was a manual process. Each record could take 15–45 minutes to review, with administrators opening hundreds of documents in search of a single missing or unverified data point. The work was described internally as </span><i><span data-contrast="auto">“a very, very boring job”</span></i><span data-contrast="auto"> — repetitive, error-prone, and costly to clients.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The additional challenge is that new regulations, due to take effect in October 2026 required that member data be accurate and always evidenced, not only at the point of retirement. Current, manual methods cannot scale to meet that obligation.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:true,&quot;134233118&quot;:true}"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The Solution</h3>
<p>Following a successful proof of concept that demonstrated the potential of AI to interpret unstructured pension documents, Hymans Robertson commissioned UIC Digital to deliver a full production system: the TPA AI Backfile platform.<br />
The platform automatically reads, interprets and indexes key data from backfiles associated with each pension scheme member. Using OCR and large-language-model analysis, it identifies data such as dates, salaries, contributions and spouse details, highlights their exact location within the original document, and presents them in a clear, auditable interface.<br />
UIC provided end-to-end delivery, designing and engineering both the backend AI pipeline and frontend application. The front end was built using Hymans Robertson’s existing in-house design system to ensure consistency with their digital estate, while UIC focused on the user experience design and technical architecture.</p>
<div style="padding: 60.15% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Hymans Robertson Backfile Viewer" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1140047949?h=431c0e544e&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479&amp;autoplay=1&amp;muted=1&amp;loop=1" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p style="text-align: left;">(Data shown is for demonstration purposes only)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW259501269 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW259501269 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="heading 3">How We Did It: The PRIME Framework</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW259501269 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </span></h3>
<p><span class="TextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0">To move from a complex data challenge to a global production environment in months, not years, we applied our proprietary </span></span><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW68303917 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0">PRIME AI Framework</span></span><span class="TextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0">. This high-velocity delivery vehicle bypasses &#8220;strategy-heavy&#8221; cycles in </span><span class="NormalTextRun SpellingErrorV2Themed SCXW68303917 BCX0">favor</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW68303917 BCX0"> of tangible product increments.</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW68303917 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<h5 aria-level="4">1. Identify (The Sprint)<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:319,&quot;335559739&quot;:319}"> </span></h5>
<p><span data-contrast="none">We didn’t spend months on discovery. Instead, we utilized short, focused workshops to pinpoint the specific </span><b><span data-contrast="none">“Value Levers”</span></b><span data-contrast="none">—the high-value data points that would have the greatest impact on regulatory compliance and operational cost. By bringing together the “Doers” and “Checkers” from the Glasgow headquarters, we ensured the AI was solving for real-world workflow pain points from day one.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<h5 aria-level="4">2. Build (Idea to Code)<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:319,&quot;335559739&quot;:319}"> </span></h5>
<p><span data-contrast="none">In this phase, we moved rapidly to turn the proof of concept into a robust technical foundation. We engineered the full stack solution, integrating AI document processing with a secure Azure-hosted backend. The focus was on </span><b><span data-contrast="none">&#8220;Workflow Fit&#8221;</span></b><span data-contrast="none">—ensuring the AI surfaced data points with a verifiable link back to the source page, creating the transparency required for pension auditing.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<h5 aria-level="4">3. Deliver (Global Production)<span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:319,&quot;335559739&quot;:319}"> </span></h5>
<p><span data-contrast="none">The final stage of the PRIME framework is about achieving scale. We deployed the TPA AI Backfile platform as a production-ready ecosystem, not just a pilot. By integrating with Hymans’ single sign-on and existing design system, we ensured immediate adoption. This phase focused on </span><b><span data-contrast="none">continuous learning</span></b><span data-contrast="none">, allowing the tool to assist human expertise and support the established Doer/Checker process while scaling across multiple pension schemes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<h3><span class="TextRun MacChromeBold SCXW43495373 BCX0" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB" data-contrast="none"><span class="NormalTextRun SCXW43495373 BCX0" data-ccp-parastyle="heading 3"><br />
The Outcome: Unlocking Value</span></span><span class="EOP SCXW43495373 BCX0" data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}"> </span></h3>
<p><span data-contrast="none">By applying the PRIME framework, we transformed a &#8220;boring,&#8221; manual task into a streamlined, verifiable process. The speed of the PRIME methodology resulted in immediate gains:</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="none">Efficiency:</span></b><span data-contrast="none"> Record review times reduced from 30 minutes to just 3 minutes.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="none">Velocity:</span></b><span data-contrast="none"> Data cleansing cycles that previously took four months are now completed in six weeks.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li aria-setsize="-1" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"><b><span data-contrast="none">Regulatory Assurance:</span></b><span data-contrast="none"> A consistent, auditable data trail that secures Hymans Robertson&#8217;s position for the 2026 regulatory shift.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"><br />
</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span data-contrast="none">Through the PRIME Framework, we moved Hymans Robertson from a whiteboard concept to a market-leading AI administration tool at pace.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}"> </span></p>


90% Less Effort, 10x Faster – How UIC and AI Re-engineered Pension Document Processing

<p>Art Basel needed to pivot away from declining legacy tech without getting bogged down in multi-year digital transformation cycles. They required a partner who could move at the speed of the art market—turning high-level commercial levers into production-ready code in a matter of months.</p>
<p>What we created was the Art Basel AI companion application that transforms the show into a personalized, end-to-end digital journey. By leveraging generative AI and real-time data integration, the assistant serves as a 24/7 concierge that mitigates logistical friction before the show, enhances immersion during the event, and fosters long-term loyalty afterward. Before the curtain rises, it manages logistics like &#8220;smart wayfinding&#8221; and entry requirements; during the show, it facilitates friction-less commerce through in-seat ordering and provides real-time artist insights; post-event, it delivers curated digital mementos and personalized offers. This continuous touchpoint ensures that the attendee feels prioritized, informed, and deeply connected to the brand at every stage of the experience.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Key Performance Highlights</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>3x Growth in meaningful user actions YTD.</strong></li>
<li><strong>+109% Daily Users</strong> for the new Art Discovery experience vs. legacy OVR.</li>
<li><strong>91% Satisfaction</strong> for the AI Assistant, proving that speed does not sacrifice quality.</li>
</ul>
<p>How did we deliver impactful embedded AI solutions in just months? By using our proprietary <strong>PRIME AI framework</strong>. This high-velocity delivery model prioritizes rapid workshops and tangible product increments over strategy-heavy slide decks.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Phase 1 &amp; 2: Preparation &amp; Research (The Sprint)</h3>
<p>We didn&#8217;t spend months on discovery. We utilized <strong>short, focused workshops</strong> to immediately identify the commercial levers that would move the needle for Art Basel and its partners.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Commercial Lever identified:</strong> Reclaiming the 70% engagement loss from legacy Online Viewing Rooms.</li>
<li><strong>Rapid Mapping:</strong> Quickly audited 20 years of unstructured data to create a technical foundation for AI in weeks, not months.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Phase 3: Implementation (Idea to Code)</h3>
<p>We moved directly from <strong>Proof of Concept (PoC) to a production-ready ecosystem</strong> for the Miami Beach 2024 launch.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The AI Chat Assistant:</strong> Grounded a GPT-4o model in verified fair data, moving from prototype to a <strong>91% satisfaction-rated</strong> live product in a single cycle.</li>
<li><strong>Art Basel Lens:</strong> Deployed a beta computer-vision tool that delivers artwork metadata in <strong>under two seconds</strong>, proving that complex AI can be integrated seamlessly into luxury UI at pace.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Phase 4 &amp; 5: Monitoring &amp; Evolution (Live Impact)</h3>
<p>The speed of delivery resulted in immediate, massive gains for the Miami Beach fair:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Immediate Adoption:</strong> <strong>+37%</strong> increase in app downloads YoY.</li>
<li><strong>Engagement Surge:</strong> Average engagement time jumped <strong>+36%</strong> to nearly 13 minutes per user.</li>
<li><strong>Commercial ROI:</strong> Partner visibility on Gallery Detail Pages skyrocketed by <strong>+96%</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Fast-tracked delivery accelerated our feedback loop, enabling an enhanced UX architecture that allows users to seamlessly navigate between multiple global city fairs.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3>The PRIME Framework: Built for Speed</h3>
<table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="12">
<tbody>
<tr>
<th align="left">
<h5>Phase</h5>
</th>
<th align="left">
<h5>Duration</h5>
</th>
<th align="left">
<h5>Outcome</h5>
</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Identify</strong></td>
<td>Days</td>
<td>Rapid workshops to pinpoint &#8220;Value Levers&#8221; (e.g., Partner Visibility).</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Build</strong></td>
<td>Weeks</td>
<td>Moving from &#8220;Idea to Code&#8221;—deploying PoCs into testing environments.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Deliver</strong></td>
<td>Months</td>
<td>Full-scale production launch across iOS and Android globally.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&#8220;Our approach is simple: <strong>Less strategy, more delivery.</strong> With the PRIME framework, we identified Art Basel&#8217;s commercial opportunities and moved them from a workshop whiteboard to a global production environment in months, not years.&#8221;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div></div>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="AB_ReelShort" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033850491?badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;amp" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2998" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AI-Help-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2997 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Screens-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3001" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="680" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards-300x112.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards-1024x383.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards-768x287.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards-1536x574.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Cards-1568x586.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3028 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Swipe-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h4></h4>
<h4><em>“Thank you for your exceptional leadership and tireless effort in steering the team and the project to success. Your focus and dedication have truly inspired everyone involved and ensured we reached this milestone together.” </em></h4>
<p><span lang="EN-US">Alain Brusch, Global Head of Digital Platforms, Art Basel</span></p>
<h4 class="x_x_p1"><span class="x_x_s1">&#8220;This app represents a significant step forward in enhancing the experience for our galleries, artists, and collectors, as well as paving the way for future innovations, including AI-driven solutions to elevate the customer experience further.</span></h4>
<h4 class="x_x_p1"><span class="x_x_s1">Thank you all for your hard work, collaboration, and passion. It’s been an incredible journey, and I look forward to celebrating further achievements together as we continue to transform our digital ecosystem.&#8221;</span></h4>
<p>Craig Hepburn, Chief Digital Officer, Art Basel</p>


<p>We’d previously worked with Amazon in 2020 on a successful benchmarking project.  Thanks to our approach and commitment to answering the brief, they came back to us with a fresh set of challenges. These involved testing two key areas of their Fire TV devices which have sold over 200 million units globally.</p>
<p>The first part of this new brief was to assess the prominence of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) apps such as BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel4, My5, STV and S4C on Amazon Fire devices against UK competitors. The second, to discover how Fire TV’s product features ranked against other UK streaming services. The results of our work would then be used to give a clear insight into how Fire TV products were positioned in the marketplace and pinpoint areas for improvement.</p>
<p>Three months of intense research followed using 14 different streaming devices, with 231 tests conducted on each. This culminated in the creation of a benchmarking document tailored to Amazon’s exact requirements.</p>
<h2>Researching the brief</h2>
<p>Our UX team began by working with Amazon to gain a deeper understanding of what criteria we needed to benchmark Fire TV against. For example, how easy was it to download PSBs, their on-screen prominence and how this changed during use? While to compare Fire TV against other Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) services, we looked at factors such as the availability of pre-installed apps, ease of navigation and overall performance.</p>
<p>Armed with this information, our senior data analyst worked on the data algorithms and methodologies required. In addition, we assessed the best ways to visualise results to meet Amazon’s reviewing strategies. This saw us agree on research and insight-gathering techniques that produced holistic data-driven results. These required complex calculations based on pre-agreed units of scoring, which also had to work in reverse as both highest and lowest scores could be deemed best depending on the test.</p>
<p>Research was divided into 9 categories:</p>
<ul>
<li>Onboarding</li>
<li>Home Screen</li>
<li>TV Guide</li>
<li>Navigation</li>
<li>Performance</li>
<li>Product Features</li>
<li>Search</li>
<li>Voice</li>
<li>App Store</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2981 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Data-Algorithms-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>Putting our methodology to the test</h2>
<p>The testing facility in our London office was set up with additional testing also conducted in testers’ homes to replicate real world interactions. Our team behaved like new users of the test devices and SVODs, with each reset to its factory default for an out-of-box experience (OOBE). This allowed like-for-like comparisons in terms of setup times and areas such as PSB prominence on first-time use. We also followed the current convention of using second device to speed up the onboarding process, with devices matched where possible.</p>
<p>A quantitative test approach was used to avoid emotional responses, keep testing data driven and reduce ambiguity to a minimum. To ensure precise data capture, every interaction, e.g. remote taps and screens viewed, was timed and tracked to the millisecond. In addition, all tests were video recorded to allow results to be double-checked. Finally, testers made notes of any additional points of interest which were highlighted in review sessions.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="AmazonUnboxing" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033490679?autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;amp" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>Devices tested – each taking 3-days:</p>
<h3>SMPs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Amazon Fire TV Stick (Lite model 7.6.7.3)</li>
<li>Google Chromecast</li>
<li>Roku</li>
<li>Apple TV+</li>
</ul>
<h3>Smart TVs</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fire TV Edition (Toshiba D1NF-32-UK)</li>
<li>Tizen OS Samsung</li>
<li>WebOS LG</li>
<li>Vidaa HiSense</li>
<li>Roku TV OS Hisense</li>
<li>Android TV</li>
</ul>
<h3>Gaming Devices</h3>
<ul>
<li>Microsoft Xbox</li>
<li>Sony PlayStation 5</li>
</ul>
<h3>Set Top Boxes</h3>
<ul>
<li>Virgin Media</li>
<li>Sky Q</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Streaming services tested</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3029 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Streaming-Services-1.jpg" alt="" width="1034" height="610" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Streaming-Services-1.jpg 1034w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Streaming-Services-1-300x177.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Streaming-Services-1-1024x604.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Streaming-Services-1-768x453.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1034px) 100vw, 1034px" /></p>
<h2></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2983" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Charts-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>Taking a data-driven approach</h2>
<p>In total, over 3,000 pieces of data were collected. To ensure their safety, storage structures were created to protect against data breaches or losses. This information was duplicated and cleaned with results turned into a range of agreed data visualisations that included heatmap tables and charts.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2984" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Testing-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>Using big data to see the small detail</h2>
<p>The team at Amazon are all about keeping things as clear and simple as possible. So, we took the original research document of over 300 pages and streamlined it down to 70. This began with all key findings summarised on a single page of A4. Then, if anyone wanted to know more about a specific area, they could dive further into the results.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2985" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Results-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>Benchmarking that makes a difference</h2>
<p>As per the agreed timescale, the final stage after 3 months of testing was presenting our findings to all relevant was presented to a wide range of Amazon stakeholders including Product, Tech, Marketing and Customer Experience teams.</p>
<p>We received fantastic feedback on both our testing methodology and results. Our final benchmarking document showed that Fire TV products scored well on PSB prominence, which was gratifying for them as they had worked hard on improving this. With regard to benchmarking against other devices, we confirmed internal thinking concerning the positioning of Fire TV products.</p>
<p>Individual departments within Amazon are now using the data we produced to evolve and improve Fire TV products, ensuring they maintain their position as a top UK streaming service provider.</p>


<p>Set up to aid the recovery of international wounded, injured and sick (WIS) current and veteran service personnel, the Invictus Games has fast become one of the world’s most recognisable sporting events.</p>
<p>Six Games have been held since its launch in 2014, with more than 3000 participants from 20 countries taking part. Two more Games, including the first winter Invictus, are scheduled for 2025 and 2027.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2944" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/We-Are-Invictus-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>A unique app for a unique audience</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That space is We Are Invictus, launched in 2019 as a one-of-a-kind social network for WIS personnel. Members can connect with people and learn about new challenges, such as upcoming Games or other events, as well as find volunteering, employment and even speaking opportunities. All with the aim of fostering a community that helps people with their recovery. It is available via the web, on iOS and Android mobiles and tablets</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3013 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/App-Overview-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>Rebuilding an app for a major moment</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">2024 marked ten years of the Invictus Games. To celebrate, a host of events, many of them virtual, were planned, with We Are Invictus central to those celebrations. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">To get the app ready, there was a long list of areas to address. The team was conscious that it would need outside support to deliver what it wanted and prioritise what it could achieve in time for the anniversary. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3014 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Sign-Up-Process-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our relationship with Invictus started as a conversation. This evolved into a series of workshops where the team discussed the issues they were facing and we started to understand where the priorities lay. </span></p>
<h4><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Whenever someone comes to you with a problem, the easy approach is to just focus on that. But our experience shows you rarely get the desired result. What someone thinks is the issue and what it actually is are often very different, so it’s important to spend time digging into the challenges to find the root cause of the problems and work back from there.”</span></em></h4>
<p>Christian Jack, Product Manager at UIC Digital</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3006" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Accessible-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Working with the Invictus team, we determined what would deliver the most value in the shortest time to get the platform ready for the tenth anniversary. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, we defined four key areas to focus on:</span></p>
<h3>1. The sign-up process</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> The sign-up process is the gateway to the app. We identified a number of areas where it could be streamlined for both members and back-office employees. These included reducing the amount of personal information required, removing questions that didn’t need to be asked until later in the process and addressing the amount of toggling between CMS pages team members had to do.</span></p>
<h3>2. The user interface and accessibility</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The interface needed to be easy to navigate and meet the varied accessibility requirements. An outdated, hard-to-use design would affect the user experience and the perception of professionalism.</span></p>
<h3>3. Branding and identity</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The app needed to be the brand; for many members, it was their way of connecting to Invictus. The team wanted to build an Invictus community, meaning its platform must reflect the brand’s look and feel, values and mission. </span></p>
<h3>4. Technical polish</h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The app needed a level of technical polish, such as form validation, which would help prevent user errors and improve data accuracy. Making sure functionality like mobile-specific keyboards was enabled so that keyboards switched from numeric to email depending on the field was critical.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2988 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Administrative-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We also defined key performance indicators, conceiving measures that balanced ambition with achievability. Most importantly, these KPIs aligned directly with having a positive impact for both members and employees. </span></p>
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">These included:</span></h3>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increasing the number of users</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Growing the number of member nationalities</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Accelerating the sign-up process</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reducing the amount of time members spend waiting for documentation to be reviewed</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Improving in-app engagement</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-3005" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Looking-Ahead-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>What we did</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Having identified our priorities, we mapped both the user sign-up journey and what was happening in the back end, creating a view of the end-to-end experience. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gave us quantitative evidence by highlighting friction points and bottlenecks for members and employees, validating the qualitative feedback Invictus had received from users and their own team. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">For instance, we knew from member anecdotes that the initial sign-up process, which involved uploading personal documentation, created a backlog as it all had to be checked manually. While necessary, this negatively impacted the experience on both sides. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With this plan, we worked with the Invictus team to design a reimagined user journey to simplify the experience for both users and the back office. This collaboration allowed us to have each step validated by the team that would have to work with it, securing their buy-in and ensuring our proposals reflected their workflows. </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3015 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Key-App-Screens-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Throughout the design phase, accessibility in UX and UI was a primary focus. With We Are Invictus working across multiple operating systems it can’t benefit from the accessibility functions that native iOS or Android apps enjoy.  </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To overcome this, we focused on readable fonts, high-contrast elements, and colours that could be quickly improved as part of the redesign. </span></p>
<h2>Meeting deadlines and expectations</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The first phase of our work wi</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">th Invictus is live in time for the tenth-anniversary events. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">As it is an ongoing project, many of the measures we introduced are still underway. However, we have already started to see some positive results. </span></p>
<h2>Looking ahead</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the first phase live, we’re now focusing on the next part of the journey. That includes:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adding in more analytics to capture insights and inform further improvements and new features</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Implementing AI to review documentation as an initial first-pass and pre-fill approvals for human review </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Evolving accessibility</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Continuing to apply best practices in all aspects of UX, compliance and security</span></li>
</ul>
<h4><em>“The We Are Invictus Games project is an incredible success, and it’s a testament to the strong collaboration and shared vision we’ve had from the very start. This partnership has been about more than just delivering a great outcome—it’s about building something meaningful and sustainable for the long term. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together and excited about what’s ahead.”</em></h4>
<p>Steve Knight, CEO, UIC Digital</p>


<p>Content discovery is a perennial challenge for streaming platforms. Studies show that two in three viewers spend over six minutes searching for something to watch, with more than half finding the process frustrating. Frustration that leads to dissatisfaction, which results in greater user churn.</p>
<p>Persistently high churn is an industrywide issue that undermines the commercial viability of many streaming services. Beyond price, it is content, the popularity of certain titles and the overall size of the library, that is seen as the major differentiator between services. However, when you have a large fleet of streaming platforms sitting on an endlessly deep and wide ocean of content, how do you ensure that the customer can find what they want, with ease and in an enjoyably differentiated experience?</p>
<p>Content personalisation is often seen as the solution, but traditional approaches rely heavily on a user’s viewing history to inform future interests, narrowing the possibility of further content discovery, deeper platform engagement and loyalty.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033506786?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="Player Moments JT"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h2>Viewer driven content curation with AI</h2>
<p>These challenges lead to a collaboration between UIC Labs, Microsoft and the NBA to create a technical showcase, which demonstrated the way in which AI automation within the media backend workflow as well as directly into the consumer frontend streaming experience, could reimagine content discovery and engagement through real-time user generated content curation. Our role was to provide the engineering and product design to showcase Microsoft’s AI technology stack to deliver the NBA’s forward-thinking approach to fan engagement.</p>
<p>What we created is a flexible and scalable solution that enables users to search for content using conversational language, like, “Show me LeBron James’ drives and layups from Game 3.” Acting as a personal companion, the AI assistant simplifies content discovery by returning a near-instant curated playlist of highlights presented as part of a cohesive narrative. A narrator agent enhances this experience by writing a story that contextualizes the requested actions within the broader scope of the game, offering viewers a deeper understanding of the flow and significance of the moments they are watching. This storytelling element makes the experience both engaging and accessible.</p>
<p>Viewers can also explore related content or dive deeper into the game’s context through the system’s dynamic features. For instance, during a pause in playback, the AI surfaces insights about key players involved in the last play or connects the moment to archival content, such as previous performances in similar scenarios. This seamless navigation between current games and historical content enhances both the depth and engagement of the viewing experience.</p>
<p>Beyond discovery, the system serves as an educator by providing real-time explanations of basketball terminology and tactics. When a commentator mentions a player’s positioning in the “dunker spot,” for example, the AI can quickly explain the term and its relevance to the play. This feature enriches the experience for avid basketball fans while also making the game more accessible to casual viewers and newcomers.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Ask" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033506722?badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;amp" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>What did we prove from this technical showcase?</p>
<h3>Increased engagement/view-time</h3>
<p>The integration of AI encourages exploration and content discovery to keep viewers engaged longer.</p>
<h3>Reduced production time and costs:</h3>
<p>LLMs can automate labour-intensive tasks such as logging metadata or selecting clips for highlights reels.</p>
<h3>Increased the potential of advertising revenue through longer view-time</h3>
<p>The increase in engagement offers more opportunity for advertising placement.</p>
<h3>Expanded audience</h3>
<p>The custom AI serves as an interactive guide, breaking down complex topics and providing real-time explanations. This feature is especially valuable for sports and special interests, lowering the barriers to entry making content more accessible to newcomers and casual fans.</p>
<h3>Additional monetization opportunities</h3>
<p>The AI implementation also lends itself to other monetization strategies such as premium-tier value incentives and PPV event experiences.</p>
<h3>Archive repurposing</h3>
<p>The interaction model opens exciting opportunities to repurpose and drive engagement of archive content.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3034 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Tactics-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h2>How did we create this scalable solution?</h2>
<p>Leveraging Microsoft&#8217;s Azure AI Video Indexer, computer vision, and natural language processing tools, the system analyses video content, identifies key events, and creates searchable data. The process begins with segmenting the game into chapters and scenes. Metadata is generated for each segment, capturing information such as specific player actions and game context. This metadata is stored in Azure AI Search, allowing users to retrieve precise results in real time.</p>
<p>We used Microsoft’s new “Content Understanding” system to index the source assets to capture basic scene information such as camera shot type, ambience and player information. We then built a custom domain-centric (i.e. Basketball) AI indexer using ChatGPT4o to recognize and log Basketball-specific events such as dunks, 3 pointers, blocks etc.</p>
<p>Another LLM implementation on the front-end uses that metadata from the indexers to search content and to create “stories” based on the user requests.</p>
<p>Finally, we trained another model with an actor’s voice to create a “personal commentator” that tied the technologies together to deliver a cohesive and innovative user experience.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Playlist" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033506810?badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;amp" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h2>How was the technical showcase received?</h2>
<p>The showcase was extremely well received when demonstrated live at both the Internation Broadcast Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam and National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in Las Vagas. It has created a lot of thoughtful conversation about the future of content discovery and more widely the changing way that users will interact with digital content with the assistance of AI.</p>
<h4><em>“Partnering with UIC Digital has allowed us to redefine what’s possible in sports streaming by integrating Copilot AI. The AI Content Concierge is set to be a game-changer, offering exciting opportunities to repurpose archive content and driving engagement, while also supporting new monetization strategies such as premium-tier incentives.”</em></h4>
<p>Andy Beach, CTO of Media and Entertainment at Microsoft</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Related" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1033506833?badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;amp" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>The success of this project demonstrates the transformative potential of AI integration in media and entertainment. While this demo focused on sports streaming, the underlying technology can easily adapt to other domains, such as news broadcasting, entertainment archives, and multimedia advertising. For instance, news editors could generate highlight reels on breaking stories in real time, while entertainment platforms could provide tailored recommendations based on users’ viewing habits. Furthermore, context-aware advertising could seamlessly integrate into these experiences, offering smarter avenues for revenue generation. This is just the beginning of what’s possible when AI is used to enhance how audiences discover, consume, and interact with content.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


<p>10x are developing a cloud-native technology platform to enable their client banks to engage their customers with more timely, relevant and personalised experiences.</p>
<p>With 30 plus delivery teams working across definition, architecture, backend, back-office, integration and front-end development, the 10x solution is large and complex. We were originally asked to assist finalising the user experience and design for a customer specific front-end and to lead the front-end development across iOS &amp; Android.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-554" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-2-4x3-1-e1701189233176.jpg" alt="" width="1440" height="1080" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-553" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/10x-1-4x3-2-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>


<p style="font-weight: 400;">With the streaming market gaining momentum and a swathe of new competitors over the last years, premium entertainment network Showtime decided it was time to renovate – building two new streaming apps for Roku and Xbox One.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Showtime Xbox video Banner Scroll" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894116841?h=f5ad5a98a4&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2155 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">If you’ve ever watched TV shows like Dexter, Billions, Yellowjackets or New Blood, you’ve used Showtime, an American entertainment network owned by Paramount. It’s known for its exclusive and critically acclaimed original TV shows, blockbusters and world-famous Pay-Per-View (PPV) sports events.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">For the last six years, Showtime and UIC Digital have worked together to take its applications through an evolution of continuous improvement, aiming to remain at the forefront of streaming technology. Building on this trend, our collaboration focused on expanding Showtime’s reach, delivering its award-winning content to audiences on all new Roku and Xbox One applications.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">With the streaming industry exploding in popularity and new players entering the market Showtime recognised the importance of reaching wider audiences across platforms. And not only this: it sought to create a rich Pay-Per-View section dedicated to Showtime’s sports fighting events, increasing both audience engagement and opening new revenue streams as a result.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1961 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Dexter-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2152 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Coming-Soon-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Behind-the-scenes</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We designed and developed Showtime’s new Xbox One app from scratch. Collaborating with Showtime’s internal team, we first got under the skin of the channel’s target audience, using research to understand their likes, dislikes and what they were looking for from a streaming app. We analysed the demographics, content preferences and most wanted features. Then we created a design and development strategy off the back of this research, defined by the features and requirements we found in user research and those needed by the client. It included an intuitive user interface, optimisation across devices to give smooth performance and, of course, Xbox One platform compatibility.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Over the next six years, we released multiple iterations and platform updates to keep Showtime at the bleeding edge of app technology. This continuous evolution also kept Showtime in line with new tech, changing user expectations and industry trends. Showtime’s new Pay-Per-View feature for fight nights was particularly well-loved, with a seamless integration, streamlined in app payment process and unwavering high-quality live streams.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">For Roku, the project was a little more challenging – something we always relish, as a team. We inherited the existing codebase from another agency, and so we pulled it through a thorough code review to understand its architecture, functionalities and areas for optimisation. It was an opportunity to use our technical expertise and adaptability to turn something else into something better. Using our analysis, we created a detailed plan to refactor and improve the code one step at a time as we focused on different sections of the application to also integrate new features. That way we could work methodically through the technical debt and increase performance whilst introducing new features. Despite its complexities, we were able to transform the existing app into a more stable, responsive platform for users.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Showtime Xbox video Loading" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894116885?h=9242931d17&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2151 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Series-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Showtime Xbox video Live TV" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894116908?h=e227bf3faf&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<h3><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></h3>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>It’s Showtime</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Overall, the project was challenging in different ways; on the one hand a blank slate and endless possibilities that needed refining, and on the other a tight brief set to an older architecture that showed our ability to adapt to different coding styles, and retrofit existing applications to shine in the modern technological age. Both applications then went on to improve customer satisfaction, shiny and new, with an easy-to-use interface and plenty of features that kept Showtime at the top of its game.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Showtime Xbox video Search" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894116809?h=249f4fd923&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></div>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2148 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UI-Details-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2155 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Resume-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>


Award-winning connected TV app

<p style="font-weight: 400;">When Time Out identified it was falling behind the competition, it needed a website redesign that would set it apart. It needed to be scalable and profitable, executed by a partner that knew how to do both.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2391" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Website-Overview.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Time Out – you’d be hard pushed to find someone that hadn’t heard of it. Originally founded in 1968, the city lifestyle magazine has transitioned into operating as an entire media group in 59 countries and 333 cities. Producing content that spans the best food, drinks, culture, art, music, theatre, travel and entertainment, Time Out is often a staple for city dwellers, and a favourite among Londoners.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">However, as the publishing world went digital, Time Out’s weekly magazine experienced a declining readership. This, of course, translated into lower revenue. Its online footprint was simple, basic and had become outdated; based on a CMS that didn’t work on mobile, it was non-responsive and hard to run by the editorial team. Sadly, this had led to inconsistencies across the brand in cities like London, New York, Paris and Berlin. Opening a new ‘city’ took forever.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Time Out could watch on no longer, and reached out to UIC Digital for help with a full digital transformation, reimagining the user experience and future-proofing it for years to come as web-based consumer habits outshone its print publication. Smart phones were now the go-to. Competitor publications had added the ability to take event bookings. Even the London Underground had been given WiFi. If it was to continue recommending the best restaurants and the best things to do, it would need the best user experience to match.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2388" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Location-Mockup.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>What the people want</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As with every project we take on, we started at source – with user research. We conducted user interviews with Time Out’s target audience, which included previous and current readers of its magazine and website. What did they like about it? What didn’t they? What would they love to see next? How could this be transformed into digital? This revealed most of the major shortcomings of the current website, and uncovered the types of new features that would enhance the online experience. Because Time Out is an editorial leader, not a simple listings site.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Combined with deep thought from our team, the ideas that came out were features like wish lists for places to go, Pinterest-style boards for influencers&#8217; favourite restaurants, venue reviews, sections for articles and features, and the ability to book events right from the site directly. Stepping out of the detail, Time Out also wanted a platform that could be rapidly scaled, with new launches made as easy as pie. But these also had to be maintained with minimal overheads, and so efficiency was also key. The new site would make sponsored content a doddle, and give venues the option to pay for a ‘premium profile’ that sat at the top of any listings.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2392" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Features.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Mobile" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/917872587?h=6869acbc5a&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>A fresh take for Time Out</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">In collaboration with Time Out’s in-house dev team, we helped to relaunch the website by leading on its UX/UI design, research and project management. At this point in time, users wanted it all in the palm of their hand, with immediacy and relevancy. So we designed mobile-first, making key functionalities available at their fingertips. Time Out’s existing CMS was a poor match for the new designs, so we had to work hand-in-hand with the brand’s in-house development team to sync the frontend with the new backend it was creating.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2390" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/UI-Research.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Having launched its new website, Time Out also wanted to extend its offering to native iOS and Android apps. We designed and developed these from end-to-end, to mimic the content on the website but with a twist. Built on a native codebase for performance and maintainability, the apps utilised geolocation data to recommend things to do near you, and took advantage of offline capabilities for whenever the connection dropped. We created a faster user interface and completely custom design, not limited to the restrictions we had on the web – which, in 2015, were numerous. The apps also brought all cities under one roof, so users could switch between destinations whenever they wanted.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Android &amp; IOS" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/917872573?h=10c5ec0d91&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
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<h3><strong>Success at scale</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We had launched a new suite of apps and a responsive website across all major cities, with a refreshed ad and sponsorship model to boot. Since then, Time Out has scaled to over 300 cities – and it all started here. Sadly, the pandemic brought about a halt and eventual permanent termination to its printed magazine in London. The website, however, lives on successfully in over 50 countries. Back in 2016, one year after the new website had been launched alongside the apps, it was clear to see the impact the project had made; Time Out Digital revenue had grown by 17% and digital advertising by 36%. The project was a resounding success.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2389" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-300x218.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="653" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-300x218.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-1024x743.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-768x557.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-1536x1114.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration-1568x1137.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Ad-Integration.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Website" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/917872552?h=3b9ac21033&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>


A global multi-platform redesign

<p style="font-weight: 400;">CBS All Access pioneered the way as the first broadcaster to offer a Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) service, recognizing the future of digital content delivery and consumer preferences. This case study explores our enduring partnership with CBS, now part of the Paramount portfolio, which has spanned over a decade, leaving an indelible mark on the media landscape.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Banner scroll" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894085092?h=df8d1c145c&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div>
<h3><b>The Long Game</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">CBS, a global television giant known for its iconic shows, such as CSI, 60 Minutes, The Big Bang Theory and The Late Show, on the Entertainment side as well as national and local coverage of news, foresaw the digital revolution in media. Nearly a decade ago, it envisioned a future where digital content and video streaming would reign supreme. To navigate this digital wave, CBS required a steadfast, creative, and strategic partner with a proven track record in user-centric design, digital strategy, and technological innovation. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With over ten years now behind us, across CBS, CBS News and CBS Local, we’ve played an integral part in shaping the way content is delivered in the media industry, setting new standards in user experience for streaming services and digital news networks.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2054 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos.jpg" alt="" width="1816" height="1200" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos.jpg 1816w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos-300x198.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos-1024x677.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos-768x507.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos-1536x1015.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LS-Logos-1568x1036.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1816px) 100vw, 1816px" /></p>
<h3><b>Transforming news delivery</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our partnership with CBS took root in 2014 with the CBS News team and the inception of a groundbreaking endeavour. In a transformative move away from traditional network and cable broadcast methods, CBS News embarked on an ambitious mission to provide content as a stand-alone product for smartphones and tablets, heralding a seismic shift toward an OTT (over-the-top) delivery method for news programming.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This innovative approach represented a paradigm shift in the way news was delivered and consumed. CBS News sought to offer both live and recorded 24-hour news coverage to meet the evolving preferences of a digital-savvy audience. The development of this product was an intricate undertaking, involving considerations such as advertising integration, robust analytical capabilities, extensive system integration with CBS&#8217;s infrastructure, and the seamless delivery of streaming and DVR functionalities. CBS News entrusted UIC Digital to bring this pioneering project to fruition, recognising our expertise as the safe pair of hands to navigate these uncharted waters.</span></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="CBS News" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/892160674?h=ca77ea9e4a&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="CBS Ipad" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894085052?h=4dc3dbdaef&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
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<h3><b>Charting New Frontiers with CBS All Access</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">After successfully completing this project, our team was introduced to the CBS Entertainment team. At the time, the media landscape was in flux and CBS had just seized this opportunity by introducing CBS All Access—an industry trailblazer. CBS All Access was not just a streaming service; it represented a paradigm shift. By delivering content directly to viewers without the need for cable subscriptions, CBS set the benchmark for network OTT subscription services. It offered live and on-demand programming alongside a treasure trove of classic TV shows, catering to diverse viewer preferences.</span></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Episode" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894085153?h=7825ab8198&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2073 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-4-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2067 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/CBS-All-Access-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><b>Into the unknown</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Across all of this, our team guided and implemented technical, design and development milestones needed to achieve this industry-first. We embraced groundbreaking challenges and pioneered new platforms to facilitate CBS&#8217;s digital transformation. One remarkable milestone was the development of applications for gaming consoles such as Xbox 360 and PlayStation 4.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At the time, gaming consoles had been relatively unexplored as streaming devices. Smart TVs didn’t exist in masse yet, so a console was a very viable way to stream your favourite TV shows. Although no playbook existed, the team delivered technical integrations in this uncharted terrain to showcase our expertise in problem-solving.</span></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="All Access Login" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894085185?h=5a263d58c1&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3><b>Innovation that lasts</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our success in overcoming these challenges speaks to our identity as a strategic partner capable of tackling the toughest problems and driving technical innovation. This approach not only led to the birth of CBS All Access but also paved the way for a long and deep running partnership across entertainment and news entities within what is now all part of Paramount.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The longevity of our partnership is a testament to our close collaboration, relentless innovation, and creative audacity. We bring these qualities to every project, combining them with our deep expertise in user-centric design, technical development, and consumer behaviour. Together, we are committed to transforming traditional broadcasting models into industry-leading OTT platforms, reaffirming the significance of user-focused design and development in today&#8217;s media landscape.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2074 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="820" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1-300x135.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1-1024x461.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1-768x346.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1-1536x692.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-1-1568x706.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2075 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/News-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
</div>


A decade of digital product innovation

<p style="font-weight: 400;">When Currencycloud was acquired by VISA, its legacy financial services platform needed updating to meet strict security and functionality requirements. UIC Digital was on hand to complete the transaction.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2315 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Design-Overview-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><strong>The Currency of change</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Starting from humble beginnings in 2012, Currencycloud now provides cross-border and multi-currency financial solutions to businesses that stretch from Europe and North America to Asia. Having processed over $75 billion in payments, to more than 180 countries across the world, Currencycloud is a scale-up experiencing rapid growth – and most recently, a multimillion dollar acquisition by VISA.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, Currencycloud sought to rebuild its user and white label financial payments platform, using a new tech stack and security enhancements to meet VISA specifications. This also presented an opportunity to scale its user base and revenue and, having successfully redesigned and redeveloped Currencycloud’s developer portal in 2022, UIC Digital was already set to take on the challenge.</p>
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2316 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Detail-Image-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></h3>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Laying the foundations</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">To rebuild the platform, technical frontend and backend development would be needed, based on the features and functionalities of what was there already.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">First, we worked with Currencycloud to lay out what a new technology stack could look like across many different use cases, so we could lock down the best route forward with commerce development in mind. The number of relevant API endpoints remained a mystery, and the legacy product needed investigating to be fully understood. As with all of our projects, we launched into a discovery period first and foremost, to really get under the skin of the existing platform.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We conducted a mini structural audit, generating a list of templates and features that would become the bones of the project. We ran a review and final validation of the existing platform, creating user stories and a backlog to support them in tow. At the same time, we ran a short backend discovery period too to make sure we fully understood the complexities of the API endpoints and exactly how the backend would need to serve the features on the frontend.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">With our backlog created, its user stories were then sized and planned in priority order before work would begin on the build. We’d be working on a sprint-by-sprint basis to make sure we could iterate as we built, matching requirements with the final goal at every step.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="UX IMAGES" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/912976167?h=dce55deda0&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>It all adds up</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We began the technical build in earnest using a two-week agile sprint cadence to start laying down the platform’s initial features and functionalities. We found that Currencycloud’s current frontend application had been built using various technologies and these all needed consolidating into one. We did this using a server side, rendered Next.js application with Typescript.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Its tech stack also included UI Components listed and showcased in Storybook, a React Router to power app navigation and routing, React Query with Axios that talked to the Rest API and React context for storing its global state. This paired up with styled components from the existing platform and a Jest unit testing framework.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2317 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Components-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We also built a middleware backend application to connect mandatory data sources and third-party APIs, and format, optimise and send data to the new frontend using a backend-for-frontend (BFF) Rest API. It also brought the Currencycloud API services that generated its business logic together with the frontend. Two-factor authentication and security provided by Currencycloud Authentication Services was also integrated.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">During the build process, we built the tools and team onboarding set-up Currencycloud would need for new joiners, finalised its architecture, set-up Storyboard, trained Currencycloud’s development team and got regular sign-off with its stakeholders at every step. We developed and released the platform’s themes, from white label to consumer, and baked in the essential frontend features identified in our discovery period. That included its APIs, 2FA and the backend integrations and REST API endpoints needed to run smoothly. Finally, we produced test cases to make sure everything worked seamlessly.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2318 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Image-Login-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Show me the money</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Time was tight to develop an entire multi-currency financial services platform, built on largely unknown legacy technology – but, by working methodically, we know that progress is sometimes achieved little-by-little. In the end, it all adds up.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">As a result, the redevelopment passed its VISA review with change to spare, using a tech stack future-proofed for modifications and interactions. A new design was then planned to launch in phase two of the work.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2319 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Tablet-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2320 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Desktop-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>&#8220;I want to offer a sincere thank you to UIC Digital for all of the hard work they&#8217;ve put in. The last nine months has been a challenge, but UIC Digital integrated into our team, was flexible in providing support where needed on the frontend and backend, and did a great job of helping us push forward. Unfortunately, it&#8217;s not the end of the project for us, but I estimate us to be about 80% of the way there – UIC Digital has been instrumental to that. A great big thank you to all involved.”</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Emma Roberts, Senior Project Manager, Currency Cloud.</p>


Multi-currency financial services platform rebuild 

<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="My5 Time for a Glow Up" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/887252654?h=d071b5bd92&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>With video-on-demand swiftly becoming the viewing platform of choice for consumers up and down the UK, Channel 5 badly needed to whip its service into shape. With a total rebrand in motion, the all new My5 needed a UX design overhaul from the inside out, guided by its viewers.</p>
<p>Around half the total population in the UK use video-on-demand (VOD) to stream their favourite TV shows. So popular are streaming services that the VOD market is projected to grow 7% by 2027, with linear TV – live shows on the box – falling rapidly.</p>
<p>With strong competition from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Channel 4’s ‘All 4’ and the Beeb’s ‘BBC iPlayer’, Channel 5 was getting left behind. It came to UI Centric for help with a total rebrand, turning its outdated ‘Demand 5’ VOD platform into the all new ‘My5’ – which we’re sure you know (and love) by now.</p>
<p>With this major rebrand came the opportunity to gut the inner-workings of Channel 5’s existing streaming platform. Disjointed, inconsistent, old and clunky, it left viewers frustrated by a poor user experience (UX) and hampered any meaningful improvement. Channel 5 asked us to wipe the slate clean, integrating new smart TV and mobile apps, a website redesign and a back-end update into My5. The big picture? Increase viewing numbers, advertising revenue and overall user satisfaction.</p>
<h3><b>Watching viewers watch us</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-740 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ViacomCBS-1-4x3-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Channel 5 initially asked UIC Digital to focus purely on redesigning its Roku platform. However, this soon grew to bringing the entire suite of Channel 5’s apps and website in line with My5, based on the success of our team’s technical excellence and user-focused expertise with Roku.</p>
<p>Our approach was to make sure the entire project was rigorously user tested and entirely based on user research – from real people, up and down the breadth of the UK. This stretched from running individual user interviews to mass research projects involving 10,000 people. Some people like to watch on mute, others from bed or on a second screen. So we wanted to understand exactly what viewers needed from a VOD platform, to learn about their viewing habits and use the findings to make key design decisions. We also turned up the volume on market research, using listening and competitor analysis to set benchmarks for viewer expectations.</p>
<p>Once we’d run an in-depth technical audit of the platform, our UX design team began in earnest. Working with Invision prototypes, we created a fake living room in our offices, so we could bring in viewers to road test and validate every design iteration, then feed it back into the next round. We then launched products in a series of stages – MVPs that would be constantly built upon – moving from a basic VOD platform to adding in live channels, like Milkshake.</p>
<p>Throughout all of this, every round would sit in front of groups of users, constantly stress-tested and scrutinised, with bright ideas wrapped into the next round of features and functionalities – like adding ‘Live TV’. Although, clearly, revenue was an important factor for Channel 5, our design approach put the viewer first, it gave them a voice. We believe, if you do this, success will always follow.</p>
<h3><b>Back to the cutting room</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-742 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ViacomCBS-1-16x9-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Of course, a project like this doesn’t come without a few mountains to climb. Today’s VOD viewers have incredibly high expectations – with services like Netflix to compare to – and these expectations also change all the time, as the market evolves. Equally, Channel 5 itself has a vast network of stakeholders, each feeding into the vision and bringing with them many moving parts. The refresh also needed to cater to everyone and anyone in the UK, including best practice accessibility requirements. So we did bags of UX testing, on text size, legibility, structure, with those who had poor eyesight guiding the way.</p>
<p>But, above all, Channel 5 had an old CMS and a huge library of existing content that needed integrating into the new designs in a logical and rational way. When the old system is a dinosaur, that’s a little scary. Of course, Channel 5 had to make changes to their existing systems to make this happen, namely its configuration service and APIs for video metadata that tell the platform things like where to store half-watched programmes. But as they couldn’t completely rebuild, we had to be smart about sending data from the backend to the frontend.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-842 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/my5-multple-tablets-laptops-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>We also had to find an efficient way to build the frontend, to deadline, whilst the backend was still in flux. It’s a bit like calmly taking someone’s order whilst the kitchen is on fire. Add to that multiplatform delivery, across Roku, iOS, Android, TV and synchronising three different teams to all deliver the same closely matched architecture and it’s…tricky. Luckily for us though, we caught a break with the ad integration. My5 uses server-side ad integration, which means the ads are stitched into the programme from the source. So the pre, mid and post-roll is all served beautifully.</p>
<h3><b>Viewership on demand</b></h3>
<p>My5’s design overhaul worked. Hooking in millions of new users, video consumption witnessed a significant boost, with a 300% increase in active users since launch and a two-fold increase in viewing time per session. It represents a seismic shift in viewership for Channel 5, bringing its VOD service into the present and future-proofing it for years to come. More importantly, great UX put it back on the map, increasing user satisfaction with a new app store rating of 4.7 stars.</p>
<p>Overall, the work was a resounding success. During 2022, My5 saw its third consecutive year of growth across streams and watch time. Echoing its success on the linear channel, drama was a key growth driver, with three of the top four launches of all time during 2022 – The Teacher, The Holiday and Maxine. And it continues – UIC Digital remains a trusted partner for Channel 5 as its video technology grows. It’s not always about what’s on the box, it’s about what’s outside of it.</p>
<h5>What Channel 5 Said:</h5>
<p>“Channel 5 have had a close working relationship with UIC Digital for over 4 years. As a trusted partner, they have designed and built multiple applications across mobile, desktop and large screen devices. This relationship success is based on true close collaboration with UIC Digital’s product designers and developers who work as an extension of the Channel 5 team. Continuously delivering within tight deadlines, their ability to work at speed is matched with high quality delivery. We have gone on to target optimisations of performance, design and features leading us to have the highest rated mobile products of any of our peers. “</p>
<p>Ashley Fletcher<br />
Senior Director Product<br />
Paramount International</p>


Multi-platform rebuild with transformative results

<p>The governing body of European football began working with us back in 2010 to redesign their media asset management solution to specially enable external customers to access, order and receive archive footage under strict user permissions. This external facing B2B solution therefore needed a customer experience that rivalled that of high-end consumer digital products.</p>


11 custom digital products over 13 years

<p style="font-weight: 400;">oddschecker needed an app in time for NFL season – in three months. With such a limited time frame available, who could take an app through design, build and testing in only 90 days? We can.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="App Screens" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/906350038?h=dc9fa623fd&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Much like you’d use comparison sites to check for the best deals on your car insurance, oddschecker is on a mission to provide the same service for betting. Chances are, if you’re putting down some money on your favourite horse in the Grand National, you’ll want the best odds you can get for your money. oddschecker can help.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">oddschecker had previously tried to launch an app in-house to conquer America, but it was far more challenging than anticipated and largely unsuccessful despite its best efforts. To prove a professional agency that specialises in app development could build it faster, better and more efficiently, it asked UIC Digital to be its test case. The catch? It needed an MVP ready for NFL season, in just three months. That’s design, build and testing from scratch in just 90 days – what are the odds?</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2252" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/App-Image.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Going all in</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">To start, we hosted a packed workshop with stakeholders in person and joining virtually, to really get under the skin of the brief. Using this as a discovery session, we sought to galvanise the team and generate a really thorough brief that had a vision statement in the middle of it.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">That vision was to be the very first port of call for anyone looking to place a bet, providing the best odds from a range of different betting companies. To ‘take it back to the best comparison experience we can offer’. Using this as our north star, we began to design and prototype the site’s architecture as our development team pulled together the right path criteria to match a squeezed timeframe – even adjusting to one-week sprints to improve efficiency.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The best and, frankly, only way to deliver a project of this scale in such a short time is tight-knit collaboration. We pooled resources and sought to make the whole team – client or agency – feel as one. We did this using honesty and transparency, taking everyone along for the ride at every step – showing mock-ups only 60% complete, creating product demos with limited APIs, adding functionality to a bare framework with only weeks until our go live date. As fast as humanly possible. As a result, stakeholders at oddschecker talked freely, made themselves available for last-minute meetings and workshops and embraced difficult conversations with community spirit. It led to one of the most organic and natural collaborations we’ve ever experienced.</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="WorkInProgress_double" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/905905466?h=214bceafde&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>The odds-on favourite</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">To build the app, we started with our discovery session and, from there, opened up parallel work streams to create early prototypes, wireframes aligned to audiences, user research interviews and designs based on brand guidelines. In tandem, with some of this established, our development team created user stories in JIRA, and used a loose scrum-kanban hybrid to work to weekly sprint cycles and rapid iterations. We released early, and released often.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">That meant almost daily builds, distributed using TestFlight so all stakeholders could test and feedback. All-in-all, we tested 35 builds. We created a completely new frontend from scratch, middleware for API configurations and a matching backend. We launched the app to just a few dozen test users for live feedback, and quickly iterated based on this with a 1.1 release that included new functionalities. The final public release landed at build 73.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">To make this happen, not only did we need to make the short time frame work, we also had to recruit an extension to our development team at lightning pace too. We worked with an open scope, with plenty of ideas and functionalities to consider, whilst also bearing in mind the app would grow from one sport to a huge array in multiple languages – so needed to be future-proofed. An oddschecker rebrand threatened to throw the project at odds with our timeline, but our token-based design approach meant we were able to manage the transition smoothly. And, of course, it had to pass Apple’s rigorous security and screening process.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2251" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Build-Progress.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2249" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-300x160.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="480" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-300x160.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-1024x546.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-768x410.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-1536x819.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1-1568x836.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/UI-Toolkit-1.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Double or nothing</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The app is now in the throes of Apple’s location and legal processes for gambling apps, which can take some time. However, we did indeed successfully complete a brand new app in three months flat, leading to being kept on with oddschecker for version 2.0.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">What were the odds? Very good, as it happens.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2250" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-1536x863.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store-1568x881.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Image-App-Store.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>


NFL betting comparison application 

<p>With video-on-demand swiftly becoming the viewing platform of choice for consumers up and down the UK, Channel 5 badly needed to whip its service into shape. With a total rebrand in motion, the all new My5 needed a UX design overhaul from the inside out, guided by its viewers.</p>
<p>Around half the total population in the UK use video-on-demand (VOD) to stream their favourite TV shows. So popular are streaming services that the VOD market is projected to grow 7% by 2027, with linear TV – live shows on the box – falling rapidly.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1990" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/All-Devices-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></p>
<p>With strong competition from the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime, Channel 4’s ‘All 4’ and the Beeb’s ‘BBC iPlayer’, Channel 5 was getting left behind. It came to us for help with a total rebrand, turning its outdated ‘Demand 5’ VOD platform into the all new ‘My5’ – which we’re sure you know (and love) by now.</p>
<p>With this major rebrand came the opportunity to gut the inner-workings of Channel 5’s existing streaming platform. Disjointed, inconsistent, old and clunky, it left viewers frustrated by a poor user experience (UX) and hampered any meaningful improvement. Channel 5 asked us to wipe the slate clean, integrating new smart TV and mobile apps, a website redesign and a back-end update into My5.</p>
<p>The big picture? Increase viewing numbers, advertising revenue and overall user satisfaction.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2010" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></p>
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2011" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Personalisation-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></h3>
<h3 class="p1"><strong>Watching viewers watch us</strong></h3>
<p class="p1">Our approach was to make sure that every design concept was rigorously user tested and decisions based on user research – from real people, up and down the breadth of the UK. This stretched from running dozens of individual user interviews, to mass research projects involving over 10,000 people. What did we learn? No two people watch TV in the same way; some watch in bed, on mute with subtitles, many cast from their phone to the TV, while others only watch programmes recommended to them by their friends. All of these insights guided our design process and decision making. We also turned up the volume on market research, undertaking extensive competitor analysis to understand and set benchmarks for viewer expectations.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2012" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/User-research-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></p>
<p class="p1">Once we’d run an in-depth technical audit of the platform, our UX design team began in earnest. Working with InVision prototypes, we created a fake living room in our offices, so we could bring in viewers to road test and validate every design iteration, then feed it back into the next round of design updates. We then launched products in a series of stages – MVPs that would be constantly built upon – moving from a basic VOD platform to adding features we knew our viewers wanted like live TV channels, a dedicated kids section (Milkshake) and more.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2014" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2.jpg" alt="" width="1950" height="1300" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2.jpg 1950w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Showing-In-Use-4-2-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1950px) 100vw, 1950px" /></p>
<p class="p1">Throughout all of this, every design iteration would sit in front of groups of users, constantly stress-tested and scrutinised, with bright ideas wrapped into the next round of features and functionalities. Although, clearly, revenue was an important factor for Channel 5, our design approach put the viewer first, it gave them a voice. We believe, if you do this, success will always follow.</p>
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2013" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Live-TV-Closeup-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></h3>
<h3 class="p1"><b>Back to the cutting room</b></h3>
<p>Of course, a project like this doesn’t come without a few mountains to climb. Today’s VOD viewers have incredibly high expectations – with services like Netflix to compare to – and these expectations also change all the time, as the market evolves. Equally, Channel 5 itself has a vast network of stakeholders, each feeding into the vision and bringing with them many moving parts. The refresh also needed to cater to everyone and anyone in the UK, including best practice accessibility requirements. So we did bags of user testing with members of the public that had various impairments, focusing on text size and legibility, colour contrasts and navigation.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2016" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Homepage-Scroll-3.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Homepage-Scroll-3.jpg 1500w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Homepage-Scroll-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Homepage-Scroll-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Homepage-Scroll-3-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2015" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-App-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2017" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-Guide-1.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-Guide-1.jpg 1500w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-Guide-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-Guide-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-Guide-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></p>
<p class="p1">But, above all, Channel 5 had an old CMS and a huge library of existing content that needed integrating into the new designs in a logical and rational way. When the old system is a dinosaur, that’s a little scary. Of course, Channel 5 had to make changes to their existing systems to make this happen, namely its configuration service and APIs for video metadata that tell the platform things like where to store half-watched programmes. But as they couldn’t completely rebuild, we had to be smart about the techniques employed when sending data from the backend to the frontend.</p>
<p class="p1">We also had to find an efficient way to build the frontend, to deadline and on budget, whilst the backend was still in flux. It’s a bit like calmly taking someone’s order whilst the kitchen is on fire. Add to that multiplatform delivery, across Roku, iOS, Android, TV and synchronising three different teams to all deliver the same closely matched architecture and it’s…tricky. Luckily for us though, we caught a break with the ad integration. My5 uses server-side ad integration, which means the ads are stitched into the programme from the source. So the pre, mid and post-roll are all served beautifully.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2018" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Web-1.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Web-1.jpg 1500w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Web-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Web-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Web-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></p>
<h3><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2019" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2.jpg" alt="" width="2250" height="1500" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2.jpg 2250w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Website-Desktop-2-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2250px) 100vw, 2250px" /></h3>
<h3 class="p2"><b>Viewership on demand</b></h3>
<p class="p1">My5’s design overhaul worked. Hooking in millions of new users, video consumption witnessed a significant boost, with a 300% increase in active users since launch and a two-fold increase in viewing time per session. It represents a seismic shift in viewership for Channel 5, bringing its VOD service into the present and future-proofing it for years to come. More importantly, great UX put it back on the map, increasing user satisfaction with a new app store rating of 4.7 stars.</p>
<p class="p1">Overall, the work was a resounding success. During 2022, My5 saw its third consecutive year of growth across streams and watch time. Echoing its success on the linear channel, drama was a key growth driver, with three of the top four launches of all time during 2022 – The Teacher, The Holiday and Maxine. And it continues – we remain a trusted partner for Channel 5 as its video technology grows. It’s not always about what’s on the box, it’s about what’s outside of it.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2020" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Playback-Reviews-1-1568x1045.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" /><strong><span style="color: var(--global--color-primary); font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base); background-color: var(--global--color-background);">&#8220;Channel 5 have had a close working relationship with [the Agency] for over 4 years. As a trusted partner, they have designed and built multiple applications across mobile, desktop and large screen devices. This relationship success is based on true close collaboration with [the Agency&#8217;s] product designers and developers who work as an extension of the Channel 5 team. Continuously delivering within tight deadlines, their ability to work at speed is matched with high quality delivery. We have gone on to target optimisations of performance, design and features leading us to have the highest rated mobile products of any of our peers.”</span></strong></p>
<p><strong>-Ashley Fletcher </strong><br />
Senior Director, Product Paramount International</p>
<div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/887252654?h=d071b5bd92&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" title="My5 Time for a Glow Up"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>


Increasing active users by 300% with a UX overhaul of Channel 5’s VOD platformMy5’s design overhaul worked. Hooking in millions of new users, video consumption witnessed a significant boost, with a 300% increase in active users since launch and a two-fold increase in viewing time per session. It represents a seismic shift in viewership for Channel 5, bringing its VOD service into the present and future-proofing it for years to come. More importantly, great UX put it back on the map, increasing user satisfaction with a new app store rating of 4.7 stars.  Overall, the work was a resounding success. During 2022, My5 saw its third consecutive year of growth across streams and watch time. Echoing its success on the linear channel, drama was a key growth driver, with three of the top four launches of all time during 2022 – The Teacher, The Holiday and Maxine. And it continues – UIC Digital remains a trusted partner for Channel 5 as its video technology grows. It’s not always about what’s on the box, it’s about what’s outside of it.

<h3 style="font-weight: 400;">Overview</h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Wilderness Reserve is a luxury hospitality business offering restored cottages, country houses and mansions across a 5,000-acre estate in Suffolk. Alongside accommodation, it provides food and drink, spa treatments, outdoor activities, weddings and large events. Delivering a stay involves far more than reserving a property.</p>
<p>The digital setup did not reflect that wider operation. The website and the tools used by staff had developed separately, leaving bookings, guest requests, activities and event planning spread across different places. Guests relied on reception to arrange much of their stay. Staff who spent their days moving around the estate depended on systems designed to be used from a desk.</p>
<p>UIC was initially appointed to redesign the website and create an accompanying app. Within six months, the brief had grown into a full digital transformation. The work would still deliver those guest-facing products, but it would also replace the systems and processes they depended on.</p>
<p>The resulting platform included a custom booking engine, CRM, ecommerce, a guest portal, mobile apps, staff management tools and a credit facility. It launched in 2021, following a programme of around 18 months.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-886 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-1-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3>Understanding the operation</h3>
<p>The project began with a one-month discovery, much of it carried out on the estate rather than in meeting rooms. UIC made several site visits and spoke to staff across hosting, activity coordination, spa treatments, sales and administration. The team toured the properties and followed how people and information moved across a large site with inconsistent Wi-Fi coverage.</p>
<p>It was eye-opening to see how the operation was run; booked stays lived on a whiteboard with meals and activities managed through shared Outlook calendars. Guest requests and the planning for weddings and other large events sat in Word documents. Several hours a week were lost performing repetitive administrative tasks.</p>
<p>There was no single view of a guest, a booking or everything attached to a stay. A request taken by one team could affect property availability, catering, payments, staffing and the guest&#8217;s itinerary, but those dependencies had to be coordinated manually. Guests had to call or visit reception to order food, arrange a treatment or book an activity.</p>
<p>UIC mapped those journeys from the first enquiry through to arrival and the stay itself. The output was a two-year roadmap covering the customer experience and the operational technology needed to support it. That work changed the scale of the brief: improving the website alone would not address the way the service was run.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-887 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-2-4x3-1-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3>From two products to an entire platform</h3>
<p>The website, app and back office could not be treated as separate builds. The website needed live property information and prices. The app needed access to guest bookings, activities and digital keys. Staff needed every request and transaction to feed into the same operational record.</p>
<p>UIC therefore treated the work as a single programme. The public website introduced the estate and its properties. The booking engine managed availability and pricing. The CRM held guest and enquiry information. The guest portal and apps supported everything around a stay. The back-office tools gave staff control over the services presented through each channel.</p>
<p>At its largest, the UIC team numbered around ten people across UX, visual design, product and project management, backend and frontend engineering, mobile development and QA. Product decisions were made with the people responsible for operating the service. Every fortnight, UIC presented the work in progress at Wilderness Reserve, covering current UX and visual design as well as the features coming next.</p>
<p>The fortnightly reviews continued throughout development. They allowed a decision in one part of the platform to be checked against the rest of the operation before it was built. Staff could see how a new guest journey would affect their own work, and the delivery team could resolve those dependencies as part of the product rather than after launch.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-888 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1696" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1-300x265.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1-1024x905.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1-768x678.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1-1536x1357.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-3-4x3-1-1568x1385.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3>Designing the whole stay</h3>
<p>Wilderness Reserve already had an established brand, developed with its branding agency and expressed through brochures, signage and other physical details across the estate. UIC translated that work into a digital design system spanning the marketing website, booking journeys, guest products and operational interfaces.</p>
<p>The design needed to do two different jobs. It had to communicate the character of the properties without getting in the way of choosing and booking one. Once a booking had been made, it had to become a practical tool that guests could use quickly throughout their stay.</p>
<p>Guests could book and pay for a property online, then bring the rest of their party into the booking. Food, drinks, spa treatments and activities could be planned and purchased through the guest products. Administrative tasks, including the disclaimer forms required for activities such as axe throwing, could also be completed without going through reception.</p>
<p>The iOS and Android apps carried the same information into the stay. Guests could manage bookings and purchases from their phone, while digital keys gave them access to their property without collecting or returning a physical key.</p>
<p>End-to-end testing ran alongside design and development. Staff and a group of guests tested complete journeys rather than isolated screens, from finding an available property and paying for it through to booking an activity and managing the stay. Feedback went back into the fortnightly design and development cycle.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-889 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Wilderness-backoffice-4x3-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3>A back office built for the estate</h3>
<p>The back-office platform was the operational centre of the new service. It brought together property availability, bookings, guest information, activities, payments and staff requirements, replacing the need to reconcile them across separate tools.</p>
<p>An interactive availability calendar allowed staff to create and manage bookings that arrived online, by phone, by email or through WhatsApp. Property prices could be varied and published through the booking engine, so changes made by the team controlled what guests saw on the website.</p>
<p>Activities worked in the same way. Staff could configure prices, purchases available during an activity and the people needed to run it. Those settings determined what a guest could book and gave the operational team the information required to deliver it.</p>
<p>The CRM was built specifically for Wilderness Reserve and worked with the custom booking engine rather than sitting alongside it as a separate record. Stripe handled ecommerce payments, while the credit facility supported the more involved financial administration associated with bookings and large events. HubSpot connected guest marketing and enquiry nurturing to the wider platform.</p>
<p>Every back-office interface was designed for mobile as well as desktop. Hosts and activity teams could access the information they needed while working across the estate, keeping the system useful at the point where the service was being delivered.</p>
<h3>The technology behind it</h3>
<p>UIC built the platform from the ground up, without carrying the previous systems into the new architecture. The aim was to give Wilderness Reserve a common technical foundation that could support new properties, services and customer journeys as the business changed.</p>
<p>The backend ran on Azure Cloud. Azure AD provided authentication and authorisation, Azure Functions ran background tasks, and an automatically scaling Azure web service hosted the backend application. Azure Kubernetes Service supported the CMS used by the guest-facing website, with redundancy and scaling designed into the infrastructure.</p>
<p>The website, guest portal and back-office application were developed in React and TypeScript. The iOS and Android apps used React Native, allowing code to be shared across the guest-facing products while retaining native mobile behaviour. GraphQL APIs connected each interface to the backend.</p>
<p>This gave the different products one source for availability, pricing, bookings, guest information and activities. A change made by staff could flow through to the relevant guest experience without being entered again in another system.</p>
<h3>What changed</h3>
<p>The launch changed what guests and staff could do for themselves. Guests could manage the practical parts of a stay from the same digital experience used to make the booking. Staff could work with live operational information from wherever they were on the estate.</p>
<p>It also gave Wilderness Reserve a platform that was not tied to the size of the business at launch. The reserve had around 20 properties when the project began and has since grown to 26. Properties, prices, activities and staffing requirements can be added and managed within the same system as the business changes.</p>
<p>The relationship continued beyond Wilderness Reserve. UIC was subsequently appointed to create a website, membership application platform and self-service app for Pavilion, a private members&#8217; club under the same ownership.</p>


A Digital Transformation for Wilderness Reserve

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When we first met UEFA in 2010, our creative engineering reputation for technical expertise combined with product design made for a perfect match with UEFA’s needs. Over the course of a decade, our collaboration would see us taking on UX, UI and tech development for UEFA’s entire content archive, its video workflow and platform monitoring service, its global streaming platform UEFA.TV and much more. Here’s how.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You know UEFA for The Champions League, The Europa League, The EUROs – the Union of European Football Associations is the umbrella organisation for European football. It looks after a democracy of 55 national football associations across Europe, reaching far and wide. In the Champions League alone, over 8,500 goals have been scored in the last 30 years. When you consider the average number of goals scored in a game is just over two, that’s a lot of match time. Multiply that across over 20 different leagues and, well, you understand.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We first met UEFA back in 2010. Our combined technical credibility and strength in product design would be a key strength in starting our collaboration together, with an emphasis on the need for feature development, speed, agility and flexibility. If you cast your mind back to 2010, this way of working wasn’t all that common, even today’s tech was in its infancy – it was a time when Apple launched its first iPad, when Uber and Netflix were still trialling its apps in San Francisco and Canada, even Instagram had only just been born.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From there, our relationship has blossomed into a creative engineering support role of over a decade, through various milestones and technical developments to keep UEFA at the forefront of the digital landscape in football. We took on UEFA’s Legacy Media Asset Management System (MAM), its platform monitoring service for video workflows across the world and its UEFA TV application(s). All of which had an immediate impact on UEFA staff, journalists, broadcasters and football fans around the globe.</span></p>
<h3><b>An archive worth millions</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1193 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-4_3-MAIN-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The very first project we worked on with UEFA was a redesign of its MAM – named UEFA Legacy – to open up access to anybody outside of UEFA’s internal team. Whilst the governing body was already monetising the rights to its archive of football content, it wasn’t doing so at scale.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite then digitising its archive, it still had no way of making the process self-served – which is where this project stepped in. The redesign would enable external access for ordering and receiving footage under strict user permissions, like a highly regulated self-serve system. Although a B2B service, it would be dealing with real people and, therefore, would need a customer experience that rivalled any high-end consumer digital product out there. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We designed a feature rich yet intuitive user interface exclusively for UEFA. The final product included a custom media player, with match event metadata synced to the timeline, advanced predictive search, multi-angle camera views, video frame telestration, the ability to clip and stitch multiple video segments into a single file, secure digital file delivery, and much more. Put it all together and we made UEFA Legacy a steadfast platform for managing an archive with hundreds of thousands of matches inside it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A web-based media asset management system, we built both the front and backend of UEFA Legacy. On the frontend, we used Angular.js for a dynamic and responsive UI, combined with Javascript for its interactive features and HTML5 and LESS Stylesheets to keep it looking tight. On the backend, for the developers among you, it’s built using a scalable on-premise infrastructure for reliability and efficient performance, with a database powered by MySQL. The server itself is built using node.js, a lightweight and fast Javascript runtime, key to scalable dev builds. </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1194 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Legacy-16_9-SUPPORTING-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>Tracking the rights to an entire tournament</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Subsequently, UEFA asked us for a web-based, multifaceted tool for monitoring the health of its core digital services. With a rapidly changing brief just weeks ahead of UEFA’s EUROs, the project would need a great deal of flexibility and pace. </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1195 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFA-monitoring-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Used by many match ops teams at once, UEFA Monitoring keeps a track of asset usage, availability and transfers. It includes a media player for monitoring multiple live match broadcast feeds, a dashboard for the status of content transfer and ingestion points, a ticketed system for logging tech issues and remedies and a real-time upload and download monitor for UEFA Legacy, its central content archive. Since its inception, it’s been a key part of UEFA’s match day operations ever since. For context, at the UEFA EUROs 2016, the building housing its monitoring service was nothing short of a warehouse, with wall-to-wall monitors set up that filled the space. This service is vast.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technically, we built the frontend using Angular.js and Javascript again, as it was essential for the system to have a responsive user interface with multiple interactive features. The web-based app uses a Federated Active Directory Single Sign-on for a seamless and secure authentication and authorisation process with internal users. On the backend, it’s built on a Dockerised on-premise infrastructure for flexible deployment and management. With the server built using Java Spring, performance is high whilst Server-Sent Events (SSE) makes real-time server communication fast for whoever is using it.</span></p>
<h3><b>Over 20 leagues, anywhere in the world</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1199 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1.png" alt="" width="1882" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1.png 1882w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1-300x172.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1-1024x588.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1-768x441.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1-1536x881.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/uefa-tv-2x-tvs-angle-007-1-1568x900.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1882px) 100vw, 1882px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Perhaps the other most notable product to mention is UEFA.TV, an on-demand streaming service bringing football directly to millions of die-hard fans. From extended highlights of UEFA’s 20 European competitions to UEFA’s extremely popular documentaries, competition draws, original series, interviews and press conferences, UEFA.TV is a native, multi-platform OTT watched globally across web, mobile and connected smart TVs. It also has the ability to personalise content to the user’s favourite club and extend coverage from that of linear broadcast TV. Viewers can even jump to key moments in the match by clicking on annotated sections within the player’s timeline. You can find it on HiSense, Playstation 4 &amp; 5, iOS and Android, Apple or Fire TV and on the web too.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1198 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-4-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For the web, UEFA.TV is built as a SIngle Page Application using React.js, Redux, HTML5 and Styled Components, with a single codebase across desktop, mobile and smart TV platforms like PS4 and HiSense. All of these parts gave us the flexibility to build at scale and at pace for the client, whilst keeping the UX and UI in a stable state. On iOS, it uses Native iOS, iPadOS and tvOS frameworks and an MVVM architecture pattern with RxSwift for reactive programming across complex state changes and user interactions. We achieved the same thing on Android by building natively using Kotlin, a language known for being concise, expressive and safe. We combined the MVVM architecture with RxJava and databinding to stay reactive. All of this is then powered by an AWS Cloud infrastructure, adding in flexible and scalable middleware for custom features that aren’t out of the box. It gave UEFA total control of its fan experience, uncoupling the frontend from the backend.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1197 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1696" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1-300x265.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1-1024x905.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1-768x678.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1-1536x1357.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/UEFATV-3-4x3-1-1568x1385.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>A very special relationship</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So far, we’ve formed a 14-year collaboration with UEFA across over 11 different products, just three of which are mentioned here. Across the last decade, a commitment to high-quality work has seen products like UEFA Legacy become something of a cornerstone to the way UEFA operates.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s a shining example of how we like to work with clients, committed to consistency and longevity. To utter transparency and reliable support, whether a large organisation or a boutique business. Building a trusted and valued relationship with the UEFA team has been incredibly fulfilling and we look forward to many more years of success.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


The powerhouse behind European football

<p><span lang="EN-US">The Club One Las Vegas App is a mobile portal and loyalty program for Las Vegas’ downtown casinos including The D, Golden Gate and the brand-new Circa Resort, which opened in late 2020.</span></p>


<p style="font-weight: 400;">With ambitions to launch its streaming platform on new channels and update the designs on any existing, UKTV needed a partner that could also coach its development team in React. With a deep expertise in OTT applications and building with React, it made UIC Digital the perfect choice.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2235" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Categories.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="UKTV Anim Double" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/904075097?h=c449a9d41a&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>UKTV is a multichannel British broadcaster owned by the BBC, running since 1992. You’ll know it if you’ve ever found yourself watching Dave, Drama or Yesterday, with daytime shows like Question Team, Hypothetical, Madame Secretary and Manhattan. It’s the ideal partner-in-crime for weekday afternoons spent on the sofa, with a cup of tea and a pack of biscuits. Preferably custard creams.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">UKTV was searching for a digital agency to partner up with, so it could continue to build on its UKTV Play app using React and Next.js, over the course of 12 months. It had already developed a set of new designs and a new QOS tool, and sought to launch in phases on existing platforms and on one new one. The biggest challenge the broadcaster faced was using React – its frontend development team needed training and upskilling.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2239" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Show.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>A partner and a coach</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">At UIC Digital we work with clients in many different ways, providing flexibility and expertise wherever and whenever it’s needed. The difference with this project, compared to most, was that UKTV needed a coach, not an out-and-out delivery house. The brief required up front, in-person training for its development team, along with an option to bolster the team in the future as and when new projects arose.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The ultimate goal was to build a new TV app using modern technology – using React and Next.js – on a single code base that could be tweaked and built upon to include new platforms, without any disruption. This would eventually help to evolve UKTV Play. Working hand-in-hand, together we’d build out the new designs and launch across the broadcaster’s existing channels, as well as Android TV and Sky Glass later on.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2236" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Programme.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Show, don’t tell</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We started with a deep dive into the existing proof of concept app built in React, looking closely at the code base and compiling a list of recommendations. This step is always crucial in our process, getting together with the client to analyse exactly what the requirements are, what exists already and where we can improve. Over the course of a two-day workshop, we came together with UKTV’s frontend development team to agree the right approach. We also set our ways of working and key processes to keep the project moving forwards.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Although the team had already pulled together this proof of concept in React, it needed a guiding hand to steer the project in the right direction and perform at scale  in a production environment. Having built many OTT applications in the past and developed a rigorous understanding of how to build them efficiently and effectively, UKTV asked us to make sure best practice principles were being followed, common pitfalls were avoided and to accelerate delivery for an app that had great performance from the start.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Alongside this, we also provided regular feedback and worked extremely closely with the existing team to coach and guide them. That included analysing the existing backlog to cover off all the key technical deliverables (and make sure they were actually included). After this, we moved into project pair programming, partnering two developers up with one another to cooperatively work on features and functionalities together.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2240" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Details.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Collaboration always wins</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We believe the best work happens when we collaborate, particularly with our clients. Code reviews and continuous coaching followed, working within the UKTV team, until we completed the build and were able to deliver the application across multiple platforms.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">We delivered the new app for UKTV Play, alongside their internal team, on the first new platform in just six months from the beginning of our initial engagement. It continues to roll out across its platforms in phases in 2023 and into 2024 and, we’re sure, will be a resounding success.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2238" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="506" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search-1568x882.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Search.jpg 1820w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /></p>


UKTV Play product build with ReactJS

<p>Zest is a leading employee benefits platform used by hundreds of organisations to help staff manage, select and understand their total rewards. UIC Digital partnered with Zest to deliver a ground-up redesign of the customer-facing portal, transforming how employees interact with and value their benefits.</p>
<p>The existing portal was functionally rich but had grown complex over time. Navigation was heavy, journeys were inconsistent, and employees often struggled to see the true value of what was on offer. Zest wanted to move from a tool that simply listed options to one that actively engaged people, showing them what they have, what they could have, and how their benefits fit into their overall rewards package.</p>
<p>Our design team completely re-imagined the experience from the ground up. We replaced rigid forms and nested menus with a shopping-basket-style flow that felt instantly familiar. Employees could now browse, add, and edit benefits just as they would when shopping online, making the entire process more intuitive and far less intimidating. The interface was stripped back, restructured and rebuilt around the decisions real users were trying to make, not the administrative logic sitting behind them.</p>
<p>The visual design was equally transformative. We developed a far more engaging and data-rich presentation of benefits, culminating in a reworked Total Rewards Statement that shows employees a clear picture of their overall compensation, not just their salary. The new design communicates the full value of employment in a way that is both informative and uplifting. It helps employees see at a glance what their employer invests in them, from pensions and insurance to wellbeing and lifestyle perks.</p>
<p>User testing was central to the process. We involved employees throughout design and development, running multiple rounds of prototyping and usability testing to ensure that every step made sense and every interaction felt natural. The result was an interface built around real behaviours and feedback, rather than internal assumptions.</p>
<p>To complement this work, we also undertook a detailed audit of Zest’s employer-facing admin portal. This included mapping key workflows, analysing usability issues and producing a prioritised set of recommendations. Zest subsequently implemented many of these improvements, refining the structure and navigation for HR users and administrators to make managing benefit schemes faster and less error-prone.</p>
<p>The outcome was a complete rethinking of how benefits are communicated and managed. Employees now enjoy a smoother, clearer, and more rewarding experience when engaging with their benefits. Employers benefit from an admin platform that is simpler and more efficient to operate. And Zest itself gained a future-proof design system that can flex across brands and white-label implementations for its clients.</p>


Self-service employee benefits platform

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">NEP Group is the media technology company behind some of the broadcast, live and virtual shows you love most. Its Media Asset Management system, Mediabank, is an industry award-winning platform that gives users the power to share and distribute content anywhere. But it needed a specialist creative engineering partner to give it a reboot.</span></p>
<p>NEP Group aims to revolutionise the way people experience entertainment, sports, news and more. The way they create and share content. It is a production powerhouse that uses cutting-edge technology, engineers and technical experts to bring broadcast events, live performances and virtual productions to life. That’s the industry introduction – you’re more likely to know its clients; Eurovision, Love Island, The Grammys, Wimbledon. NEP lies behind all of these, and has been revolutionising the industry for years too – the first ever 4K OB truck, the first ever entirely virtual set, the first ever ST2110 broadcast facility. The list goes on.</p>
<p>It’s safe to say that NEP has a history of revolutionary work. So, when existing users asked for an upgraded UX experience on its Mediabank platform, NEP needed its own revolution. Mediabank, an award-winning cloud-based toolbox for sharing and distributing media anywhere in the world, was showing signs of getting left behind by its competitors. Its design, navigation and UX needed refreshing to keep it fresh and its existing features, which had been bolted on, needed to be tightly integrated with a new tech stack. NEP needed a design, UX and technical specialist to help it reimagine Mediabank – so we got the call.</p>
<h3><b>A facelift for the future</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1177 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-thumbnail-imac-1-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Mediabank is what the industry calls a Media Asset Management system (or MAM for short), and with our growing expertise in MAMs, gained with clients like FIFA and UEFA, we were well placed to embark on a total UX and design overhaul of NEP’s Mediabank. The restructure would also involve front and backend development and rebuilding, with a focus on making the application industry agnostic but customisable for any given sector.</p>
<p>To kick-off the project, we first ran a thorough end-to-end audit of the existing platform, taking note of bugs and issues that needed fixing and also features that hit the mark and needed to stay. Using this, our UX and design teams pulled together a variety of routes that showed how the new Mediabank could look and feel. Once NEP had picked one, we began working on an MVP, carefully thinking and designing about each and every feature with best practice UX in mind.</p>
<p>Working on a retained team basis, we took regular trips to Oslo to sit and work closely with NEP’s internal teams. We took interactive prototypes over regularly, to give a taster of our direction and keep client input high. As a creative engineering company, we deliver work as one team, which includes the client. And, from the BBC to NEP, we pride ourselves on creating great client relationships that stand the test of time.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1176 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NEP-search-ipad-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>A tech stack built to adapt</b></h3>
<p>We rebuilt Mediabank as a single page web application using React.js with Redux state management. Using rxJS paves the way for reactive programming which, in turn, makes dynamic UI that adapts to user interactions in real-time far easier. Mediabank communicates with its server using a set of REST API endpoints, creating efficiency with data exchanges between the client and the server. We also developed reusable components, collected and documented in Storybook, to streamline the dev process and keep user interfaces clean and consistent.</p>
<p>An end-to-end automated test using Cypress keeps Mediabank tight, validating the whole application and raising standards to the highest level at all times. All of this makes for a powerful tech stack that can deliver sturdy, user-friendly web applications built for scale and future-proofed for years to come.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-566 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NEP-1-16x9-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>A partnership built to last</b></h3>
<p>Of course, we already knew what features and tools users needed in Mediabank – our job being to find a way to make them work more efficiently and intuitively – but the project also had its challenges. The existing Mediabank team in Norway had already been working on the product for years and already had established routines. We needed to tread gently but slowly introduce new ways of working and ideas that were easy to get behind, letting the quality of the work do the persuading. We also needed to combine the ideas and team buy-in with extensive user testing, to fine tune the features that mattered most.</p>
<p>Overall, the Mediabank project was a lasting success, culminating in over six years of partnership. The exact statistics on how many millions of megabytes and minutes of footage have been used with NEP’s Mediabank are internal but, take it from us, great relationships never stick unless success follows.</p>


Media Asset Management system rebuild

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the demand for visual storytelling continued to surge, Shutterstock recognized an opportunity to simplify the workflows of creative professionals worldwide. To address this need, Shutterstock sought to create two innovative plugins that would seamlessly integrate into Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. These plugins aimed to empower creatives by enabling them to search, edit, and purchase media directly from within their preferred applications.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2033 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Plugins-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shutterstock, a renowned provider of stock imagery and video content, serves over half a million subscribers, including influential media outlets and global brands. Creative professionals rely on Shutterstock&#8217;s vast media libraries for various purposes, such as video production, website content creation, news articles, sales presentations, and more. However, they often find themselves juggling multiple platforms and software applications in their daily work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the increasing demand for visual storytelling, brands require diverse media portfolios. Creative tools like Adobe Creative Suite have become essential, prompting users to seek ways to optimise their workflows. Recognising these challenges, Shutterstock embarked on a journey to enhance the user experience by developing powerful plugins for Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. These plugins aimed to eliminate the need for constant application switching, providing users with a seamless in-app experience. To achieve this goal, Shutterstock partnered with UIC Digital, leveraging their expertise in app development and innovation.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2034 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><b>Bringing visual storytelling to life in real-time</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The project&#8217;s foundation was rooted in user-centered design principles. A deep understanding of user needs allowed the team to create plugins that seamlessly integrated into the workflows of presenters, designers, journalists, and creative professionals across devices, screen sizes, and software versions. This responsive design was extended to allow users to resize the plugin window within the application, ensuring a smooth experience.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Maintaining the aesthetic coherence with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office was paramount. The team worked diligently to align the plugin interfaces with the look and feel of these applications while preserving Shutterstock&#8217;s branding. Additionally, they focused on optimising load times to provide users with the best possible experience.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Collaboration with Shutterstock was constant and critical. The technical teams collaborated closely to integrate the plugins with Shutterstock&#8217;s internal APIs, ensuring real-time access to its extensive content library. An ongoing feedback loop facilitated addressing challenges and iterating on design and functionality.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2035 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Software-Plugins-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><b>A blend of technological expertise</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Integrating Shutterstock&#8217;s internal APIs with those of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office presented unique challenges. The technical insights necessary for this integration were not documented externally and resided solely within Shutterstock&#8217;s internal team. Navigating this complexity required a close partnership and creative problem-solving. It also involved exploring innovative ways to work within the limitations of each application&#8217;s APIs, adding functionalities like real-time previews and seamless licensing.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the absence of comprehensive documentation, the team relied on experimentation, reverse engineering, and continuous collaboration with all stakeholders. Successfully bringing these applications together demanded an in-depth understanding of each API&#8217;s capabilities, limitations, and compatibilities, which the UIC Digital team rapidly acquired. Their ability to adapt and swiftly gain expertise in new technical solutions was a hallmark of their approach.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2036 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/UX-UI-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><b>Unrivalled creative efficiency</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result of this collaborative effort was the launch of two cutting-edge Shutterstock plugins for Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office. These plugins seamlessly accessed Shutterstock&#8217;s extensive content library, enabling creative professionals to streamline their workflows by searching, previewing, editing, and licensing media directly within their preferred applications. This innovation set Shutterstock apart from its competitors, delivering a service that significantly enhanced the efficiency of creative professionals.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2037 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Indesign-Step-By-Step-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2038 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License.png" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License.png 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Image-License-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>


Custom plugin for Adobe and Microsoft

<p><span data-contrast="auto">In conjunction with the launch of their 4</span><span data-contrast="auto">th</span><span data-contrast="auto"> member’s location in Knightsbridge, London, Pavilion approached us to reimagine their online offering with a new website and members-only app.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">The Pavilion website was redesigned from the ground up to highlight and facilitate the booking of additional offerings the new location would provide; member’s only events and talks, office and meeting room hire and a new restaurant.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span></p>
<p><span data-contrast="auto">Additionally, a custom membership application process was designed, built and integrated into Pavilion’s existing CRM.</span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span><span data-ccp-props="{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}"> </span></p>
<p>Once their application was approved, members could download the iOS or Android app to manager their membership and bookings from the convenience of their phone.</p>


Private members’ club – a digital transformation

<p>FIFA – find someone who hasn’t heard of it. But, in case that’s you, the International Federation of Association Football is perhaps the most prestigious sporting body in the world, responsible for bringing over 200 national football associations together. It sets the world stage for nations to compete with one another, much to the planet’s five billion football fans’ delight.</p>
<p>The number of games played under FIFA are, frankly, unimaginable but, in World Cups alone, there have been close to 1,000 games played since 1930 – or approximately 86,000 minutes, excluding extra time, interviews, punditry and pre/post-match. Why is this important? When FIFA needed to make access to its international archive of footage easier and, more importantly, the selling of rights to this footage simpler, it needed a partner that could wade into the underbelly of its archive and organise it for everyone to see.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-560 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FifaNews-1-16x9-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>How? On the backend, the archive uses a video asset management system run by EVS – it asked us to build a custom web application that would sit over the top, making it accessible to broadcasters, journalists and clubs.</p>
<h3><b>Talking tactics</b></h3>
<p>As a creative engineering company, we’ve developed a deep understanding of MAM (Media Asset Management) systems with projects for the likes of UEFA and NEP. It’s this expertise that brought FIFA to our doors, and the reason we were able to confidently feed into and help FIFA capture their requirements, whilst quoting for the delivery of the web app. We pulled together custom UX, design and functionality for the app, planning in a full roadmap and set of timelines that would bring the project to fruition to hit FIFA’s exact needs.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1216 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORT-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The MAM interface we built is a single page web application that gives users the functionality to manage photos, videos and documents interactively. To do this, we used Angular.js to take the complex parts of the system and make them flexible and dynamic. We used Javascript to pack it with interactive features, whilst bringing its design, styling and colour to life with HTML5 and LESS Stylesheets.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1217 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>Unpicking minute-by-minute</b></h3>
<p>The project wasn’t without its challenges. To kick-off, we had to find a way for users to directly search and access content without creating new ones. To do this, we bypassed the ProjectID on every asset, creating fake EVS ProjectIDs in the background and managing the clean-up. We also had to future-proof the media player and give it basic editing functionality so journalists or broadcasters could mark ‘in’ and ‘out’ points. But every match is split into chunks too – from the first half through to post-match interviews – and so the player needed to work across segments, not just entire matches.</p>
<p>The default EVS encoding profile is also tricky when playing low-res or proxy files and isn’t set-up for HTML5 playback. It means when you ‘scrub’ a video, the experience is poor, jolted and frustrating. So we used an encoding profile, web server and delivery setting we’d already researched and developed for this exact problem at UEFA, which optimised playback and made scrubbing so responsive we could use hardware jog shuttles to control it.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1215 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/4_3-MAIN-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>The final whistle</b></h3>
<p>Whilst the quotable statistics are not released by FIFA, the project result hit the back of the net. We’d taken a complex backend system and placed a user-friendly, uncomplicated interface over the top – despite the inner-workings of the project being technically complex that required a significant level of detailed analysis and build.</p>
<p>Far from an own goal, FIFA was extremely happy with the result, engaging us to help with the provision of enhancements, general maintenance and support. Strike!</p>


Custom Media Asset Management solution

<p>FIFA had identified issues with their legacy technology which had been impacting their ability to promote and sell FIFA archive content directly to its customers.  We began working with FIFA in 2017 to identify opportunities to make their archive video content available directly to its partners via a self-service facility.</p>
<p>Led by an in-depth analysis of their requirements and the design of the user experience and associated workflows, UIC Digital designed and developed a transformational, class leading front end solution. We worked closely with EVS, FIFA’s incumbent media asset management provider, to integrate all the required processes and workflows into their back-end MAM application.</p>


Custom video archive system 

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When SiriusXM sought to bring a richer, deeper fan experience to its digital platforms, they partnered with UIC Digital to introduce an end to end live and on-demand video workflow with a primary focus on The Howard Stern Show. This case study delves into the highlights and challenges of this transformative project.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2123 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Videos-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SiriusXM, a prominent American radio broadcaster, offers a diverse range of radio shows and sports coverage online and via satellite. The Howard Stern Show, in particular, has been a flagship program exclusively streaming on SiriusXM since 2006. Known for its candid interviews, celebrity guests, humour, and thought-provoking discussions, the show has garnered millions of devoted fans and significantly boosted SiriusXM&#8217;s listenership.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2124 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/HS-App-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2125 " src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme.jpg" alt="" width="1362" height="766" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Programme-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1362px) 100vw, 1362px" /></p>
<h3><b>Immersing enhancement to the show</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">SiriusXM partnered with UIC Digital to introduce live video streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) features into its web, iOS, and Android apps. Initially implemented for The Howard Stern Show, the goal was to deepen the connection with listeners and encourage real-time engagement. This move resulted in an enriched user experience that elevated The Howard Stern Show to new heights.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With live video streaming, fans could watch and interact with the show in real-time, offering an immersive experience that brought them closer to the action. VOD addressed the common request from fans to access previous episodes, making content easily accessible and boosting user satisfaction and retention.</span></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="SXM Programme 1820x1024" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894127255?h=67ecd43c39&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-2127 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Mobile-2-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3><b>Keeping it neat and tidy</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UIC Digital adopted a structured approach to meet the high standards of SiriusXM&#8217;s precision and performance. The project involved integrating various components under a well-defined architecture, organised for modularity and future scalability. Native code was employed for each platform, with Swift for iOS, Java/Kotlin for Android, and modern web technologies for the web app. A C++ layer facilitated seamless and quick communication between the app and backend components.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The primary challenge was to minimise the live feed delay to achieve real-time synchronisation between audio and video streams while keeping internal processing delays low to mitigate latency. The user interface allowed users to switch between video and audio effortlessly, with Howard Stern having the ability to transition segments of the show from audio to video by pressing a big red button in the studio</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="SXM Full Screen 1820x1024" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894127206?h=993be8d5f8&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="SXM Player 1820x1024" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894127236?h=5c604c9a4e&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3><b>Success in real-time</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result was a highly engaging multimedia show that allowed fans to consume content in real-time, offering flexibility and convenience. Kelly Flynn, SiriusXM&#8217;s SVP of Video Programming, expressed enthusiasm about delivering video content across the platform, enhancing the overall SiriusXM experience:</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&#8220;We are thrilled to deliver video from a broad array of our incredible talk, sports, music, comedy, and speciality </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">programming. Nowhere is there more depth and breadth of content than across the SiriusXM universe, and video is the perfect complement to the amazing radio moments that happen here every day.&#8221;</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: var(--global--color-background); color: var(--global--color-primary); font-family: var(--global--font-secondary); font-size: var(--global--font-size-base);">This successful partnership between SiriusXM and UIC Digital has undoubtedly elevated the entertainment experience for subscribers and expanded the possibilities for multimedia content delivery in the future.</span></p>


Live video for The Howard Stern Show

<p class="isSelectedEnd">Diageo wanted to explore how personalisation could create a more memorable retail experience and strengthen customers’ connections with its brands.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">We designed and developed an intuitive iPad application that allows customers to personalise the label of a bottle at the point of purchase. What began as a pilot for Baileys at Dublin Airport proved highly successful, creating an engaging experience for travellers while giving them a distinctive and personal gift to take home.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Following the success of the pilot, Diageo expanded the platform internationally. It is now used across more than 150 airport retail locations, promotional events and brand activations.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3218" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-1568x2091.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/1-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></p>
<p><h2>One platform, multiple global brands</h2>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Rather than developing a separate application for every campaign, we created a flexible platform that could be quickly adapted for different Diageo brands.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">The experience has since been rolled out for Baileys, Captain Morgan, Don Julio and 21Seeds, with Buchanan’s and Bulleit among the latest brands being added. Each version reflects the individual brand’s visual identity, content and personalisation rules while retaining the same dependable underlying technology.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">The modular approach makes it faster and more cost-effective to launch new experiences, helping Diageo extend personalisation across its portfolio without repeatedly starting from scratch.</p>
<h2><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3219" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></h2>
<p><h2>Designed for busy retail environments</h2>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">The application was built for use by retail teams in fast-moving environments where specialist training is rarely practical.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Its straightforward interface guides staff and customers through the personalisation process, from entering and validating a name or message to previewing and printing the finished label. Clear workflows and safeguards help reduce mistakes, keep queues moving and deliver a consistent experience across different locations and operators.</p>
<p class="isSelectedEnd">Brand configurations can also be changed quickly, allowing the same equipment to support different products, campaigns and seasonal activations with minimal disruption.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3224" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-1568x2091.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/7-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></p>
<p><h2>From successful pilot to scalable product</h2>
<p>The project has evolved from a single airport experiment into a reusable global platform supporting some of Diageo’s best-known brands.</p>
<p>By combining an engaging customer experience with a flexible technical foundation and simple retail operation, the platform enables Diageo to create memorable moments at the point of sale while launching new branded activations quickly and consistently.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-3221" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-225x300.jpg 225w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-1568x2091.jpg 1568w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/4-scaled.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px" /></p>


Custom label personalisation app

<h2>This is the version added by the &#8220;Add Media&#8221; button:</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="UIC Digital - Celebrating 15 Years" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/887239664?h=41cec55c5a&amp;dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963" width="750" height="422" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture"></iframe></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h2>This is the embed code version:</h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="UIC Digital - Celebrating 15 Years" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/887239664?h=41cec55c5a&amp;badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;quality_selector=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


test

<p class="p1">In 2014, AMC, known for its iconic shows, embarked on a journey to launching its own video streaming service.</p>
<p class="p1">To achieve this, they needed a suite of TV Everywhere apps tailored not only to its flagship brand but also to its affiliated brands like BBC America, IFC, and others. Their search led them to partner with UIC Digital to bring this vision to life.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1978 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Multiple-Devices-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3 class="p1"><b>A binge-worthy brief</b></h3>
<p class="p1">The Walking Dead, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul; AMC is the American entertainment network behind some of your most binge-watched shows. However, with most of its heritage in creating theatrical features and original series for the big screen, AMC was ready to crack the small screen – realising the huge potential of video streaming.</p>
<p class="p1">Video streaming services were just starting to surge in popularity, causing significant disruptions to traditional satellite TV models. Concurrently, consumer behaviour was undergoing a notable shift, with an increasing preference for watching content on tablets and smartphones. This shift was accompanied by a growing trend of viewers either cancelling their satellite TV subscriptions or bypassing them entirely. Amidst this transition, TV Everywhere (TVE) apps held substantial importance. These apps allowed users to log in using their cable provider details, marking the initial steps towards the eventual rise of Subscription Video-On-Demand (SVOD) services.</p>
<p class="p1">Over a span of five years, AMC engaged UIC Digital in a collaborative effort to develop a versatile TV Everywhere app ecosystem. This ecosystem was designed to seamlessly function across a multitude of platforms, including iOS, Android, Apple TV, Android TV, Fire TV, Xbox One, and Windows 10. Additionally, AMC enlisted UIC Digital&#8217;s expertise in developing a strategy for a premium subscription package, marking the initial stride toward establishing a full-fledged Over-The-Top (OTT) service. This premium package was tailored to offer fans an exclusive, ad-free, and first-look content experience. UIC Digital successfully delivered on this vision, culminating in the launch of AMC+ (formerly known as AMC Premiere).</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div style="padding: 56.26% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Hero Titles" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894059125?h=797d12b8a7&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1979 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Walking-Dead-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3 class="p1"><b>It’s all about method</b></h3>
<p class="p1">As we do with every brief, we approached the challenge with a strategic and comprehensive methodology, addressing the requirement for a set of TV Everywhere apps across multiple devices whilst aligning their features to remain efficient and keep spend low.</p>
<p class="p1">We began by hosting detailed discussions with stakeholders from each brand platform team at AMC to highlight the individual features and functionalities that each would need to hit their goals. Of course, each device is different – and with that comes a varied set of needs that could turn costly if not properly managed. That is why we consolidated common elements that could be shared across all apps, streamlining the development process, minimising costs and setting a consistent standard.</p>
<p class="p1">Knowing that not all apps could look exactly the same, we built in a customisation framework for unique features and functionalities. It balanced device-specific needs with a standardised development structure to maintain a fast pace. But given how diverse the range of platforms are we made sure to approach development in a platform-specific way, working through each to guarantee the best user experience and performance per device.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1980 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Season-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1981 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Episode-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<h3 class="p1"><b>Crafting AMC&#8217;s Multi-Platform Strategy</b></h3>
<p class="p1">The biggest challenge was maintaining a consistent user experience across multiple apps, despite each needing different features and design solutions. To the consumer, AMC is one entity and its TV Everywhere ecosystem needed to reflect that entirely.</p>
<p class="p1">Layered across all of this, most importantly, was regular collaboration with AMC. We believe client input, constant communication and regular feedback is critical to any project, and it was integral to our success here with AMC. We ran feedback sessions, team updates and made adjustments as we progressed to stay aligned with AMC’s evolving vision.</p>
<div style="padding: 75.82% 0 0 0; position: relative;"><iframe style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="Intro Animation" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/894059190?h=b0398fafd4&amp;badge=0&amp;autoplay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;autopause=0&amp;muted=1&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>
<h3 class="p1"><b>AMC everywhere</b></h3>
<p class="p1">Finally, we launched AMC’s TV Everywhere app ecosystem successfully, across 8+ platforms,<span class="Apple-converted-space">  </span>and 4 brands whilst remaining cost-effective. We helped shape the strategy for AMC+ and expanded AMC’s digital footprint, increasing revenue stream opportunities all around. The service is now lauded by fans and used millions of times every day, with hundreds of movies and shows available to watch at the hit of a button.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1987 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Details-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1984 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search.jpg" alt="" width="1820" height="1024" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search.jpg 1820w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Search-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1820px) 100vw, 1820px" /></p>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0 0 0; position: relative;"></div>
<p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script></p>


TV Everywhere and AMC+ app build

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the streaming market began to heat up with major players like Netflix, Apple and Disney+ all improving their services, Crackle knew it had to refresh its services. Offering free movies and TV shows with ads not subscription fees, a UX development and design overhaul with a focus on content discoverability would achieve the refit. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Want to watch your favourite Hollywood movies for free? Crackle has it covered. Based in the US, Crackle is one of the largest ad-supported streaming services (AVOD) in the US and brings movies and TV shows to fans. Its Roku channel was originally launched in 2011 and, by the time we were introduced, already had a large, established fanbase. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the years went on, competition in the streaming market grew fierce and consumer expectations driven upward. The market began to see a sharp increase in interest for AVOD services, as consumers felt wary of being locked into too many subscriptions. Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime were all growing significantly, with Apple TV+ and Disney+ also entering the market.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1209 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4_3-MAIN-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crackle’s Roku needed to stay competitive with its UX, a wider content selection and a fresh design. To make that happen, UIC Digital was asked to help give the application a total refresh, bringing development support to Crackle’s UX and UI teams for sprucing up accessibility and content discoverability, as well as creating a smoother viewing experience that kept the limelight firmly on the content.</span></p>
<h3><b>Giving fans the VIP treatment</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our first step was to get a gauge on all the challenges Crackle was facing. We analysed all the data we could scrape, alongside industry trends, behaviour insights, reported pain points and opportunities for new features. We often use this approach to drive the best results for clients because we recognise the importance of data and customer insights in making key design, product and development decisions. Not only is user experience critical to any product’s eventual customer rating, but retrieving user feedback to inspire phases of testing and learning is also an integral part of our production process.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1256 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/16_9-SUPPORTING-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We developed Crackle with an iterative approach, first working towards an MVP with parity to its existing in-market Roku app. It gave us fast access to user feedback in a real-world setting, a process which was then baked into a regular release cycle so that the Roku channel continually improved in response to user needs.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the areas we identified was the opportunity to create a more intuitive user experience to make finding content easier. The UX needed a better search functionality, for all those times you just can’t decide and end up watching Miss Congeniality for the seventh time. The search would include better recommendations too, a more detailed process and entry into a better catalogue browsing experience to combat scrolling fatigue. We also added the ability for users to create their own watchlists, as is now the norm on most streaming services, bringing Crackle onto equal footing with its competitors and satisfying user expectations.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1210 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/16_9-SUPPORT-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3><b>A box office hit</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crackle’s updated Roku channel is modern, user-friendly and far easier to navigate, so users can get stuck into their popcorn or binge watch their favourite show much faster. The results have been blockbuster. Video start times have improved by 42% and, in turn, viewership has risen by 40%. Ad exits – an important metric for Crackle – dropped by a whopping 200%.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These are box office numbers that make Crackle one of the leading players in the streaming service space. Now, important decisions: sweet or salted?</span></p>
<h5>What Crackle said:</h5>
<p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Philippe Guelton, president of Crackle Plus, said: “Our team is excited to release this new version of the Crackle app onto Roku devices that have traditionally been a large share of our audience. We are now presenting our premium content offering into a totally redesigned and faster loading experience, which has proven to deliver higher engagement and user loyalty with each new app release.”</span></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Roku app rebuild to drive content discoverability 

<p style="font-weight: 400;">Nevion is a global media network solutions provider, the force enabling many of the broadcasters you know and love to reach TVs in homes the world over. Its systems are complex and serve hundreds of millions of viewers every day but, over time, have become harder to use. Nevion needed a new UX and UI to make its products efficient and effective and UIC Digital was there to deliver.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Behind every great broadcaster lies an even greater media network solutions provider. Nevion, owned by Sony, is one of these providers, helping to deliver everything from Premier League coverage to Governmental network communications at global scale. Headquartered in Norway, its market-leading product VideoIPath provides a network of global pathways that take live footage from on location and deliver it to TV sets worldwide, through a series of satellites, cables, data centres and local or regional broadcasting centres.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1252 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-4-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Nevion calls it a ‘media orchestration platform’, providing connection management, service assurance and network inventory capabilities for service providers and broadcasters. Engineer-led and completely focused on the practical delivery of its service, as VideoIPath had grown, its UX had become complex and its UI gradually less and less user friendly. Nevion needed a support partner to help it make the product more user-centric, without losing sight of its core proposition.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1250 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Easing pressure with game-changing UX</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">It’s not about user engagement. Ultimately, this is a product that is functional in nature – for heavy lifting, reactive and responsive requirements either planned in advance or during instant diagnostics for live broadcasting issues. But even the best functioning products on the planet need to be easy to use in order to function effectively.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The pressure on those using this tool can be immense – imagine serving over 550 million viewers halfway around the world, at once. So using and navigating VideoIPath has to feel intuitive, simple, stable, consistent and, above all, fast. That’s why, although some cosmetic work was done, the core of our solution revolved around solving intricate user experience problems. The product needed a new UX.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1253 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-3-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Complex tasks made seamlessly easy</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Having been recommended by NEP as a result of our work there, we started, as we always do, by asking ‘why?’ Using user research, data and reported challenges, we avoid assumptions and openly discuss the problem to get to develop an understanding of what’s needed. We came at this with a fresh set of eyes, with the opportunity to take a completely new approach to the problem.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">Using workshops, research, prototyping and iterative user interface design to test and learn, we began to develop solutions to complex and sophisticated problems VideoIPath users would face. That might be hundreds of system alarms firing at once, creating a network topology to view in correlation with inspecting issues or helping an engineer set-up a service path in five seconds.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">From a design standpoint, we planned and prototyped for every eventuality we could think of and then implemented rapid feedback sessions with Nevion. This was the result of a partnership between the product owner and the tech team, fusing functionality for the user with the product’s technical inner-workings behind the scenes.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1251 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-8-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>A harmonious network</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">VideoIPath consists of a suite of apps, each performing very specific tasks, used by a very skilled user – like Matrix, Connect Studio, Inspect and Configuration. These apps all work independently but also need to work together harmoniously as one family.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The apps fall into one of three categories – services, assurance or configuration. The ‘services’ collection of apps set up connections, allowing audio and visual data to get from A to B at lightning speeds using pathways. This is where the magic is at. With our guidance, users can now set-up new connections in seconds. The ‘assurance’ category focuses on monitoring broadcasts, identifying issues and fixes. A large portion of our work was to understand issues with live feeds holistically, replacing the current process which often missed wider problems or patterns happening outside this macro view. Our solution was to create Inspect topology, giving users the ability to dive deep into the architecture of each problem whilst comparing other devices and ports to check for related issues.</p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The ‘configuration’ suite of apps are more user-focused. We helped map out how users could build profiles and services efficiently that would be used continuously throughout the entire business. We hooked this up with notifications, adding industry-standard alerts like toast pop-ups and action toolbars.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1254 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Nevion-Case-Study-Mockups-5-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<h3 style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>A network reimagined</strong></h3>
<p style="font-weight: 400;">The result was a new UX and UI that made VideoIPath far simpler to use but no less effective at solving the complexities of delivering live events to millions of viewers globally. It had streamlined Nevion’s day-to-day and made user interactions live on location straightforward, with great feedback in tow.</p>
<h5><strong>What Nevion said:</strong></h5>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“We’ve had the pleasure of working with UIC Digital for several years and, during this time, they&#8217;ve significantly improved the look and user experience of our product.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“Given the complexity of our workflow requirements and features, UIC Digital have worked in partnership to truly understand the reasons behind our needs and have taken the time and effort to build something that not only works technically but is something that is brilliantly designed and easy to use for our customers.</em></p>
<p style="font-weight: 400;"><em>“The team is always very eager and extremely helpful and, with their digital product expertise, have created great design ideas that have significantly improved our product. We really enjoy this working collaboration.”</em></p>


Media orchestration platform redesign 

<p>Crackle Plus is one of the largest ad-supported streaming services (AVOD) and offers a variety of movies and TV shows incl. original programming.</p>
<p>The Crackle Roku Channel was originally launched in 2011 and had established a substantial user base over time. However, it had also struggled with several issues such as an outdated design, limited content selection, and a subpar user experience.</p>
<p>To meet the changing demands and expectations of viewers and to remain competitive in a crowded streaming market, we were engaged to completely overhaul the application. The goal was to enhance the accessibility and discoverability of content and ensure a smooth and enjoyable viewing experience for the audience.</p>
<p>The updated application features a modern, user-friendly design and improved navigation, making it easier for users to find and watch their favorite content. This is achieved with improved search capabilities and enhancements to the catalog browsing experience to decrease scrolling fatigue. The application also allows users to create and manage their own watchlists, making it easy to keep track of their favorite shows and movies.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>


Relaunch boosts content discoverability

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manchester United pulls in football fans stretching from the UK to the UAE. No matter where fans are in the world, the support is die hard, with a passion for Man United content just as deep. The club has played over 1,000 games in the past 30 years in the English Premier League alone. Add to this years of player interviews, documentaries, behind-the-scenes exclusives and all the live action and you’ve got a substantial archive any MUFC fan would celebrate. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">MUTV is Manchester United’s streaming service, where fans can access the club’s archive of football content, as well as watch live coverage during each and every pre-season match. It’s also an exclusive window into the inner workings of the club, with behind-the-scenes access and player profiles.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1202 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-3-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We originally launched MUTV back in 2018 as native apps, on Apple TV, Fire TV, Xbox One and Roku. Back then, we went through our tried and tested approach of combining user research, UX, design and development with cross-team client collaboration but every successful project should maintain constant iteration over time. That’s why Manchester United came back to us for help expanding MUTV to new platforms, with a change of business tactic in tow.</span></p>
<h3><b>A new look for a new season</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1185 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-1-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In seasons gone by, MUTV was a paid subscription service with revenue as the main focus. Now, Manchester United aimed to change its direction, moving to a focus on global reach with a free subscription in most countries instead (excluding around 12 territories). To do this, it needed a refresh – an expansion onto next-gen smart TVs, including LG, Samsung and Android TV, and an app relaunch built as React Native and React Native for Web apps. On top of this, we would add a suite of new features to improve user experience and retention.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We kicked off with a total visual overhaul for a modern design, creating a new homepage for different content types like episodes, shows and collections. We also created ‘show pages’ to bring all its episodes together in one place whereas before users could only look in detail at individual episodes. Every fan wants to find their favourite goal, right? So we added search functionality to scour the archive, as well as a bookmark feature for saving the shows or episodes that tug on a supporter’s heartstrings over and over again.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With MUTV’s visual transformation in progress, we turned our attention to what was in the dugout. </span></p>
<h3><b>A game of two halves</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1201 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-2-4x3-1-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To bring MUTV onto new apps, we rewrote the application with React Native, reducing the need for separate dev teams across each platform and saving time and cost for the client. This is because with React Native a single codebase can be used across multiple platforms, whilst also making maintenance far more streamlined. React Native also gave us access to hot reloading, where dev teams can see their changes in real-time without needing to rebuild the app. With client needs always at the heart of what we do, it’s much faster for us, and much faster for them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1203 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MUTV-4-4x3-1-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each target platform for MUTV had its own unique technical specs, so our team needed to be sure it would work seamlessly across all of them, every time. It might sound straightforward if you’re using a single codebase in React Native but TV manufacturers are notoriously slow at adapting to new technology. When we came to work on building the app for smart TVs this became blatantly obvious, with models older than 2020 working off a different type of code. We used Babel to transcribe the code from ES6 to ES5 for these models, as well as taking into account remote input handling, proprietary APIs, key codes on remote controls changing every year and even unsupported cookies (on LG). Pack all this up and then add the difference between actual manufacturers, not just the models, and you can start to understand the complexity of the project – despite using React Native.</span></p>
<h3><b>Firmly in the premier league</b></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Once testing and troubleshooting had been completed – itself a chunky piece of work between TV make and models – MUTV was brought to market. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since then, it’s been downloaded in over 240 territories, hitting number one in the app store’s sports category in over 100 countries. MUTV is one of the most subscribed football channels in the whole of the UK and now, with its new look, a seamless, high-quality user experience with nothing left on the pitch. </span></p>
<p><br style="font-weight: 400;" /><br style="font-weight: 400;" /></p>


Relaunching the number one sports category app in 100 countries, with a smart TV rebuild for MUTV

<p>When Technicolor called us up with an urgent request for help, we responded swiftly. After a previous tech partner let the business down, Technicolor needed a major restart to its advanced, cloud-based content management system for film professionals. There were only 12 weeks to get the job done, but we’re no stranger to working at pace. The race was on.</p>
<p>Five BAFTAs, four Academy Awards, two Emmys and nearly 100 D&amp;AD Pencils – these are just some of the accolades awarded to Technicolor (with its supply-chain and logistics arm now rebranded as Vantiva), an international community of VFX artists and technologists. As a business, it creates, supports and distributes extraordinary content experiences all over the world. Wonder Woman, Harry Potter, Sonic The Hedgehog; all of these wouldn’t have made it to the big screen without Technicolor.</p>
<p>In the film business, project hitches are common. For Technicolor, an existing tech partner had failed to deliver to rave reviews and its project was left unfinished. It would need a total restart, if this industry-leading behemoth was to ever meet its agreements with a variety of famous studios. Technicolor came to UIC Digital in need of help, with a time-sensitive, multi-million pound project that would become one of the most advanced media distribution systems on the face of the planet.</p>
<p>This system was called Technicolor Showcase, a cloud-based content management system for film professionals that gave around the clock access to content on any device, from anywhere, anytime, on a single, intuitive portal. That includes production services, content approvals, ops management for archives and orders and sales support for authorisation, sales collateral and content distribution.</p>
<p>With our deep broadcast video experience, Technicolor felt confident leaving the product in our hands.</p>
<h3><b>Join us in the war room</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-575 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Technicolor-2-16x9-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Whilst the design and development of Technicolor Showcase was still early on in its lifecycle, the project itself was quite far down the line. It meant an extremely tight deadline loomed to launch a completely new cloud-based infrastructure and modern user interface. To get it done, we went onto a war room footing, with all hands on deck and even key stakeholders at Technicolor coming on board to work from our London office during the project. This is how we like to work at UIC Digital, with collaboration as one team at the core of all we do. It means collaboration, decision-making, speed and quality are all optimised to maximum effect. When we say we’re by your side, we really mean it.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-672 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/technicolor-1.jpg" alt="" width="1212" height="900" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/technicolor-1.jpg 1212w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/technicolor-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/technicolor-1-1024x760.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/technicolor-1-768x570.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1212px) 100vw, 1212px" /></p>
<p>From a technical perspective, the portal needed to work seamlessly across web and iOS platforms. It’s built using Angular.js and Javascript, giving us the flexibility to respond dynamically across features and devices. A responsive layout made sure that, no matter what screen you’re viewing from, Technicolor Showcase could be used anywhere, on anything. It also uses HTML5 and LESS stylesheets, keeping web development streamlined – the former for richly programmed features and the latter a preprocessor for CSS to make styling efficient and organised.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1190" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>For tablets, Technicolor Showcase is written in Objective-C, one of the best programming languages for iOS. It means the user interface is optimised for tablets, with a layout and design tailored to a tablet’s larger screen without losing any engaging features.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1191 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/16_9-SUPPORTING-2-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Within just three months, we produced a digital hub that turned heads, the first of its kind in the content space and at the leading edge of transformative design and technology. A perfect match for Technicolor. As a creative engineering company, we’ve got an unwavering commitment to quality, never sacrificing this in place of time, speed or budget.</p>
<h3><b>Coming good on our promises</b></h3>
<p>With this mantra – and our tried and tested formula of bringing specialists together – we delivered a portal that not only showcased Technicolors technical prowess but also came in on time, on budget and became a commercial success. We pride ourselves on always doing right by our clients, on transparency, ownership, honesty and delivering on our promises. On building close relationships with our clients that foster trust, whilst using deep technical, design and delivery capabilities to hit the mark as a team.</p>
<p>With over 5M+ assets and five petabytes (that’s over 1,000 terabytes) of content stored since its launch, the project was a true success. And it didn’t just showcase Technicolor’s industry-leading capability, it stopped the show.</p>


Video content collab product build

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When the BBC first asked UIC Digital to help rework the BBC Worldwide Store, it was the start of a long and fruitful relationship. One we’ve nurtured and delivered upon for nearly a decade. Now, with complex technical projects for services like BBC Learning English as our foundation, we’re the BBC’s agency of choice for UX, UI, development and design support, with nearly 20 of our own embedded in its teams.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1170 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1696" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1-300x265.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1-1024x905.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1-768x678.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1-1536x1357.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-3-4x3-1-1568x1385.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The BBC is the world’s oldest national broadcaster and also the largest, with over 20,000 staff. Globally, it reaches just under half a billion people and is widely respected by countries all over the world as being the finest example of a public service broadcaster. If you’re reading this from the UK, doesn’t that make you feel lucky? With such a huge following, schedule of programmes, suite of apps, websites and services, running the BBC on all counts is a huge undertaking. Specifically, its tech, UX, UI and design needs are vast, with constant innovation in motion. And despite its huge size, sometimes even a goliath needs a helping hand.</span></p>
<h5>The Work</h5>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2015, help arrived. Working hand-in-hand with the Beeb, we were first asked to help with the UX and development of the BBC Worldwide Store, a service that gave anybody outside the UK the opportunity to buy and watch programmes anywhere in the world. Although the service was eventually wound down in 2017, UIC Digital would be the main port of call for ongoing support and maintenance throughout – setting the tone for a long and fruitful relationship with the BBC that still stands strong today.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-1167 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBC-TV-Sherlock-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Based on this foundation of work, we have become the BBC’s trusted delivery partner for projects, large and small, across UX, UI, development and design. It’s a relationship so successful, we’re now embedding teams of our people in teams of their people, working alongside one another closer than ever before. As the story shows below, it demonstrates our ability as an agency partner to form long, trusted relationships with our clients that stand the test of time. </span></p>
<p><b>A foundation of complex delivery</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re now woven within the fabric of the BBC’s tech and design teams but, before this, we had to build on our reputation for delivering complex projects with evolving flexibility. We achieved this with nearly a decade’s worth of ongoing, high impact work, for services like the BBC’s Learning English programme.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1166 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1-300x225.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1-1024x768.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1-768x576.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1-1536x1152.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BBCHybrid-2-4x3-1-1568x1176.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As part of the BBC World Service, BBC Learning English has been teaching people how to speak the language since 1943, with free audio, video and text to students globally, from Latin America to China. The resources are often delivered by full courses but much of the material is also available standalone, giving students the freedom and flexibility to learn how they learn best.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In 2018, we were tasked with helping the BBC take back ownership of its Learning English content, often scraped and plagiarised by unofficial rip-off merchants pushing their own programmes – occasionally even impersonating the BBC itself. Working closely with the BBC’s own Learning English team, we created a hybrid team built of product and backend owners within the BBC, combined with our own project managers and React Native app developers. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Originally on the radio and later a dedicated website, the answer was to create owned and operated iOS and Android mobile apps, to wear the badge and make clear the official source of the BBC’s Learning English programme. It would also bring BBC Learning English into the modern world, available on the go and in bite-sized chunks. Being as the data only existed in web format, making this work for two mobile app UIs was a technical challenge. Using a web-based API, we had to be smart about client-side caching, scheduling data downloads and, of course, designing a UI and BFF (backend for frontend) solution that only pulled this data as and when necessary to optimise performance for the user. Shortly after launching, the app received a 5-star review in Web User magazine, 1M+ downloads in the first month and over 5M+ downloads on Android to date.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Move forward to 2020, and the BBC again asked us to step in to help with its internal branding facility – a service that manages the approval and distribution of brand assets to partners, advertisers and organisations that feature the Beeb. Within a tight timeframe, we built the backend and frontend, including infosec penetration testing. Although not available to the public, this unknown facility is crucial to the BBC, enabling managers to sort requests, allocate workflows for approvals up the chain and issue contracts. It’s a complex beast. Years later, the BBC is still using this internal tool without issue and zero bug fix requests.</span></p>
<h3><b>Using hybrid teams for the modern age</b></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1168 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="2015" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622-286x300.jpg 286w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622-976x1024.jpg 976w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622-768x806.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622-1464x1536.jpg 1464w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/20230328_114622-1568x1646.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although our partnership started from humble beginnings, it has morphed into a hybrid team approach where we are one of very few agencies to provide domain experts and team support to the BBC. Having started at just one or two designers in-house, we now supply the BBC with around 20 staff in hybrid roles across a myriad of projects. Those roles span UX and UI designers, frontend and backend developers, full stack engineers, business analysts and project managers. And they all work on very different projects ranging from design and frontend development for the BBC’s Top Gear website to an integrated Java development team and QA tester for Britbox.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Of course, these in-house specialists always have tech support back at base too, with our team at UIC Digital backing up the roles if anything gets blocked. From Javascript to AWS, our people provide microservices across the full development chain, on services like the BBC’s login portal or the video player used across platforms like BBC iPlayer. We also provide testing, manually and automated, writing test cases on an ongoing basis. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In essence, whenever the Beeb has a tech or a design gap, we fill it. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s true to say we have a special relationship with the BBC, one that has been built on prosperity, trust and hard work. It’s what we specialise in at UIC Digital – creating hybrid solutions for clients that need a long-term partner they can rely on – and an area we so dearly love too. Perhaps, one day, we can do that for you.</span></p>
<h5>What the BBC said:</h5>
<p>“No unnecessary politics, demands or prima donnas here, just great developers, UX teams and people who are passionate about delivering amazing customer experiences for your business. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough!”</p>
<p>BBC Senior Manager</p>


BBC’s trusted delivery partner 

<p>When Harry and Meghan Markle got married in 2018, the world went mad for a Royal Wedding. It was a total and utter media frenzy. Sky News was looking for an opportunity to stand out, to give viewers an experience like no other. With groundbreaking UX and UI, facial recognition and the power of AI were about to seriously make headlines.</p>
<h3><b>Innovation on a royal scale</b></h3>
<p>Try to look past what you know now, back to 2018, when Harry was still a Prince and Meghan Markle was still that talented actor you knew from Suits – it was a year fit for an historic Royal Wedding. On Saturday, May 19th, 2018, around 29.2 million people tuned in to watch Prince Harry of Wales marry American actor Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle, England. It sparked a global media frenzy, with broadcasters fighting for the competitive edge to win viewers.</p>
<p>Sky News was one such broadcaster. Often at the leading edge of news journalism and technology, it approached UIC Digital to help bring a powerful user experience to viewers during the Royal Wedding. One that would bring added value to its coverage and make it stand out from the crowd.</p>
<p>With public intrigue around the Royal Wedding at an all-time high, the who’s who of Harry and Megan’s guestlist was the ideal opportunity to be different. Of course, scrutinising the couple’s royal wedding guests is clearly must-watch TV for the British public, so Sky News decided to develop an interactive user experience that would deliver it.</p>
<h3><b>An AI-powered game-changer</b></h3>
<p>The idea was to use AI technology to power an automatic ‘who’s who’ of the crowd using facial recognition, with profiles brought up alongside live coverage, to gamify the news and gratify its audience. Working alongside AI specialists GrayMeta, we first designed the frontend single page application and video player to bring the viewing experience to life, harnessing Sky’s machine-learning workflow as we went. This involved using Angular.js, Typescript, HTML5 and SCSS Stylesheets.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-573 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SkyNews-1-16x9-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Sky’s Royal Wedding ‘Who’s Who’ functionality used facial recognition to highlight public figures arriving on the day, stored as a makeshift guestlist to the right of the video player – with profiles to read about whichever you clicked. That might seem fairly standard in today’s world but, five years ago, facial recognition technology was cutting-edge. Just think about it – Apple had only just made it standard on iPhones and just about the only other place you’d see it was at the fiddly automatic passport gates through UK Border Security.</p>
<p>Once a celeb was spotted by our AI, it gave you details on who they were, how they knew Harry and Meghan and used on-screen captions and graphics to keep things visual. It meant viewers could search through to find their favourite celebs without needing to leave Sky’s live royal coverage for even one second. Hands on and self-guided, it was a celeb spotting session to rival any paparazzi reporter.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1189 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-4-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>After the big day, Sky published a video-on-demand version of the Royal Wedding that gave viewers the option to pause and rewind, as well as follow an individual guest arrival.</p>
<h3><b>No challenge too great</b></h3>
<p>We had to design, build and deliver this app in only two and a half months. Not only that but no official royal guestlist was published before the event, so our facial recognition technology had to work fast and efficiently. It was tricky at best. To solve the problem, we worked alongside Sky journalists to scour social media and news articles looking for clues about who might be coming. That work resulted in a list of 800 anticipated guests – and our AI would need 10-15 facial images of each uploaded to stand a chance on the day. That’s over 8,000 images! It took us two full months to pull it together.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1188 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1.png" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1.png 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1-300x169.png 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1-768x432.png 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SkyNews-3-16x9-1-1568x882.png 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>The functionality was built using cloud infrastructure from AWS for speed and access to scalable machine-learning. Combined with GrayMeta’s data analysis platform and our interactive UI design, Amazon’s Rekognition video and image analysis platform cherry-picked our celebs from the crowd in real-time, whilst tagged metadata put the faces to the names and got stored in the video player. Footage from an outside broadcast van near Windsor Castle’s St George’s Chapel sent a live video feed to AWS, where it was run through its AWS Elemental MediaPackage and distributed back to Sky through the Amazon CloudFront content delivery network.</p>
<h3><b>A royal success</b></h3>
<p>The broadcast raked in over 10 million views and over 100,000 concurrent views. It picked up worldwide PR coverage, ranging from The Observer to The Verge to The Hollywood Reporter and The Washington Post. As far as news coverage goes, it was the talk of the town.</p>
<p>This is just the start. Second-screen viewing, information-rich content and gamified video-on-demand is coming into a boom. Look at Sky F1 – you can ride on-board any driver on the grid whilst live coverage plays side-by-side. And, whilst the technological advances are there, UX and UI must keep up, to give viewers the best watching experience around. Which is why we’re here, as a creative engineering company you can trust to take the moments that matter most to the next level through game changing design, UX and technology.</p>


AI powered app for royal wedding broadcast

<p>Heard of Pix? Unless you’re a film professional, probably not – but this production management powerhouse helped bring some of your favourite movies and TV shows to the screen; Spiderman: No Way Home, Squid Game, Top Gun: Maverick, Disney’s Mulan, to name just a few. Pix is an industry-leading production management platform built for creative collaboration, without less admin. Leading movie studios, directors and producers use Pix for remote access to pre-prod. and production content that brings creative teams together with a suite of collaborative tools.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>Although loved and respected by movie producers the world over, over time its products had become outdated, hindered by technical debt and slow development. Regular feature updates had all but stopped and its loyal fan base turned frustrated. Partnered with a degrading user experience, this became a major driver for change whilst new competitors began emerging and taking up a larger piece of the pie.</p>
<p>So, Pix came to UIC Digital for a makeover – a total redesign and rearchitect of its platforms, and refresh on agile ways of working within UX and UI. Pix needed a next-gen level up that would see off the competitors nipping at its heels and dominate the space, and we would provide it.</p>
<h3><b>A crowd-pleasing redesign</b></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-570 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-2-4x3-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Our approach was user-centric, bringing in new designs that we knew users would love – because we asked them. When you’re creating a product for a unique set of specialists, it’s crucial to understand exactly what they need. To develop a deep understanding of how a film professional prefers to work, collaborate, create and edit. We ran a series of workshops, product sessions and user interviews to identify and prioritise the workflows and feature requests that mattered to them. Then, using our experience and client feedback, we used this as a foundation for rebuilding Pix’s usability, functionality and, ultimately, its reputation for being great value.</p>
<p>With this under our belt, we began wireframing and creating prototypes. Again, we sent these back into user testing, with feedback harnessed to optimise the designs and constantly refine. It formed an evolving, iterative process that helped to land Pix at the core of what a film professional needs, whether you’re a director, a sound designer or a VFX artist. It placed the audience at the heart of the project, its community integral to the outcome. And when the community is small, tight-knit and dominated by word of mouth, that means a lot.</p>
<p>This is based on our fundamental belief that products should be designed for the user, not for the designers or the technology. Real people first.</p>
<h3><b>Facing down the plot twist</b></h3>
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<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-569 size-full" src="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Pix-1-4x3-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
<p>Of course, no plot comes without a twist. We ran into several obstacles that needed to be overcome. Firstly, Pix had never worked with an outside agency before. So, we gradually introduced new ways of working over time, giving internal teams at Pix to learn and lean into it. For example, UX and design was previously seen as one combined discipline at Pix, but the team recognised the need to separate them out. This meant a change to the roles and structure within the team. With us as their guide, they were happy to shift.</p>
<p>From a technical perspective, the challenge was to switch away from a monolithic codebase in Angular to an updated architecture and framework in React. This needed a smooth transition that wouldn’t interrupt service to existing clients. We first analysed the existing codebase for limitations and dependencies, before breaking it down into smaller chunks that would work within the new React architecture.</p>
<p>Working extremely closely with Pix’s internal developers, we migrated the system over one module at a time whilst maintaining backward compatibility and feature parity. As our UI components were designed to be modular and reusable, it meant separating the view from the business logic. The code was then also refactored using modern Javascript syntax and best practice.</p>
<p>The iOS app was also redesigned and technically overhauled. After linking up with user research to identify its key needs, we based a new architecture on modern iOS dev concepts like modularisation and reactive programming. Similarly, we broke down the app into smaller, bite-sized chunks that could be developed, tested and deployed independently. We also used a reactive programming paradigm using RxSwift, for easier handling of asynchronous events and consistently responsive UI.</p>
<p>The upgrade thoroughly brought Pix into the modern age.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<h3><b>Back in front of the lens</b></h3>
<p>The overall results lit up the room. With this redesign, products were given a new lease of life and greater features, like a custom-built video playback, review and edit tool that gave editors multiple playheads and side-by-side playback. Pix customer satisfaction shot up, delivering greater value, an enhanced user experience with new features released regularly. The competition? Didn’t make the cut.</p>
<p>The project shows how design that puts users at the core of everything it sets out to achieve, ultimately wins more customers in the end. Pix is back in the spotlight, the modern age and now continually innovating in the space, now and in the future.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>
<p>That’s a wrap.</p>


Redesign of media editing collab platform 

<p>The BBC wished to launch a Learning English app to extend the service beyond their website offering. We were delighted to be awarded the contract that complimented the work we had done previously with the BBC.</p>
<p>We engaged with the BBC team and undertook parallel development of the iOS &amp; Android apps, adopting a collaborative approach using Agile project management principles. The development required close working between us and the BBC team with daily meetings to ensure we were fully aligned.</p>


English learning application

<p>In a partnership exceeding 5 years, we have collaborated with NBC on the technical delivery of a suite of mobile and 10-foot streaming.</p>
<p>Through implementation of advanced analytics and A/B testing we helped NBC optimise the overall product as well as targeting personalisation, driving up user engagement and content discovery.</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-565 size-full" src="http://ec2-13-40-64-63.eu-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1440" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-2-4x3-1-1568x1176.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /> <img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-564 size-full" src="http://ec2-13-40-64-63.eu-west-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" srcset="https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1.jpg 1920w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.uicdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/NBC-1-16x9-1-1568x882.jpg 1568w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" /></p>
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Digital Product Experts.