TV Time Internship
For this summer internship...
I helped test and design the new movie tracking feature on the TV Time mobile application. I also performed research on the custom list feature on the mobile app and the TV Time website. By the end of the internship I could:
✅ Run in-person usability tests from start to finish (internal and external participants)
Plan usability studies and scripts
Set up the usability lab and stream sessions to other meeting rooms
Recruit and manage participants
Moderate usability tests and take notes
Organize data in a findings spreadsheet
✅ Create surveys and report on data (SurveyMonkey)
✅ Work with Sketch files and manage Zeplin
Adding Movies to the Mobile App
The focus for TV Time over the summer was adding the ability to track and rate movies on their mobile platform. Prior to my internship, the product team already gathered data on how users view movies vs. TV shows. They found their users prefer to categorize and organize movies and TV separately and created their first designs for adding movie tracking into the mobile app.
Joining the team, I helped my mentor and lead researcher, Andrea, create a usability test script, recruit participants, and organize logistics for testing the new movies feature in a beta build. I also performed research in other areas of the TV Time product simultaneously, such as usability research on the mobile app’s custom list feature and surveying and usability testing on the TV Time website. More information about these projects can be found below in the section “Additional Projects”.
Recruiting Users for Testing Movie Tracking
Once we had a testable beta build for the mobile app movie features, I began to recruit participants. I used a screener that TV Time already developed to screen participants - asking about their interest in tracking apps (such as MyFitnessPal), if they have streaming services, and the movies and TV shows they watch. TV Time has a local user database from those who volunteer through surveys sent out in-app. We used both participants gathered in the internal user base and also users from userinterviews.com. This way we tested users who currently use the TV Time mobile app and people who were considered “new users” and had never used TV Time products.
I was responsible for contacting users, screening users, scheduling, and updating our user database. For the movie feature testing, we scheduled 2 TV time users, 2 new users, and 2 backup users (one current user and one new).
Testing Prep and Lab Set Up
TV Time has a dedicated room for usability testing. This room consists of a computer running windows, a Mr. Tappy, a desk, and chairs. TV Time streams the video from Mr. Tappy to another meeting room during usability sessions. Those on the product team and any other company employee are welcome to watch the live stream during testing.
For testing the new movie tracking features, I was responsible for creating the testing scripts (one for testing new users and one for testing current users). These scripts included an introduction, and a set of tasks followed by post-task questions. Since the addition of tracking movies touched all aspects of the mobile app (profile, rating, comments/community, etc.), the script explored most areas of the app and was designed to be around 50 minutes long.
I was also responsible for setting up the lab equipment (Mr. Tappy, OBS video capturing software, Youtube streaming), booking the meeting room for streaming, and sending out calendar invites to other employees who wished to watch specific sessions.
Usability Sessions, Analysis, and Record Keeping
Since the movie tracking features were a large complex addition to the mobile app, for these usability sessions, I only observed and took notes as the lead researcher Andrea conducted the sessions. Between each session, we (the product team) would converse and compare findings on a large whiteboard. After each session, new findings were added to the whiteboard notes.
I was responsible for transcribing these notes into our UX drive and separating out usability issues and recording and ranking their severity. I was able to run usability sessions with participants on my own when doing research on the custom list feature and the TV Time website. Details of these projects can be found below in the section “Additional Projects”.
Since TV Time had one UX/UI designer, she watched all usability testing sessions and had access to the final analysis spreadsheet, so we did not need to create a final report to present to designers.
Surveying for the Movie Feature
Concurrently with usability testing, we sent out surveys to users who had signed up for beta testing and had access to the beta version of the movie tracking feature. I created these surveys (one for almost immediately after the beta release, and one for after users saw some updates based on feedback). These surveys consisted of satisfaction scales, SUS, and open-ended questions about the new features around movie tracking. These surveys were created in SurveyMonkey.
Additional Projects
Custom List Internal Testing
I ran this project from start to finish using TV Time employees for usability test participants. I created a script around the TV Time mobile app custom list feature for a 45 minute session. I recruited and scheduled 4 TV Time employees and practiced usability testing sessions with them while being observed by my mentor (Andrea) through the streaming video. I communicated with Andrea through our slack channel while also taking notes during these sessions.
The Website: Survey and Usability Testing
This was the largest project I ran from start to finish on my own at TV Time. The features on the mobile app can also be accessed on the website once a user logs in. The goal with this project was to understand who was using the website, why, and to run usability testing to get a baseline before a potential redesigning.
I began by communicating with the development team to get a list of active user emails on the TV Time website. I created a survey asking users their satisfaction with the web, SUS, how long they have used the website, tasks they performed on it, if they were aware of or used the mobile application, and used logic to ask similar questions to those who also used the mobile app. I then analyzed the results and created a report for the product team.
Preparing for the website usability testing was similar to preparing and testing for the movie tracking features in terms of recruiting. I screened and recruited 4 new users from userinterviews.com (and 2 backup users). I created a script of tasks for an hour usability session. Unlike mobile testing, I had to create a lab set up which would allow streaming but also give me viewing access of the user’s screen without looming over their shoulder. I created a new set up with two computer screens - one mirroring the user’s computer. I could stream the session while also watching their actions on another screen without having to sit behind them.
I ran 4 usability sessions on my own while communicating to the product team and taking notes. Similar to the other usability tests, we discussed between sessions. I was responsible for transcribing the whiteboard notes and recording and ranking the usability issues in a spreadsheet.
UI with Sketch and Zeplin
Other responsibilities I took on during my internship was helping the UX/UI Designer with prototyping (adobe XD), creating UI elements (Sketch), and organizing and uploading to Zeplin.