Christian 
Rodriguez


I’m a Product Designer with a knack for tackling design challenges head-on, whether it's building a robust design system or belting out my favourite tunes at karaoke night.



Let's create something amazing together—preferably with a catchy soundtrack!

 

works (UXUI)
works (design)
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[ 01 ] Case Study: 
Enhancing User Engagement and Retention with the 7News Mobile App (iOS & android)

—Intro

7News, a leading news broadcaster, aimed to enhance user engagement and increase time spent on their mobile app. The project involved creating a comprehensive design system and developing apps for both iOS and Android platforms. The goal was to provide users with more touchpoints with the 7News brand, introducing three different newsletters, and integrating sports, video, and live blogs into a seamless user experience.

Objectives
  • Increase User Engagement: Develop features that encourage users to interact with the app more frequently.
  • Enhance Time on Site: Design the app to keep users engaged for longer periods.
  • Brand Touchpoints: Introduce new ways for users to connect with the 7News brand.
  • Comprehensive Content Integration: Amalgamate sports, video, and live blogs into the app




Original 7NEWS.com.au UI 
— Research and Analysis:
  • User Interviews: Conducted interviews with current app users to understand their preferences and pain points.
  • Competitive Analysis: Studied competitors' apps to identify best practices and areas for improvement.
  • Analytics Review: Analyzed existing app data to identify trends in user behavior and areas with high drop-off rates.


Blue sky designs of the 7NEWS UI.
Key Insights:
  • Users wanted more personalized content and regular updates.
  • Many users preferred accessing live updates and video content.
  • Sports enthusiasts desired a dedicated section for sports news and live scores.
  • A significant portion of users appreciated newsletters for keeping up with breaking news.

— Solution
  • Design System Creation:
Consistent Visual Language: Developed a unified visual language including color palettes, typography, iconography, and UI components to ensure a consistent look and feel across the app.
  • Reusable Components: 
Created reusable components to streamline the development process and ensure consistency across both iOS and Android platforms.

Feature development:
  • Personalized News Feed: Implemented a personalized news feed algorithm that curates content based on user preferences and reading history.
  • Enhanced Push Notifications: Introduced segmented push notifications to deliver relevant updates and breaking news, tailored to user interests.
  • Integrated Content: Seamlessly integrated sports news, live blogs, and video content into the app to provide a comprehensive news experience.
  • Three Newsletters: Launched three different newsletters catering to various user interests: Daily News Roundup, Breaking News Alerts, and Weekly Sports Highlights.

Newsletter Journey - Cloud Setting page, Wireframe templates designed in figma - then migrated into Salesforce CRM.

— User Engagement Strategies
  • Interactive Elements: Added interactive elements such as polls, quizzes, and comment sections to engage users actively.
  • Gamification: Introduced a gamification layer with rewards for regular usage and sharing content.
  • Live Updates: Enabled real-time updates for live blogs and sports scores to keep users engaged during live events.
  • Design and Development:
  • Prototyping and Testing: Created interactive prototypes and conducted usability testing to gather feedback and iterate on the design.
  • Cross-Platform Development: Developed the app for both iOS and Android, ensuring feature parity and optimal performance on both platforms.

— Outcomes

  • Increased Engagement: User engagement metrics showed a 40% increase in daily active users.
  • Longer Sessions: Average session duration increased by 35%, indicating users were spending more time on the app.
  • Higher Retention: The retention rate improved by 25% due to personalized content and regular updates.
  • Positive Feedback: Users responded positively to the new design and features, particularly appreciating the personalized news feed and live updates.

By creating a robust design system, integrating diverse content, and focusing on user engagement, the redesigned 7News mobile app has successfully increased (to date) user interaction, time on site, as well as user retention. 

The introduction of personalized newsletters, real-time updates (alerts & Edms), Sports fixtures, Matchcentres & Commercial content delivered straight to the user, has further strengthened users' connection with the 7News brand, making the app a go-to source for news and updates.



other work—