Efan Song

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Redefining How We Engage With Filmmakers

Project Overview

Unscene is a cross-platform experience that brings audiences closer to the filmmaking process. By offering curated discussions, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive storytelling, Unscene rekindles the communal spirit of film appreciation.

Team Members
Freeda Zhang

Role	Timeframe	Team Members
UI/UX Designer	36 hours	Freeda Zhang

Role	Timeframe
UI/UX Designer	36 hours

CONTEXT

A creative prompt with endless possibilities

During UX Laurier's annual designathon, I partnered with a fellow designer to tackle a vague prompt. With such an open-ended challenge, we explored various creative industries before settling on film: a medium we felt deeply resonated with the topic.

THE PROBLEM

Filmmakers and movie-goers exist in separate worlds

Movies are a globally loved art form often consumed without conversation. We saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between creators and audiences.

When do buyers get stuck?

USER RESEARCH

Why do film fans feel disconnected from the creative process?

We conducted research through personal experiences in the film and media space and identified several barriers to audience engagement:

We created an empathy map to understand film enthusiasts

By visualizing their emotions, we were able to surface key gaps that Unscene aims to solve.

Our empathy map revealed that this disconnect does not stem from a lack of interest but from a failure in infrastructure. This insight shifted the direction of our product; Unscene is not focused on delivering more content, it is about creating pathways that support interpretation and appreciation.

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

What about Letterboxd? We examined products with similar features

These platforms treat film as a finished product to be analyzed, rather than a creative process. The emphasis on consumption leaves audiences disconnected from creator decisions, challenges, and inspirations that shape the films they love.

IDEATION

Designing pathways with an emphasis on creator interactions

We drafted out a user flow chart to visualize how users will navigate through our product.

WIREFRAMES

Multi-modal engagement methods that cater to user preferences

Since film appreciation happens across various contexts, we introduced features that accommodate different styles of engagement (Watch, Listen, Chat, and Read). This flexibility allows users to browse Unscene in both dedicated exploration time and casual discovery moments.

FINAL DESIGN

Unscene: Connect with the minds behind your favourite movies!

Four Modes of Engagement

Flexible content consumption through Watch (exclusive interviews and BTS), Listen (podcast with question prompts), Read (magazine-style articles and annotated screenplays), and Chat (community discussions).

Flexible content consumption through Watch (interviews and BTS), Listen (podcast with question prompts), Read (articles and annotated screenplays), and Chat (community discussions).

Seamless Onboarding & Interest-Based Discovery

Upon logging in with your student ID, select up categories that reflect your passions, and instantly discover and join relevant clubs at your university.

Optimized for all devices

Experience seamless content switching with mobile-first design that maintains your progress across all four engagement modes.

Onboarding & Interest-Based Discovery

Upon logging in with your student ID, select up categories that reflect your passions, and instantly discover and join relevant clubs at your university.

IMPACT & TAKEAWAYS

Becoming top 6 finalists after a very memorable weekend

Unscene was one of my earliest ventures into product and there is so much I would do differently now. However, I had a lot of fun exploring the creative prompt and pulling all-nighters in the cafeteria with one of my best friends (shoutout to Freeda <3).