Cineview: Movie & TV Show Rating App
Cineview: Movie & TV Show Rating App
Cineview: Movie & TV Show Rating App
Amplifying the audience experience through a social media app
Amplifying the audience experience through a social media app
Amplifying the audience experience through a social media app
Role
Role
Role
Sole UI/UX Designer
Sole UI/UX Designer
Duration
Duration
Duration
Oct - Dec '25
Oct - Dec '25
Context
Context
For a final group project in an information organization course overseen by Prof. Chad Doran (UMD), students were tasked with creating an app that behaves as an information system based on metadata records. My group consisted of 4 other students, and I took on the designer role.
For a final group project in an information organization course overseen by Prof. Chad Doran (UMD), students were tasked with creating an app that behaves as an information system based on metadata records. My group consisted of 4 other students, and I took on the designer role.
Problem
Problem
While platforms like Letterboxd have given film enthusiasts a dedicated space to log and discuss movies, no equivalent exists for shows. Despite growing audiences, engagement for series remains a fragmented experience across platforms never built for that purpose.
While platforms like Letterboxd have given film enthusiasts a dedicated space to log and discuss movies, no equivalent exists for shows. Despite growing audiences, engagement for series remains a fragmented experience across platforms never built for that purpose.
Solution
Solution
We developed a social mobile app for logging films and shows, where users can rate, review, share favorite clips, and connect with a community that cares just as deeply about the stories unfolding on the small screen.
We developed a social mobile app for logging films and shows, where users can rate, review, share favorite clips, and connect with a community that cares just as deeply about the stories unfolding on the small screen.
Scope
Scope
UI/UX
Market
Research
Mobile
Design
Prototyping
UI/UX
Mobile
Design
Market
Research
Prototyping
Tools
Tools
Figma
Canva
After Effects
Impact
Impact
76% of Americans …
76% of Americans …
76% of Americans …
watch TV series on streaming platforms
watch TV series on streaming platforms
1,100+ new TV shows …
1,100+ new TV shows …
1,100+ new TV shows …
premiered in the U.S. in 2025 alone
premiered in the U.S. in 2025 alone
68% of Americans …
68% of Americans …
68% of Americans …
aged 18-24 discover new shows through social media
aged 18-24 discover new shows through social media
*Sources:
(June, 2026),
Core Features
Core Features
User-centric Homepage
User-centric Homepage
Personalized home screen with targeted recommendations in a Featured section and a feed consisting of posts from the users they follow.
Personalized home screen with targeted recommendations in a Featured section and a feed consisting of posts from the users they follow.
Global Leaderboard
Global Leaderboard
Friendly competition between friends, with global rankings featured in a leaderboard.
Friendly competition between friends, with global rankings featured in a leaderboard.
Personal Lists Page
Personal Lists Page
Create lists in addition to the standard Watch Later and Your Rankings.
Create lists in addition to the standard Watch Later and Your Rankings.
Ratings Feature
Ratings Feature
Rank movies or shows and rate specific seasons. Add commentary, favorite scenes, update lists, tag others, and add the date.
Rank movies or shows and rate specific seasons. Add commentary, favorite scenes, update lists, tag others, and add the date.
User Dashboard
User Dashboard
Dashboard displaying personal activity, where users can review information, see recommended content, and set a personal goal.
Dashboard displaying personal activity, where users can review information, see recommended content, and set a personal goal.
Content Information
Content Information
View movie/show information, featuring a brief summary, cast and crew, similar titles, watch platforms, and other information.
View movie/show information, featuring a brief summary, cast and crew, similar titles, watch platforms, and other information.
Research
Research
Market Comparison
Market Comparison
From the current market, we narrowed down the top performers and analyzed 20+ online forums for pain points and frustrations.
From the current market, we narrowed down the top performers and analyzed 20+ online forums for pain points and frustrations.
Key Insight
Key Insight
While apps like Letterboxd provide some of the social media aspect for interactive film ratings, it misses the large and growing market of TV show watchers.
While apps like Letterboxd provide some of the social media aspect for interactive film ratings, it misses the large and growing market of TV show watchers.
Design
Design
Initial Decisions
Initial Decisions
Design Basis
Design Basis
The first mockups were four frames demonstrating sorting and filtering processes as a class assignment.
The first mockups were four frames demonstrating sorting and filtering processes as a class assignment.
Feedback Received
Feedback Received
Add sorting features to the Browse section, the specific rating and an exit button to the Avatar frame, and labels to the global navigation.
Add sorting features to the Browse section, the specific rating and an exit button to the Avatar frame, and labels to the global navigation.
Design Rationale
Design Rationale
Question Asked
Question Asked
Should users rank specific episodes, seasons, or entire shows?
Should users rank specific episodes, seasons, or entire shows?
Decision
Decision
Feedback from stakeholders and online forums agreed that rating seasons is the best way to go. Episodes only portray pieces of the story while the quality and storyline of seasons can differ across the entire show. However, considering the app allows for rankings between shows, splitting each show into seasons would become too complicated. As such, I decided to allow for specific ratings of each season within a show for the user to see, and an overall ranking of its entirety available to the community.
Feedback from stakeholders and online forums agreed that rating seasons is the best way to go. Episodes only portray pieces of the story while the quality and storyline of seasons can differ across the entire show. However, considering the app allows for rankings between shows, splitting each show into seasons would become too complicated. As such, I decided to allow for specific ratings of each season within a show for the user to see, and an overall ranking of its entirety available to the community.
Ranking show
Rating Season
Movie info
Show info
Question Asked
Question Asked
How would the app display a show's information compared to a movie?
How would the app display a show's information compared to a movie?
Decision
Decision
To keep screens relatively consistent, but also display season and episode information without visual overwhelm, I decided to add a tab for seasons, allowing the user to click a season to display episode information.
To keep screens relatively consistent, but also display season and episode information without visual overwhelm, I decided to add a tab for seasons, allowing the user to click a season to display episode information.
Question Asked
Question Asked
Why target the social media aspect instead of critic authority and bias reduction?
Why target the social media aspect instead of critic authority and bias reduction?
Decision
Decision
While platforms like Rotten Tomatoes already have a strong industry and market influence with mainstream brand recognition, the shift in audience preference from theatrical viewings to streaming platforms has increased the demand for more collaborative and interactive elements online. CineView introduces functions like personal goals and global leaderboards to maximize engagement and create incentives.
While platforms like Rotten Tomatoes already have a strong industry and market influence with mainstream brand recognition, the shift in audience preference from theatrical viewings to streaming platforms has increased the demand for more collaborative and interactive elements online. CineView introduces functions like personal goals and global leaderboards to maximize engagement and create incentives.
Streaks and goals
Global leaderboard
Reflection
Reflection
Improvements
Improvements
Users pointed out that certain functions could be more intuitive. However, adding labels to everything would become overwhelming, so creating initial directions or a guide could be useful.
Users pointed out that certain functions could be more intuitive. However, adding labels to everything would become overwhelming, so creating initial directions or a guide could be useful.
Developments
Developments
Based on market frustrations, other functions that can be added include: location watched, notifications for new releases, and allowing users to favorite certain people they are following.
Based on market frustrations, other functions that can be added include: location watched, notifications for new releases, and allowing users to favorite certain people they are following.