Introduction
Story Studio is the first app to officially operate outside of the Snap ecosystem, designed exclusively for mobile video editing on the Snap platform.
Its primary purpose is to generate a limited supply of high-quality Spotlight content for Snap, driving engagement, setting trends, and inspiring lower-intent creators
Objective
Research & Audit
While conducting the audit and competitor analysis, I identified multiple pain points and areas of focus, which were addressed and validated through user testing. These key areas encompass the following:
Reducing high cognitive load in the timeline
Enhancing the navigation user experience (UX)
Clarifying thumbnail and composition time confusion.
Optimizing the timing elements in a project.
The Plan
A collaborative strategy had been devised in conjunction with the product manager and the team, focusing on both short-term and long-term enhancements. This plan had prioritized business requirements, user experience, and technical urgency to ensure optimal results.
Short Term Wins
The suggested improvements that were proposed included:
Revising the timeline structure and interactions to reduce cognitive load
Presenting clip length, layers, and captions more effectively to enhance visual hierarchy
Refining the "tap to play" functionality to prevent accidental activation
Implementing an undo/redo feature for increased user convenience
Enabling users to trim clips prior to importing them onto the main timeline
Long Term Goals
Summary
Despite Story Studio's development being put on hold due to shifting business priorities, the app holds the potential for elevating the Snap platform and fostering creativity gathered from the positive feedback.
The designs and improved UX, informed by user testing and analysis, significantly enhanced the overall experience. Working closely with the team has been instrumental in identifying and addressing key improvement areas.
As development resumes, this collaborative approach and the insights gathered will play a crucial role in shaping the app's future and impact on the Snap ecosystem.
