HbbTV start bar for ZDF
Qvest developed a clear and structured UI/UX design that simplifies access to ZDF’s HbbTV apps. Slowly appearing pop-up notifications improve orientation and guide viewers directly to key features.
Customer Challenge & Needs
The start screen of ZDF’s HbbTV apps combines live TV, restart, media libraries, and recommendations.
Surveys showed that many viewers struggled to process the information within the short display time. Most used the menu mainly to restart programs and ignored editorial recommendations.
Text and visual elements were not well aligned with this behavior.
Our Contribution & Solution
1. New HbbTV app portal – access to ZDF apps
User Benefits:
- Clear and consistent UI/UX across all ZDF apps
- Distinct separation between app access and editorial content
- Fast and reliable usability across low and high performance devices
The new interface gives users a focused entry point into the HbbTV environment and improves navigation between live, restart, and on-demand content.
2. Color key pop up notifications
User benefits:
- A timed sequence of pop-ups gives users more time to read and react
- Texts and visuals are clearly structured and easy to understand
- Each pop-up is color-coded to signal its function quickly
Logic of Interaction:
- Live Program: When tuning in, users see the live program. The blue button restarts the current show.
- Catch-up Content: If the live content is not relevant, the red button opens the media library.
- Recommendations: The green button highlights curated lean-back content for a relaxed viewing experience.
This concept delivers a consistent user flow and reduces stress during navigation.
