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Ui Design
Any TV

Overview

UI Design of a custom Operator Tier launcher built on top of Android TV. The project focused on designing a scalable product interface capable of supporting multiple operators.

Industry

TV Platforms · Streaming · Digital Products

Role

Product UI/UX Designer

Year

2019

Tools

Adobe XD

Zeplin

01

Problem Definition

Any TV is a custom Operator Tier launcher built on top of Android TV.
The project focused on designing a scalable product interface capable of supporting multiple operators while maintaining a consistent, intuitive experience across live TV, TV guides, and on-demand content.

Operator Tier launchers operate at the intersection of platform rules, product usability, and business scalability.

Unlike web or mobile products, TV interfaces rely on remote-based navigation, must support long-distance readability, and operate under strict interaction models defined by the platform. At the same time, operators require differentiation and brand presence.

The key product challenge was to design a launcher that:

  • Scaled across different operators without redesigning core flows
  • Supported multiple content types with distinct user expectations
  • Reduced friction in remote-based navigation
  • Maintained performance, clarity and predictability within Android TV constraints

This positioned the project as a product system design problem, not a screen-by-screen UI exercise.

02

Constraints & Guidelines

Several constraints informed every design decision:

  • Android TV Operator Tier guidelines defined navigation, focus behaviour and layout logic
  • TV viewing distance required larger type, spacing and stronger hierarchy
  • Content fragmentation (live TV, EPG, VOD) demanded differentiated interaction models
  • Performance limitations constrained visual complexity


Design trade-offs consistently balanced brand flexibility with system stability, prioritising usability and product coherence over purely aesthetic variation.

03

Strategy & Decision-Making Criteria

Design decisions were guided by three core product principles:

Content-Driven Structure

The launcher was structured around how users naturally consume TV content. Each content type — live TV, guide and on-demand — was treated as a distinct product flow with its own interaction logic.

Navigation Predictability Remote-based interaction requires consistency. Focus states, movement patterns and spatial relationships were standardised to reduce cognitive load and learning time.

System Adaptability
The UI was designed as a modular system, enabling visual customisation for different operators without compromising interaction logic or usability standards.

These principles ensured the product remained scalable, maintainable and user-centred.

04

Process

The project followed an iterative, product-oriented workflow with continuous design–development collaboration.

Discovery & Platform Understanding

An in-depth analysis of the brand’s journey, values, and audience relationship established the foundations for the new visual direction.

System Definition

Core layouts and interaction patterns were defined early to establish a stable foundation for navigation, focus behaviour and hierarchy.

Iteration & Validation

Design decisions were validated through implementation on real devices, allowing refinements to typography, spacing and focus behaviour based on real usage conditions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Design and development evolved together. Constraints surfaced during implementation informed design refinements, ensuring the final product remained technically feasible and performant.

05

UI & Interaction Design

Home Screen

Designed as the primary discovery surface, the home screen prioritises content visibility, clear hierarchy and fast access to key sections.

Navigation & Menu System

The navigation system supports predictable movement across the product, reinforcing orientation and reducing friction during repeated use.

TV Guide (EPG)

The EPG prioritises information density without sacrificing readability, enabling users to scan schedules efficiently and transition smoothly into content.

Linear TV & Channel Zapping

Interaction patterns ensure continuity and spatial consistency, helping users maintain context while switching channels.

On-Demand Content

Browsing patterns were optimised for remote interaction, balancing visual density with selection clarity.

06

Platform & Usability Considerations

TV product design introduces constraints that directly shape usability:

  • Focus-based interaction replaces direct manipulation
  • Visual hierarchy must support distance viewing
  • Motion and transitions reinforce orientation, not decoration


All UI components were designed with these constraints in mind, ensuring comfort, clarity and consistency over extended viewing sessions.

7

Key Outcomes

PRODUCT IMPACT

  • A reusable Operator Tier launcher system adaptable to multiple operators
  • Consistent interaction patterns across diverse content types
  • A UI framework aligned with Android TV standards while allowing brand differentiation


DESIGN VALUE
The project demonstrated the importance of system thinking and interaction consistency when designing products within platform-restricted environments.

8

Reflections

This project reinforced that TV interfaces function as long-term products, not static designs.

Success depended on disciplined decision-making, deep understanding of platform constraints, and close collaboration with engineering. Designing for Android TV highlighted how strong product foundations — structure, consistency and usability — create experiences that scale beyond a single client or brand.