Mobile App · Dark UI · UX Research
Filmie — a streaming app with a dark, neon soul
A research-driven concept for an online cinema, built around the frustrations viewers actually have — hidden cancellation, weak search, no way to follow upcoming premieres — and wrapped in a bold dark visual language.
Overview
People pay for several streaming services, get charged after free trials they forgot about, and still can’t easily watch a movie in the original language. Filmie is my answer to “what would a streaming app look like if it respected the viewer?”
01 · Research
Learning from the big players
I audited Kinopoisk, HBO Max and Prime Video across 12 criteria — login, homepage, navigation, search, movie page, player, subscription management, in-app purchases, mobile and TV versions — and ran a user survey about viewing habits.
02 · Hypotheses
Three bets to test
01
Show the exit
People are more willing to try a service if they see how to cancel from the start.
02
Follow premieres
An “Upcoming premieres” list with reminders brings viewers back more often.
03
Skip the forms
Sign-in with Google, Apple or social accounts increases registrations.
03 · Visual language
Dark by necessity, neon by choice
Almost every streaming app uses black with orange, yellow or red. I kept the dark base — it is easier on the eyes on a TV at night — but gave Filmie its own identity: neon purple and teal, glass effects and retro cinema details.
04 · Solution
Designed around the viewer
05 · Testing
Usability testing
I ran moderated usability tests on the prototype with five tasks: log in, find a movie, save it to favorites, start watching, and manage account settings.
What I learned
- Participants completed the core flows intuitively — the navigation and movie page worked as intended.
- One participant looked for an action in account settings rather than the menu — a signal to group all account actions in one place in the next iteration.
Outcome
A tested high-fidelity prototype and UI kit for a dark, expressive streaming experience — and a reusable approach to dark UI: keep contrast high, use color as the accent, not the background.