Scaling Capabilities With Wondery
Web Application
Timelime
2020
Role
Senior UX Designer
Overview —
Wondery, known for its premium podcasts, needed to create a web application that extended its engaging audio experience into a seamless digital platform. The challenge was to design an intuitive and visually compelling interface that made content discovery effortless while supporting subscription management and increasing user engagement.
Outcome —
The final design featured a visually rich homepage, enhanced search and filtering capabilities, and seamless subscription management. The web application maintained a cohesive experience across desktop and mobile, with responsive layouts and interactive elements to enhance usability.
- Accessibility incorporated in a new web design system
- Modern design to have consistency with mobile app
- Custom audio player
- Enhanced filtering capabilities
- Responsive web
Results —
0.0
increase in user engagement
0.0
uptick in subscription conversions
Research —
User Behavior
Podcast listeners frequently switch between devices and value consistent, cross-platform experiences. Many users were frustrated by fragmented access to podcast episodes and subscription features.
User Needs
Users wanted easy navigation to discover new content, robust search and filtering options, and clear subscription management.
Competitor Analysis
Competitor platforms prioritized functionality but lacked the immersive storytelling aesthetic that aligns with Wondery’s brand identity, providing an opportunity to elevate Wondery’s unique positioning.
Ideation —
Initial concepts explored immersive homepage designs featuring dynamic podcast artwork and personalized recommendations based on user preferences. Sketches also emphasized prominent navigation for content categories like “True Crime,” “Business,” and “Kids.”
High-level flows mapped out key journeys, including discovering a podcast, starting a free trial, and managing subscriptions. The goal was to minimize friction and guide users seamlessly from discovery to engagement.
Insights —
Testing revealed that users loved the immersive visual experience but struggled with the filtering options for discovering new content. Based on feedback, we refined the filtering system to include multi-select filters and added a “Recently Played” section for quicker access to in-progress episodes.
Impact —
This project underscored the importance of balancing aesthetics with functionality. Designing for a multi-platform user base required meticulous attention to responsive design and user flows. The biggest challenge was maintaining Wondery’s premium storytelling aesthetic while delivering a scalable, user-friendly experience—a rewarding effort that highlighted the power of research-driven design.