Naro tv
2023
Naro
Core Product Lead
My Impact
As the Core Product design owner, I defined the direction and delivery steps to prioritize customer needs effectively. I collaborated closely with the Creative Director to maintain consistency between the brand and product experience. My work extended to influencing the design system, introducing multiple patterns based on testing within the product.
In addition to the core product experience, I took on the homepage design, fostering cross-pollination of ideas between product and marketing. I also contributed to the conversion strategy, ensuring a seamless connection between engagement and business goals.
Background
Naro is a startup dedicated to offering immersive video journeys through Japanese culture. Each course is led by Japanese masters who have never shared their expertise before, aiming to inspire, educate, and provide fresh perspectives. I joined in the early phases of product definition, shaping the MVP to establish a solid foundation for growth.
Goal
My focus was on the Core Product and viewing experience, ensuring it aligned with the brand’s premium positioning while highlighting the beauty of the crafted videos. The design needed to be scalable to accommodate future functionality, fostering connections through inspiring content. Additionally, parts of the website at key customer touchpoints—such as the homepage—required resolution before launch.
Challenge
As with all early-stage projects, balancing immediate shipping priorities with the long-term vision was critical. I navigated between feasibility and aspiration, optimizing each step to support the broader direction.
Solution
The result was an elegant yet vibrant web app with a minimal UI that kept users fully immersed in their viewing experience. The player MVP facilitated seamless navigation while ensuring uninterrupted viewing, with controls that remained unobtrusive in the background.
The homepage introduced Naro’s mission and celebrated the courses by showcasing the value and versatility of the masters. Playful accents of color reflected the uniqueness and vibrancy of the teachers and their content, aligning with the brand’s creative direction. We tested multiple layouts across different markets to refine clarity, appeal, and conversion performance, ensuring the design resonated with users while driving conversion.
