Based on research insights, I established clear goals to guide the design process.
Reduce Decision Time: Help users find content in under 2 minutes instead of 10+
Emotion-Driven Discovery: Enable users to filter content based on their current mood state
Seamless Integration: Design a feature that feels native to Netflix's existing interface
Low Friction: Create an intuitive interaction that requires minimal cognitive effort
Increase Satisfaction: Transform browsing from frustrating to enjoyable
A mood-based recommendation feature that helps users discover content aligned with their current emotional state. By selecting mood tags, users receive personalized suggestions that match how they feel—turning choice overload into an enjoyable, intuitive experience.
Home Page
Mood Selection Page
Mood Selection Page
The users can choose the tags they like or type in what they want to watch. Users can also choose between Movies/TV Shows.
Mood Selection Page
Recommendation Page
Displays a curated title (e.g., Oldboy) with quick options: Play Now, More Info, or Try Another.
06 / Testing & Impact
Testing the prototype with real users revealed overwhelmingly positive responses and validated the design approach.
Testing Approach
I conducted moderated usability tests with multiple participants, observing them navigate the prototype while thinking aloud. Participants were asked to complete tasks like selecting a mood, reviewing recommendations, and taking action on suggested content.
"It feels like Netflix understands my mood. This is exactly what I've been wanting—something that gets how I'm feeling right now."
If implemented at scale, this feature could deliver significant benefits to both users and Netflix.
Reduce Decision Time: Decrease average browsing time from 10+ minutes to under 2 minutes, improving user satisfaction
Increase Engagement: More personalized recommendations lead to higher content satisfaction and viewing completion rates
Emotional Design: Introduce emotion-driven discovery to Netflix's recommendation ecosystem, differentiating from competitors
Reduce Abandonment: Minimize users leaving the platform without watching due to browsing frustration
Strengthen Loyalty: Create a more personal connection between users and the platform through mood-aware curation
07 / reflection
This project started because I was frustrated with spending too long choosing what to watch—and research proved most users felt the same way. It reinforced that the best design problems often come from our own lived experiences. When you solve authentically for yourself, you're likely solving for many others.
I explored many complex solutions—sliders, multi-dimensional mood maps, and detailed questionnaires. The winning approach was the simplest: tappable mood tags. This taught me to resist over-designing and trust that the most elegant solution is often the most straightforward.
This project reminded me why I love UX design: the opportunity to solve real human problems through thoughtful, empathetic solutions. Decision fatigue is universal, yet often overlooked. By focusing on emotion rather than just algorithms, we can create experiences that feel more human and personal. That's the kind of design that resonates.
