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Design Principles

Keep it simple

When designing an app for TV, identify clear and simplified objectives on the screen for the user to understand. TV is a lean-back experience and users do not want to think about how to use the UI. This can be most easily achieved by sticking to the rule of "no more than two ideas on screen at a time." Overall screen layouts should be concessive as a whole. Choose larger objects and less clutter, fewer features and flatter hierarchy.

  • Identify clear objectives on screen and set clear expectations.
  • No more than two ideas on screen.
  • 10ft UI demands a simplistic experience
  • Do not over clutter screen real estate.
  • Fewer features, fewer complexities - lean back

Give it life

80% of the TV experience is about motion, sound, and highly immersive experiences. These are the experiences that dominate TV. When designing your app, consider how it will co-exist with immersive TV experience. Your UI should have hints of character and personality. The use of animation, transitions, color and an overall refined aesthetic can go a long way in making your UI feel delightful.

  • Use animation and transitions to create a more immersive experience.
  • Do not over clutter screens, use fewer features, fewer complexities

Make it personal

Discovering content is challenging, and users do not always know what they want to watch. Recommending content to users and making users favorite content easily accessible are key experiences users look for. Create experiences that allow users to curate, save and continually find the content they want and will enjoy.

  • Consider making recommendations
  • Allow users to like or favorite content
  • Use LG discovery to allow users to find the content they love easily.

Innovate but consider the current TV experience - People have expectations of their TV to provide an instantly-on entertaining experience. They expect the experience to be lean-back and uncomplicated.

Consistency matters

Your app will play an important part in keeping the overall webOS experience consistent and enjoyable.

Ask yourself...

Is the app consistent with webOS UI Patterns? Does it use controls, panels, and patterns correctly? Is the app consistent within itself? Does a text use uniform terminology and style? Do the same icons always mean the same thing? Do custom UI elements look and behave the same throughout the app?