Disney Plus MVP
Princesses, pirates, magic and pixie dust are all a big deal in my house, so when Disney+ was released last week we were all doing a little happy dance. We had no choice but to subscribe. Unlimited access to all things Disney and Pixar was our big sell, but the offering is much more robust and catered to a slough of aficionados. Those who love Star Wars, Marvel, National Geographic and more were also given unlimited access to all their favorites in one spot.
After using the system for about a week now, it’s been clear that they released a MVP, minimum viable product. In product design, we use this term to describe software that does not have all of the features it could have but accomplishes the minimum amount of functionality it needs to be released to the public.
To the common eye, someone who is not in the product design world or understand how systems get built, it could be frustrating. Why doesn’t Disney have all the same features as Netflix or Hulu? I mean, it’s Disney, they should be able to compete, right?
And I can confidently say the answer to that is right, just wait, they will.
Products cannot be built overnight. The massive effort required to build Disney+ is no small feat. The nerdy product designer in me is so eager to know all the ins and outs of how it all unfolded. (Anyone out there work on this project and want to chat? Call me.)
See, other providers like Netflix and Hulu and Amazon have been around the block a while now. Years. They have observed user behavior, they have tested user behavior, redesigns and new functionality, they have data. Lots and lots of data on how their users behave and are able to understand what they do while using their software and make strong assumptions about why. This is what makes their systems so intelligent, they read our minds. “Oh, that comedian I watched 3 months ago just released a new show? Look, there it is on my feed.” That wasn’t a thing until it was. Product managers, a team of designers, developers, etc. developed strategy, tactics, and implemented on evolving Netflix into what it is today. At first, we were delighted with the fact that we had this new feature (and any new feature for that matter) and now it’s become something expected. As users, we become accustomed to functionality over time, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily easier to build.
It’s clear to see after using the Disney+ that as users of other streaming media systems, we have become spoiled in our catered experience. I find it fascinating to see what Disney considered baseline, need-to have functionality and determined what could wait. And I’m so curious to see their sprint schedule.
Overall they have done a great job delivering on a (mostly) bug-free MVP. It’s clear the following features have been done well:
iPhone, iPad, and TV applications (that have a cohesive experience)
Functional, smooth playback of a multitude of titles
Robust search feature including keywords, character names, title names, etc.
Impeccable detail in design quality and precision
Browse by category, character, etc.
Simple, straight-forward navigation system
Hierarchical navigation based on subject/content vs. media type
The missing features and functionality glaring at me when I use the system include:
No “recently watched” category
No indication of the last title watched in a series or holding your place in a series
Suggested content feels random, not based on user data
Lack of multi-user settings and customized experiences per user
What are your thoughts on the release? Would you agree with their choices in terms of MVP functionality?
Update: Two days after writing this post, I’ve already peeped a new feature, they now have an indication of the last title watched in a series, (as predicted). Can’t wait to see what the full system will include 6 months from now!