Cue the Reviews
In the spring of 2024, I was changed for good.
...And by that, I mean I became a huge Broadway fan (bonus points if you got the reference!). As I dove deeper into the theatre world, one thing became very apparent—Broadway fans lacked a centralized platform to share their opinions and discover authentic audience-generated reviews of the shows for each season. Existing review sources primarily consisted of critics and news outlets, which may not always align with the perspectives of everyday audience members. This gap in the community inspired the creation of Cue the Reviews—a dedicated space for audience members to express their thoughts on the shows that they've seen and learn from other fans.
user research
I surveyed Broadway enthusiasts to understand their review habits and what they value in a review platform.
Then, I created user personas to better understand the target audience, focusing on attributes such as generation, distance from New York, time availability, group size, and budget.
Lastly, I studied popular review platforms like Rotten Tomatoes, GoodReads, and Letterboxd to understand successful features and user expectations.
key insights
Users value easy access to audience reviews categorized by show.
Visual cues, such as star ratings and concise summaries, enhance usability.
A social, community-driven element adds trust and engagement.
ideation
After my research, I brainstormed features to address user needs, such as a searchable show database, audience reviews, and a rating system.
prototyping
First I created low-fidelity wireframes to visualize key user flows, including leaving a review and browsing shows.
Then I developed a high-fidelity prototype in Figma, showcasing an intuitive user interface that highlights audience reviews, show information, and star ratings.
the final product
final thoughts
What started as a fun passion project quickly became a deep dive into user research, UX/UI, and web development. It was interesting to explore how Broadway enthusiasts engage with reviews and then design an intuitive experience with those interactions in mind. From my early ideation to a high-fidelity prototype, this project was a fun and exciting opportunity to blend my love for design and theatre.
