Garrett Lawson

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Garrett Lawson

Garrett Lawson

Contact Me

HBO MAX

HBO MAX

HBO MAX

HBO creates some of the most talked‑about shows in culture, yet the conversations they spark almost always happen off‑platform.

HBO creates some of the most talked‑about shows in culture, yet the conversations they spark almost always happen off‑platform.

This project explores how HBO Max could host that engagement natively—giving viewers a place to react and connect while preserving the platform’s cinematic, premium experience.

This project explores how HBO Max could host that engagement natively—giving viewers a place to react and connect while preserving the platform’s cinematic, premium experience.

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Role: UX/UI Designer

Tools: Figma, Whimsical, Figjam


Timeline: 4 Weeks

Scope: Feature Concept,

UX Strategy, Interaction Design

Role: UX/UI Designer

Tools: Figma, Whimsical, Figjam


Timeline: 4 Weeks

Scope: Feature Concept,

UX Strategy, Interaction Design

Problem

Problem

Problem

HBO Max lacked a way for viewers to engage in-platform, pushing discussion to Reddit, group chats, and social media.

Research / Insights

Research / Insights

Research / Insights

What I Did

What I Did

What I Did

  • Conducted user interviews

  • Analyzed behavior across Youtube, Reddit, Netflix

  • Identified risks (spoilers, toxicity, noise)

Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

  • Insights revealed people dont want spoilers, trolls or nonsense.

  • This could work if it doesn't feel like another social app.

  • Timestamped reactions could be beneficial so people can comment in real time.

Solution

Solution

Solution

To design an opt‑in, HBO‑native interaction model that protects the cinematic experience while giving viewers a safe way to engage when they choose.

To design an opt‑in, HBO‑native interaction model that protects the cinematic experience while giving viewers a safe way to engage when they choose.

  • AI‑moderated to maintain safety, reduce noise, and prevent spoilers

  • Timestamped reactions so discussions stay anchored to specific moments

  • Viewer‑controlled toggles that let people turn comments on, off, or filter by relevance

  • Built for HBO’s brand, prioritizing narrative integrity over social‑feed behavior

WIREFRAMES

WIREFRAMES

WIREFRAMES

Early wireframes exploring how in‑player interactions appear, disappear, and adapt between portrait and landscape to keep the viewing experience immersive.

Early Concepts

Early Concepts

Early Concepts

We explored more experimental ideas—like moment‑based reactions and AI‑assisted highlights—to understand the full range of possibilities. These concepts helped surface key constraints around complexity, brand fit, and user control.

User Testing & Insights

User Testing & Insights

User Testing & Insights

We tested the interaction flow and feature set with five participants to understand how commenting should feel within the HBO's viewing experience. This round clarified the core principles the final design needed to uphold: simplicity, control, and a watch‑first experience.

Positive Outcomes

  • Core commenting interactions felt intuitive and non‑disruptive

  • A clearer entry point increased confidence to engage

  • Minimal UI aligned better with HBO's brand feel

Areas for Improvement:

  • Real-time reactions felt distracting during viewing

  • Real-time reactions felt distracting during initial viewing

  • AI-generated features added unnecessary complexity

  • Users wanted comments to feel optional, not social-media-like

  • Users wanted comments to feel optional, not social-media-like

I began this project assuming that more features and newer technologies would create a richer experience, but research showed that simplicity delivered more value for both users and the HBO brand.

Reflection

This work also taught me to treat restraint as a strategic choice, not a limitation, and to defend simplicity with evidence rather than preference.

The hardest part was letting go of what I envisioned and honoring what users actually needed — a shift that ultimately made the product stronger and clarified the role of testing in my process.

Final Concepts

Final Concepts

Final Concepts

Portrait mode keeps conversation beneath the content so it never competes with the viewing experience. Users can choose to engage or ignore it.

Landscape mode prioritizes uninterrupted viewing, with comments tucked away behind a single CTA so the cinematic frame stays clean.

Across both modes,the interface is minimal and
brand‑aligned, reflecting user feedback that simpler, non‑social‑feed interactions felt more natural for HBO.

Across both modes,the interface is minimal and
brand‑aligned, reflecting user fedback that simpler, non‑social‑feed interactions felt more natural for HBO.

Reflection

I began this project assuming that more features and newer technologies would create a richer experience, but research showed that simplicity delivered more value for both users and the HBO brand.

This work also taught me to treat restraint as a strategic choice, not a limitation, and to defend simplicity with evidence rather than preference.

The hardest part was letting go of what I envisioned and honoring what users actually needed — a shift that ultimately made the product stronger and clarified the role of testing in my process.

Next Steps

  • Validate reader-first behavior at scale

Understand how often viewers open comments versus post, and whether the current hierarchy supports HBO’s lean-back, cinematic experience without introducing noise.

  • Refine moderation and controls through real usage

Evaluate whether comments enhance engagement, increase return visits, or risk distracting from the core experience of watching.

Featured Work

Next Case Study: Moonmaid

Next Steps

  • Validate reader-first behavior at scale

Understand how often viewers open comments versus post, and whether the current hierarchy supports HBO’s lean-back, cinematic experience without introducing noise.

  • Refine moderation and controls through real usage

Evaluate whether comments enhance engagement, increase return visits, or risk distracting from the core experience of watching.

Featured Work

Next Case Study: Moonmaid

Reflection

I began this project assuming that more features and newer technologies would create a richer experience, but research showed that simplicity delivered more value for both users and the HBO brand.

This work also taught me to treat restraint as a strategic choice, not a limitation, and to defend simplicity with evidence rather than preference.

The hardest part was letting go of what I envisioned and honoring what users actually needed — a shift that ultimately made the product stronger and clarified the role of testing in my process.

View Full Case Study

View Prototype

Next Steps

  • Validate reader-first behavior at scale

Understand how often viewers open comments versus post, and whether the current hierarchy supports HBO’s lean-back, cinematic experience without introducing noise.

  • Refine moderation and controls through real usage

Evaluate whether comments enhance engagement, increase return visits, or risk distracting from the core experience of watching.

Featured Work

Next Case Study: Moonmaid