YouTube Shorts: UX & Ergonomics

The Brief

As YouTube Shorts expanded its creator toolkit, my team was tasked with evaluating the mobile recording interface to identify friction points that could disrupt the creative flow for creators, specifically university students. What started as a broad ask to understand young creator flows turned into an unexpected analyzation of ergonomics

The Intersection of UX and Ergonomic Research

Through a series of usability tests, I identified a significant "reachability gap" within the primary UI. My research revealed that users were forced to frequently break their natural grip to reach top-of-screen tools, such as the "Add Music" button. I synthesized these findings into a gesture-based audit, highlighting how interface layout directly impacts physical strain and task completion speed.

Strategic Delivery

I presented these ergonomic insights to Silvia Vergani, a Senior UX Design Manager at YouTube. By focusing on the intersection of physical human factors and digital interface design, I demonstrated the ability to provide high-level, actionable feedback for a product serving billions of global users.

One of my favorite ways I’ve gotten creative with UX research was laptop hugging. Laptop hugging is a resourceful way to record participants’ screens, and it’s been leveraged by teams at Google, Meta, and Mailchimp to name a few.