Product design for the NOS Winter Games Beijing 2022 platform. A refined, component-based experience across iOS, Android and web built on the existing NOS design system.
Winter Games Beijing
Product concept · UX Strategy · February 2022
For the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, NOS needed a dedicated digital platform, building directly on the work we had done for the Tokyo Summer Olympics the year before. The time difference challenge was familiar, the audience expectations were clear and speed skating as the heartbeat of Dutch Winter Olympics coverage was a known quantity. With a proven Olympic build and a solid component library from the freshly launched NOS products already in place, we could move faster and leaner. Less stakeholder management, less budget, less time. The system we had built was paying us back.
Design a dedicated Olympic experience across iOS, Android and web, covering live sport, highlights, medal standings and news.
The scope was deliberately right-sized for the Winter Games, a smaller audience and a tighter budget than Tokyo. The concept was proven. The task was to execute it well, with the right level of refinement.
Together with Dionne van Dijk, I was responsible for the complete design process. From concept and UX strategy through visual design, prototyping and presentations, working closely with the NOS Sport team and multiple development teams throughout.
Process
With the component library and framework from previous Olympic builds and the NOS redesign already in place, we could move fast without cutting corners. The shared foundation did much of the heavy lifting, allowing us to focus on what was specific to Beijing. The Games had been postponed due to Covid, which meant planning was uncertain for a long time. We worked in a highly agile way, staying prepared for shifting timelines without overbuilding. When the event was confirmed, we were ready. Navigating the NOS and NOC*NSF branding rules was again a challenge, but with experience from previous Olympic builds, we knew how to find the balance between compliance and quality.
What was new?
One meaningful addition was dual livestream support. When two Dutch medal chances were scheduled simultaneously, users could follow both at once, a practical feature made possible by the broadcasting rights NOS held for Beijing. The platform also included sport-specific livestream alerts and liveblog subscriptions, keeping users on top of a packed schedule without having to actively check in.
Results
A well-executed, right-sized platform delivered under challenging planning conditions. The product held the same quality bar as its predecessors and the team was proud of what we built.
Credits
This project was a team effort. I worked closely with Dionne van Dijk (digital designer) and collaborated across three large development teams who brought the designs to life.
Tools used:
Sketch
Miro
Lookback
Jira