
FOX VPS
Video Program Scheduling for linear and non-linear broadcasting
Technical Consultant
January 2020 - May 2020
- Methods
- Research, Strategy, Empathy, Design, Prototyping, Evaluation
- Tools
- Pen & Paper, SharePoint, Adobe XD, Salesforce, Jira
- Project Time
- 4 months
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
About the project
What is VPS? The Video Programming System (VPS) is an application used to program and schedule shows on Fox’s television network and broadcast stations. After a decade of in-house development, Fox embarked on a modernization initiative to transition the legacy VPS to the SaaS cloud platform, Salesforce. The primary goals were to enhance the experience by replacing the outdated custom built application and reduce maintenance and support costs. I was brought in to provide solutions to the challenges of replacing a legacy system while addressing the daily pain points experienced by its users.
My Role
As the onsite UX Lead, I was responsible for driving a user-centered design process within an Agile framework. My tasks included creating visual artifacts, developing rapid prototypes, and delegating tasks to an offshore design team. I collaborated closely with the Fox VPS product team, Salesforce integration consultants, and LTI business analysts to translate complex workflows from the legacy VPS into a simpler, more intuitive interface using Salesforce’s Lightning Design System (SLDS).
Being onsite allowed me to directly engage with VPS users, gaining firsthand insights into their workflows, frustrations, and priorities. This close collaboration enabled me to make user-centered design decisions and align product features with both business and technical requirements. I also worked with business analysts to ensure that the user stories reflected real-world needs, facilitating seamless integration between design solutions and development efforts.
Given the offshore team’s location in India, I hosted remote scrum meetings nightly, ensuring clear communication and fostering teamwork across time zones. This approach built strong collaboration and allowed the offshore team to clarify doubts and progress on tasks efficiently.
Process
I led the design process within an Agile framework, using iterative cycles to refine deliverables until all requirements were met. My approach followed the double-diamond design model, which emphasized discovery and delivery phases to ensure a well-rounded solution.

Strategy
In Big Room Planning sessions, we applied discovery methods to understand the problems and identify priorities. These sessions helped us define a roadmap for the quarter and guide the design direction for the VPS modernization effort.









Discovery
FOX VPS Modernization
Our team focused on modernizing the VPS experience for Programming Coordinators, prioritizing the Program Module due to its central role in the workflow. We had to use Salesforce’s out-of-the-box or configurable objects whenever possible to streamline development, given the tight four-month timeline for delivering a minimally viable product (MVP).
Strategy & Discovery Highlights
- Align
- Align business requirements with Salesforce interaction patterns.
- Streamline
- Streamline the Programming Coordinator VPS workflow using Salesforce’s Lightning platform technology.
- Improve
- Identify areas of improvement as described by both users and business owners.
- Mobile
- Enable the use of VPS on mobile devices (Tablet and Phone).
Empathizing with Users
To better understand user needs, I conducted interviews with Programming Coordinators, gathering insights, pain points, and feedback. This data informed the design decisions and helped the product owner manage expectations while targeting key areas for improvement.

Journey Mapping
I developed a journey map to visualize how Programming Coordinators interact with VPS and their collaborators. This map highlighted key tasks, motivations, and pain points, guiding our efforts to streamline workflows and enhance collaboration.

Discovery
Initial assumptions were validated as the majority of the users primarily wanted to reduce the unnecessary UI clutter and streamline their workflow with VPS. Aside from working on their tasks, the need for collaborating with peers through the workflow lifecycle and having mobile accessibility to VPS was important.
Highlights
- Manage
- Create, read, update, delete (CRUD) programs or program modules.
- Lookup
- Search for existing programs, or modules to create new programs.
- Collaborate
- Share programs and request and receive feedback, comments, add editors and change owners.
- Approvals
- Submit program, receive feedback, comments and request approval for scheduling.
Information Architecture
I conducted a content audit to catalog all available modules and features in the legacy VPS application, accessing it under a Programming Coordinator role. Working with VPS support leads, I identified key areas for improvement and streamlined the system’s architecture.






Sitemap
To reduce cognitive load, I grouped related content and created a structured sitemap, validated through contextual inquiries with both users and business stakeholders. Collaborating with Salesforce Integration Consultants and Business Analysts, I ensured the sitemap aligned with both technical capabilities and user needs.



Design System Implementation
FOX Branding and Salesforce Lightning Design System (SLDS)
To maintain consistency and align with Fox’s branding, I customized Salesforce’s open-source Lightning Design System (SLDS). By leveraging the SLDS UI components and applying Fox’s design guidelines, I created Fox themed templates that adhered to best practices while ensuring a seamless brand experience.



Building the Structure
SLDS is a living open-source design system with reusable components support collaboration, reinforce branding, and provide a consistent look and user experience.
Wireframes
Using the FOX/SLDS design system, I quickly developed wireframes with annotated elements and task-specific modules. This rapid iteration allowed for early feedback from both business and technical stakeholders. I then built high-fidelity mockups to refine the visual design and further customize the UI components, providing a clear representation of the final product.
- 01.
- Global Elements
- 02.
- Dashboard/Home
- 03.
- Global Search Layout
- 04.
- Record Object Layout
- 05.
- Record Details Layout
VPS Design Artifacts
- 01.
- Dashboard/Home


- 02.
- Global Search Layout


- 03.
- Record Page Layout


- 04.
- Record Detail Page Layout




Learnings and Outcome
The project was delivered successfully within the tight timeline, meeting all objectives. Despite initial delays due to onboarding and the challenges of auditing an undocumented legacy system, I successfully applied discovery, empathy, and iterative design processes to create a user-friendly and efficient solution. Close collaboration with the Fox product team and receptive VPS users played a crucial role in the project’s success.
The main challenge was the time-intensive content audit, as the lack of documentation required extensive technical meetings to uncover system features and data points. This delayed some of the hands-on design work, but careful time management allowed us to stay on track.
I gained valuable insights into the television industry and the scheduling processes that affect the content we watch on TV daily without giving a thought what goes on behind the scenes. Thanks to our efforts, Fox’s Programming Coordinators can now schedule television content more efficiently, with the added flexibility of accessing the system on the cloud from any device.
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