Making a 360º Menu User-Friendly

The team behind NYC Values has a knack for innovation. We knew our site had to stand out from the very beginning. Not just in terms of content quality, but user experience. We wanted something interactive. That’s where our 360º menu comes in.

The 360º menu is the user interface where users can access our six video stories. It surrounds you with characters. It immerses you in the project. But most 360º videos today place users in one setting, a single video that circles around you.

Our menu, though, has six videos. Stitching them together was a technical challenge. So was mapping the audio, so that what you hear reflects where you’re looking. But another challenge was making the menu user-friendly.

360º video is a new technology most people are not yet accustomed to. Some people are throw off by it. Some don’t even realize the video can move — and that’s just when a single image is shows. So how do we use an innovative technology and push its boundaries, without leaving users in the dark?

We make it easy to understand. When you get to the menu, you’ll see a small graphic explaining how to navigate. It’s simple: you use the arrows on your keyboard. Look in any direction you want. Left or right, even up and down.

NYC Values launches later this month. Until then, like us on Facebook to join the conversation.