In this blog post, part 3 of the series of 3 blogs around the topic, and this time from the designer's perspective, we'll guide you on an engaging exploration of the design process that led to the Castit CMS redesign.

From preserving the existing brand identity to incorporating innovative features, each detail of the redesign was carefully designed to meet the changing demands of our clients. We’ll offer you an in-depth insight into the design principles and the improvements that render the new Castit experience remarkable.

Learn about the specifics as we reveal the reasons for maintaining essential functions, simplifying the interface, updating the visual design, and implementing enhanced features. Understand how the focus on users, ongoing prototyping, and regular feedback influenced the end result—a digital signage CMS that meets the newest industry standards.

 * New Castit activation screen

Maintaining the Established Brand and Functionality 

As we started the redesign process, one of our main focuses was to maintain the essential identity and familiarity that our customers were used to. We maintained the established user interface components, including the color scheme, layout designs, and key features, guaranteeing a smooth transition for our users. This allowed us to build upon the existing brand recognition and user familiarity, making the upgrade process more intuitive and comfortable for our long-time Castit customers.

Identifying the Need for Standardization 

Our analysis revealed that many of the CMS features were either hidden or exceptionally difficult for users to discover and access. The system had evolved over the years, with functionalities being added ad hoc without a coherent plan for user experience and interface standardization. This resulted in a chaotic organization with tabs, cards, and menus that lacked a consistent flow. For example, users would often struggle to find the "Payment" functionality, as it was buried within multiple levels of submenus.

* Old vs. New design of the Settings functionality and access to Payments module

Redesigning the Core Experiences 

To address these issues, we set out to create a more streamlined and intuitive interface. One of the primary focuses was on the Screens and Playlists modules. We started redesigning these core components, making it significantly easier for users to create, schedule, and manage their digital signage content. 

In the new Screens module, users will be able to directly create and customize the content for each screen, adding images, text, and other elements on the spot without having to navigate through multiple steps. Similarly, the Playlists functionality will be refined, allowing users to easily schedule any item, application, or playlist to be displayed on their screens.

Another key area of focus is the Slide Creator, which we’ll transform into a mini Canva-like graphic editor. This new module empowers users to design captivating slides directly within the CMS, with access to a template engine, image libraries, and even AI-powered image generation capabilities. Users will be able to quickly create visually striking content without having to rely on external design tools.

* Newly redesigned Slide Creator and one of it's options "shapes"

Modernizing the User Interface 

To bring a fresh, modern look and feel to the CMS, we will adopt a card-based layout system. This organization method provides users with a clearer hierarchy of information, making it simpler to navigate and locate the desired functionalities. For example, the "Apps" section now features a card-based view, where each digital signage app instance can be easily accessed and configured with its own unique settings.

Moreover, we will create a new, standardized icon font to improve the visual uniformity throughout the whole platform. This will guarantee that the user interface components, like buttons and menu items, maintain a unified and sleek look, enhancing the overall sophistication and professional aesthetics of the CMS.

* Castit Apps function with Youtube video setting

Integrating Advanced Features 

In the redesign process, we will also include multiple advanced features to enhance the Castit experience. This entails the incorporation of online payment processing via Stripe, enabling users to effortlessly handle their subscriptions and transactions within the CMS. With this updated feature, users will be able to easily upgrade their plans, renew their subscriptions, and also buy extra services right from the Castit platform.

We will also include AI-powered image creation and text-to-image capabilities, allowing our users to generate visuals with little effort. Leveraging the latest advancements in AI technology, users will be able to produce unique, high-quality visuals to improve their digital signage content, eliminating the need for specialized design skills or separate image editing software.

Moreover, we have facilitated direct connections with well-known free image repositories, including Unsplash and Pixabay. This enables users to effortlessly explore and integrate various visuals into their digital signage content, thus broadening the creative options available on the platform.

Creating for Functionality and Effectiveness

To guarantee the effectiveness of the redesign, we adopted a user-focused strategy during the entire process. We developed a working prototype in Figma, our preferred design tool, which acted as a collaborative center for our development team. This enabled us to evaluate the new interface and collect feedback from our current clients and resellers, confirming that the redesign fulfilled their requirements and offered an improved user experience.

A significant enhancement in the revamped CMS is the restructured Settings section. By breaking down the settings into distinct and comprehensible units, users will effortlessly adjust each feature to meet their individual needs. For instance, the "Screens" settings now feature a dedicated area, allowing users to modify aspects such as screen resolution, orientation, and scheduling options.

Furthermore, the updated Dashboard function will offer users essential insights, such as data on screen utilization, trending content, and the most recent news and updates. This centralized information center enables Castit users to remain updated and make data-backed choices regarding their digital signage plans.

* Castit new CMS Dahsboard look

Conclusion 

The redesign of Castit CMS has been and is a very rewarding experience, fueled by our dedication to providing a smooth, user-friendly, and aesthetically pleasing digital signage platform. By preserving the defined brand elements, standardizing the interface, and incorporating cutting-edge features, we will develop a CMS that fulfills the changing demands of our clients 

As developers of this project, we take pride in what our team has achieved, and we’re eager to witness how our users will welcome the new Castit experience. Once it goes live, we encourage you to check out the revamped CMS and provide your thoughts as we work to improve and develop the platform for the digital signage community.

Note: You can check previous blog posts from a business and technical perspective.