BBC Sport app
UI Updates
Dark mode for the BBC Sport app had been a long sought after feature and request from both users and stakeholders. Whilst getting designs for this ready, the Sport app components and UI needed a refresh in light mode too.
This work has been shipped and is used by millions of users every day.
Timeline
6 weeks + pairing with devs
Role
UX Designer
The BBC Sport was only available to users in light mode, therefore designs needed to be created in preparation for dark mode availability.
At the same time, the apps components needed to be updated to the new internal App Design System which was made to ensure all BBC apps look consistent for users.
Problem
Working alongside another UX Designer, we split ownership across four key areas of the app — I led design for All Sport and Topic pages, while my colleague led My Sport and Settings. Although we worked independently day to day, we stayed closely aligned through regular syncs, bringing decisions and challenges to our Senior Designer whenever judgement calls needed to be made collaboratively.
Approach
Applying the App Design System
A core part of this project was updating custom, legacy UI components into native ADS components — improving consistency amongst our BBC apps while also making the app feel more native to the use.
On the Topic pages, custom-built buttons were replaced with native ADS buttons for both iOS and Android. The All Sport area saw a more significant update, with custom navigation replaced by native sub-navigation patterns — segmented controls (iOS) and tabs (Android) — and list styling updated to align with ADS standards.
Not every component existed off-the-shelf. The short-form posts on Topic pages required a new component entirely. I built this using the foundations of an existing ADS component, adapting it to support short-form content, and adjusting the background colour so the post stood out clearly against the page.
Platform differences also shaped key decisions — iOS and Android each offered different native options for elements like list styles and buttons, so I worked closely with the team to decide which approach best suited each platform while staying true to ADS principles.
Collaborating with Devs
Once designs were finalised, I created detailed handoff specifications covering every screen, with accessibility considerations clearly documented throughout. To ensure smooth delivery, I worked with the developers regularly and helped to answer any questions or talk through technical constraints. Once each area was built, I carried out UX reviews to check designs had been implemented accurately and that interactions behaved as intended.
Outcome
The redesigned UI and new dark mode shipped to the BBC Sport app soon after the designs were finished, and is now used by millions of users every day. Dark mode in particular was a long-awaited feature, and the response from users has been overwhelmingly positive.