# UX Review — Sprint 4

## What was unclear in the screenshots / current UI

- The dashboard read too much like a broad admin panel: many blocks had similar visual weight, so the next creator decision was not obvious.
- Recent prepared packages used grey placeholder thumbnail boxes, which made the workflow feel fake even when real videos existed locally.
- The Inbox defaulted to a table-like batch management mindset. It was useful for operators, but not friendly for daily creator review.
- Review Page was functional but technical: video, metadata, checklist, learning context and decision buttons did not clearly answer “what do I need to approve now?”
- Calendar cards had placeholder blocks and not enough visual connection to the actual video.
- Analytics had become useful, but it risked dominating the workflow before prepared package review felt real.

## Layout decisions changed

- Dashboard top section is now limited to three focus areas:
  1. Next approval
  2. Today’s queue
  3. Performance pulse
- Recent prepared packages now shows only the latest three videos with thumbnails, captions/descriptions and a single Review CTA.
- Dashboard headings are smaller and less theatrical; spacing is tighter and hierarchy is clearer.
- Inbox default is now a hybrid card/list row:
  - thumbnail left
  - title and description/caption previews center
  - compact actions right
- Table View remains available, but it is secondary, compact and scrollable.
- Review Page now starts with Video Preview + Ready Checklist, then platform metadata, then context. This matches the actual approval decision.
- TikTok and YouTube metadata previews are visible together; tabs only select the editing focus.
- Decision Bar is reduced to workflow actions: Save changes, Mark ready, Approve private upload, Schedule, Needs changes.

## Areas deliberately reduced

- Analytics was not expanded further in this sprint. It is integrated lightly through linked/unlinked status and small learning context, but not allowed to overwhelm the normal video workflow.
- Dashboard action queue is capped at four items to avoid turning the cockpit into a task dump.
- Recent packages are capped at three to keep the dashboard scan-friendly.
- Inbox table columns were reduced. Performance is not shown as a giant default table concern unless analytics is linked.
- Calendar remains list/slot based rather than drag-and-drop. Drag/drop before reliable scheduling would be theatre, and not even good theatre.

## What remains open

- Analytics mapping UI needs a real drawer/table to link external YouTube CSV rows to prepared packages and topics.
- Audit Log and Metadata Version History need real per-package event and diff display.
- Calendar reschedule UI needs real save/update behavior.
- Account selector needs real connected account data once provider setup is resumed.
- Thumbnail quality can be tuned further after more real package imports are reviewed.
- CSV import preview is now robust with PapaParse, but manual column mapping is still future work.