4K Download
4K Download is a family of apps for downloading video and audio. We redesigned the interfaces of five apps for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu, developed user workflows and monetisation, and prepared concepts for new products. Later, we continued working on the website, subscriptions and checkout on a project basis. We created separate design systems for the apps and the website.
Services
- App UX and interfaces
- Redesign of five desktop apps, an in-app browser, a shared control panel and new user workflows.
- Web design
- Product pages, navigation, app overview and download steps.
- Subscriptions and monetisation
- Paywall experiments, plan selection, promotions, subscription activation and checkout.
- Design systems
- More than 100 components for the apps and a separate token-based website system with more than 60 components.
- Visual identity
- Visual identity refresh, app icons and graphics.
- Marketing design
- Product pages, email marketing, Google and Meta ad campaigns, social media, editorial materials and app store listing assets.
- New product directions
- Demand hypotheses and concepts for 4K Tokkit and 4K Image Compressor.
The apps and their reach
- people who have used the products in total
- >60m
- countries where people use the products
- 190
The interfaces of five apps had changed over many years. We brought screens and controls into a consistent form for Windows, macOS and Ubuntu while preserving each product's purpose.
More than 60 million people in 190 countries have used 4K Download products over time. These figures describe the reach of the product family, not the effect of one redesign.
Desktop applications
The main app window.
YouTube sign-in and download settings.
Video download settings.
Workflows and monetisation
We proposed an in-app browser and a shared control panel. The new features and workflows helped improve activation and retention.
In later project work, we also contributed to adding AI post-processing.
Empty states for video and audio.
The library of downloaded media.
New product concepts
By 2020, we had outlined demand hypotheses and core features for 4K Tokkit and 4K Image Compressor: who might need them and which problems they should solve. Our work at this stage covered the concepts; both products launched later.
Visual identity and design system
4K Download app icons.
App design system
We created a desktop app design system with more than 100 components. This shortened the UI release cycle from about three weeks to ten days.
Later, we used Figma and AI tools to reduce graphics preparation time from about five days to two.
Website and subscriptions
The 4K Download homepage.
The 4K Video Downloader Plus product page.
The app overview on the website.
Product pages and navigation
In later project work, we worked on the website: product pages, navigation, the app overview and download steps. This also included plan selection and checkout.
Together with developers, we created a separate token-based website design system with more than 60 components. Design handoff time fell by about 35%.
Feature cards.
The subscription selection page and promotional offer.
Subscriptions and checkout
Subscriptions were a new direction for 4K Download. We designed pricing cards, promotional screens and checkout for several apps with users in 190 countries. The work covered product pages, subscription selection and activation, and screens for long-term subscribers.
Subscription activation and checkout.
A screen for long-term subscribers.
Results
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Conversion in paywall experiments | 3% → 6.8% |
| App UI release cycle | About 3 weeks → 10 days |
| Website design handoff | Time reduced by about 35% |
| Graphics preparation — later, with Figma and AI | About 5 days → 2 days |
4K Video Downloader took first place in TechRadar’s list of free YouTube downloaders. It was also covered by PCMag and Digital Trends.
The Wikipedia article about 4K Download.
- Period
- 2012 — 2020
- Later work
- Project work on the website, subscriptions and AI post-processing
- Platforms
- Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, web