Overview
The overall goal of this design was to understand how users interact with music apps and identify the challenges they encounter. One key issue that emerged was the difficulty in finding songs that match their current mood. To address this, I designed a 'Mood Button' feature that helps users easily discover music based on how they’re feeling.
Interviewee 1
"I listen to music on a daily basis—it helps me get through the day and sets the tone for having a good day."
Interviewee 2
"I listen to music once a week; it’s a way for me to relax and enjoy some downtime when I have the chance."
Audience
To develop a new feature that would better serve users, I sent out a survey to my community. After gathering a wide range of responses, I was able to create a concept that was informed by how frequently users listen to music, allowing me to tailor the feature to their listening habits
Skills
UX Design
Visual Design
App usage
Based on the data, I found that many users listen to music frequently throughout the month. This insight highlighted the need for the mood function to be easily accessible, ensuring users can quickly find music that suits their mood whenever they need it
Interviewee 3
"I don’t listen to music often, but when I do, it’s usually to help me relax or focus while I'm working on something specific.
Barriers
Some challenges that were identified include users having difficulty finding specific songs, or encountering issues with the shuffle function repeating songs, making it harder to enjoy their playlists. Additionally, some users mentioned that they don’t listen to music often because they struggle to find songs or playlists that consistently match their mood especially when it comes to a specific artist they like to listen too.
Interviewee 1
"I have trouble finding the right mood for a specific artist because their songs all have such different vibes. One song might be upbeat and energizing, while the next could be really mellow, so it’s tough to find a playlist that captures the full range of their music."
Interviewee 2
"The shuffle function never really seems to shuffle properly. It ends up playing the same songs over and over, which makes it less enjoyable to listen to my playlists."
Work Flow
Wire Frames
Interviewee 3
"I often have trouble finding a playlist that matches my mood. It feels like I spend more time searching than actually enjoying the music, and sometimes nothing seems to fit the vibe I'm going for."
Software
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Photoshop
To develop a new feature that would better serve users, I sent out a survey to my community. After gathering a wide range of responses, I was able to create a concept that was informed by how frequently users listen to music, allowing me to tailor the feature to their listening habits
Home Screen
Experimental
When designing the Home Screen, I focused on simplicity and ease of use. I surveyed users to understand their favorite features, and the final design incorporates their feedback and additional research to better align with their needs.
Artist page
When designing the Artist Page, I incorporated feedback from the surveys to ensure the layout met user preferences. While the overall design remained similar to previous iterations, I made a key addition: the 'Mood Play' button was placed next to the standard play button.
Experimental
Final
Final
Features
Based on the survey results, the most used feature was 'Recently Played,' so I made sure to include it on the home page, organized by the “Top artists” users had listened to. By making it easily accessible, I aimed to help users quickly revisit their favorite tracks, offering a more seamless and personalized listening experience.
Screens
The Home Screen and Artist Page closely followed the wireframes and Spotify’s current style, keeping the design straightforward to make it easier for users to find their favorite artists. On the Artist Page, I placed the Mood Button next to the Play Button, giving users the option to choose how they want to experience the music.
Mood Play
Artist page
Each mood screen features a custom-designed wallpaper that reflects the mood, while keeping the design simple enough to adapt to any artist the user selects. The screen curates songs from any album by the artist, as long as they match the chosen mood, offering a personalized and immersive listening experience.
Home Screen