UX / UI DESIGN
Spotify App Redesign
ROLE: LEAD DESIGNER AND RESEARCHER
TEAM: TJ AND ARIELLE
Project created as part of the Fashion Institute of Technology UX Design Certificate program. Performed competitive research, heuristic analysis, interviews, affinity map, persona, user journey map, and low to high fidelity wireframes took place throughout the development of the project. Each group focused on an app that needed improvements and developed solutions through detailed research. Throughout the development of the project worked on enhancing and editing the existing UX design based on user flows and needs.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
PROBLEMS
Analyzed the current issues within the app and discovered areas to improve the user experience. Conducted competitive analysis to better understand competing music streaming apps to measure strengths and weaknesses.
TASK FLOWS
After researching issues within the app, focused on four task flows that focus on changes. The new features enhance the users experience in discovering music and having more customized reccomendations.
WIREFRAMES
The wireframes show the new features in the app with customizable widgets, personalized recommendations based on users pattern, activity feed and a multi select option when creating playlists. These updates give the user recomendations more tailord to them, the opportunity to discover and share music within the app and customize their home screen.
SOLUTIONS
After analyzing and gaining a better understanding of users needs, we were able to create a more personalized experience. The customization, social features and multi select option were key improvements to fix the issues we discovered during research and the user testing porcess.
USER RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
LACK OF heirarchy
Sensory overload with options. The Home page is filled with too many options, many of which are not personalized to the user.
CONSISTENCY AND STANDARDS
Challenge: Lexicon lacks the consistency seen in other industries such as “RomCom” or “Drama” can lead user to not know what to expect from a playlist.
USER FREEDOM AND CONTROL
No flexiibility when it comes to editing pre-made playlists. There are also too many steps when editing playlists such as when adding multiple songs.
MISSING SOCIAL FEATURES
The mobile version of the app doesn’t have the interactive user portion like it does on the desktop. Doesn’t allow you to see friends activity or see playlists shared on their profile.
SOLUTIONS
EDITABLE WIDGETS
Allowing the user to add, remove and change the order of spotify music recomendations on their homescreen Giving the user the option to only see what they want to see and listen to.
PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS
Providing the user with a personalized section on the home screen with recommendations based on the users daily routine and time of day. Giving the user a better idea of what to expect on first glance.
SIMPLIFYING TASK FLOWS
Creating the option to select multiple songs when making playlists and giving the freedom to edit pre-made playlists curated by Spotify.
ADDED ACTIVITY FEED
Allowed users to see their activity feed, with access to it on the bottom nav. Created a separated friends listening activity section and an artists section to show music updates. Making it easier to share and discver music with friends.
PROBLEMS
LACK OF heirarchy
Sensory overload with options. The Home page is filled with too many options, many of which are not personalized to the user.
CONSISTENCY AND STANDARDS
Challenge: Lexicon lacks the consistency seen in other industries such as “RomCom” or “Drama” can lead user to not know what to expect from a playlist.
USER FREEDOM AND CONTROL
No flexiibility when it comes to editing pre-made playlists. There are also too many steps when editing playlists such as when adding multiple songs.
MISSING SOCIAL FEATURES
The mobile version of the app doesn’t have the interactive user portion like it does on the desktop. Doesn’t allow you to see friends activity or see playlists shared on their profile.
SOLUTIONS
EDITABLE WIDGETS
Allowing the user to add, remove and change the order of spotify music recomendations on their homescreen Giving the user the option to only see what they want to see and listen to.
PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS
Providing the user with a personalized section on the home screen with recommendations based on the users daily routine and time of day. Giving the user a better idea of what to expect on first glance.
SIMPLIFYING TASK FLOWS
Creating the option to select multiple songs when making playlists and giving the freedom to edit pre-made playlists curated by Spotify.
ADDED ACTIVITY FEED
Allowed users to see their activity feed, with access to it on the bottom nav. Created a separated friends listening activity section and an artists section to show music updates. Making it easier to share and discver music with friends.
WIREFRAMING OVERVIEW
TASK 1
SHARING SONGS WITH FRIENDS VIA THE ACTIVITY FEED
The activity feed which is a feature on the desktop is now on the mobile version, allowing users to explore and share music and friends within the app. This feature also has an activity section for the artists, showing upcoming and new releases.
TASK 2
CUSTOMIZE HOME WIDGETS
To make the app more catered to the users wants and needs, created editable home widgets. The home widgets are sections of music selections that the user can add, remove from the home screen display. This way the user always has options that they want on display.
TASK 3
PERSONALIZED DAILY ROUTINE TASK FLOW
The newly added section at the top contains a personalized greeting for the users, as well as recommendations. The personalized recommendations are based on the users routine throughout the day.
TASK 4
MULTIPLE SONG / PLAYLIST SELECTION
The current select song function only allos you to select one at a time, by having a multi select option, users are able to more efficiently creat and edit playlists.
A week after finalizing the project, Spotify came out with an update that is very similar to our prototype, with updated homescreen features. hmmmm coincidence??!!! I think not…kidding ofc. However, there are still many differences. Spotify’s update featured a new Good Morning / Good Evening section that takes you into your recent selections and commonly selected artists/playlists. Compared to our take on this but with more personalized routine selctions.
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