The Live Tune app will provide music lovers with a platform to get albums available for pre-order easily and have a chance to customize their orders with merchandising like vinyl and apparel.
PROJECT DURATION
February - May 2024
MY ROLE
Lead UX/UI designer designing an album pre-order app from conception to delivery.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.
THE PROBLEM
Music lovers lack the time to get their favorite artist's new album before it sells out. Their loved ones have the same issue, so they get frustrated by missing out on giving them a great gift.
THE GOAL
Design an app that allows users to easily pre-order albums and customize their order with merchandising for themselves or their loved ones.
the project
SUMMARY
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I'm designing for and their needs, A primary user group identified through research was working adults between the ages of 20 and 64, who don't have time to check if their favorite artist's new album is released before it sells out.
This user group confirmed initial assumptions about music lovers, but research also revealed that time was not the only factor keeping users from getting the albums they wanted. Other user problems included the lack of variety of music formats and options for merchandising.
USER RESEARCH
PERSONAS
Goals
Be able to be up to date with their favorite artists
Get better at scheduling
Discover new music and go to more concerts
"I love Megan Thee Stallion, she makes me want to do leg day every day!"
Frustrations
Worried if they can effectively schedule their week
Doesn't have many good options to support their favorite artists
Chris (he/they) is a neurodivergent Event Manager that is having a hard time balancing work and personal life. Listening to Megan Thee Stallion is what motivates them to deal with it. They love their job, partner and cat and would like to find ways to schedule everything effectively, but he isn't sure he can do that and still have time to support their favorite artists.
Age:
Education:
Hometown:
Family:
Occupation:
Chris adeyemi
35
BA in Comms. & PR
Atlanta, Georgia
Partner and cat
Event Manager
Daniela Oliveira
Age:
Education:
Hometown:
Family:
Occupation:
26
Vocational training
Salvador, Bahia
Younger Sister
Prep Cook and Student
"Soul and samba get me through life and makes me feel at home"
Goals
Become Head Chef
Spend more quality time with her sister
Give her friends and loved ones art gifts, like music albums and paintings, in time
Frustrations
Can't get the latest album due to the time difference
Doesn't have time to be up to date on the latest release
Tired of missing out on great gifts to give
Daniela is a brazilian Prep Cook and culinary student living in Madrid. Listening to Liniker always puts her in a good mood. Her younger sister loves Liniker too, and Daniela wants to give her their next album in vinyl with a t-shirt. She never has time to get albums before they sell out due to her busy schedule.
PERSONA A
PERSONA B
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Chris is a non-binary busy event manager who needs to get their favorite artist's latest release in time because they have a hard time keeping up with the constant new music coming out.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Daniela is is a busy prep cook and student living in madrid who needs to get a gift for her younger sister because she has no time to get the album before it sells out on her busy schedule.
user research: pain points
User journey map
Mapping Chris' user journey revealed how important it is t address all the pain points mentioned (time, accessibility, account and pronouns).
TIme
Music lovers and their loved ones don't have time to check when the albums are gonna be out
1
accessibility
Platforms for music sales are not equipped with easy accessibility settings, specially for redability and assistive technologies
account
Some users are used to creating an account, while others don't like it. Account creation should be optional
pronouns
Younger users don't conform to only two pronouns. More pronoun options should be available
2
3
4
Persona a
Persona b
Mapping Daniela's user journey revealed how helpful it would be to address three of the four pain points mentioned (time, accessibility and account).
LOW-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Using the completed set of digital wireframes, I created a low-fidelity prototype. The primary user flow I connected was choosing and pre-ordering an album, so the prototype could be used in a usability study.
starting the design
paper wireframes
Since paper wireframes are efficient for inexpensive and fast iterations, I sketched all five versions of the home scree. I prioritized a quick and easy browsing and search process to help users save time.
digital wireframes
As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research.
Additional browsing button as an additional option for users to find an album
Additional accessibility button for easier and faster access
All the main frames before the final iteration.
Easy navigation was a key user need to address in the designs in addition to equipping the app to work with assistive technologies. That's why I added an alternative way to access accessibility settings.
Account creation button, added as an option
The accessibility button is available from the start
USABILITY STUDY: FINDINGS
I conducted two rounds of usability studies. The first study helped guide the designs from wireframes to mockups, and the second study, applied on a high-fidelity prototype and revealed what usability problems should be tackled.
1
Round 1 findings
Users want to order the albums fast
Users like the order customization option
Users want better readability
2
3
Round 2 findings
Users need more consistent and easy-to-access accessibility options
Users go for the customization feature, however, it needs clearer cues for easier navigation
Users like the option of creating a profile. Account creation should be optional
1
2
3
MOCKUPS
An alternative way for browsing, allows users to have faster navigation by choosing a preferred method. We added a browsing button as a second option. The lo-fi wireframe was made before the first usability study round.
BEFORE USABILITY STUDY
AFTER USABILITY STUDY
BEFORE USABILITY STUDY
AFTER USABILITY STUDY
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
The image below represents the main flow.
1
I added text and icons to most buttons for easier navigation
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
2
Provided a more consistent accessibility button for most screens from the start for easier access
I used detailed imagery for albums, artists and merchandising for users to have an easier time understanding what they're doing
3
refining the design
Main Mockups
The usability studies indicated that users like having an option to create an account, so I added that option from the start.
The accessibility button will be available in most screens for easier access.
TAKEAWAYS
IMPACT
Live Tune helps music lovers to connect more with their favorite artists.
Feedback from music lover: "This app makes my life easier by finding out when my favorite artist's album comes out."
WHAT I LEARNED
While designing Live Tune, I learned that the first ideas for the designs are only the beginning of the process. Usability studies and other user's feedback influenced each iteration of the final product.
NEXT STEPS
1
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed
Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need, especially accessibility
2
going forward
Thank you for your time reviewing my work!
live Tune