Music Focused on U!

RATIONALE

U is the ultimate music app for teens and young-adults, offering a personalized music experience like no other! Users can discover new tracks, create custom playlists, and even connect with friends to share their favorite music. With U, the music is all about them.

Furthermore, a vibrant social media extension on Instagram offers users various ways to stay connected and share their favorite music. With access to posts, photography, and more, it’s a fun and interactive addition to the app experience.

    • Adobe XD

    • Adobe Illustrator

    • 4 weeks

    • Mobile App

    • Social Media Extension

U is the app that takes your music experience beyond the headphones. From late-night playlists to outdoor beats, U captures every vibe in one space designed for you. Whether you're chilling solo or with friends, U makes every moment as unique as your playlist. Dive in, and discover music made for your world!

A DIFFERENT WAY TO LISTEN

COMPREHENSIVE VIDEO WALKTHROUGH

“I wish I had more chances to share my music and really have it be about me. With U, it’s like my playlist tells my story, and I finally get to show people the music that means something to me.”
— Anonymous

PHASE 1: RESEARCH

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  • Upon beginning my research, I investigated Spotify and Apple Music to gather insights into user preferences, pain points, and engagement patterns. These insights highlighted the importance of…

    • Control

    • Personalization

    • & Transparency

  • Examining both Spotify and Apple Music as potential competitors for this app, allowed inspiration to be taken when creating the app U.

    Research showed that users were not comfortable with big UI developments, and just wanted a simple way to share and customize their listening experience.

  • In designing this app, several core UI principles were prioritized to create an intuitive and user-friendly experience.

    First, reducing cognitive load was essential to streamline interactions, making it easier for users to navigate without feeling overwhelmed by options or features.

    Additionally, empowering and rewarding the user became a guiding principle, inspired by insights from Spotify and Apple Music, to give users a sense of control and personalization.

    Finally, using familiar patterns ensured that users could intuitively understand new features, minimizing the learning curve and allowing them to engage seamlessly.

PHASE 2: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

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  • The first usability test conducted on the low-fidelity frames revealed that most users were able to complete tasks successfully.

    Some concerns were brought about the carousel navigation for the music, and locating the music library posed a challenge.

  • After completing some required changes after the first usability test, users found the overall experience to be more enjoyable.

    Recommendations at this point were mostly based on the aesthetics of the app.

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PHASE 3: DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION

  • The final!