Spotify UX/UI Case Study
Spotify UX/UI Case Study
What is Spotify?
What is Spotify?
Spotify is a popular music streaming service that offers users access to a vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can create playlists, discover new music, follow artists, and share music with friends. The platform also offers personalized recommendations and curated playlists tailored to an individuals’ taste.
Spotify is a popular music streaming service that offers users access to a vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can create playlists, discover new music, follow artists, and share music with friends. The platform also offers personalized recommendations and curated playlists tailored to an individuals’ taste.
As an avid user of Spotify, I love the platform as much as I enjoy listening to music. For that very same reason, I decided to start this project to in order to challenge Spotify’s current algorithm and further increase a user’s accessibility to new music.
As an avid user of Spotify, I love the platform as much as I enjoy listening to music. For that very same reason, I decided to start this project to in order to challenge Spotify’s current algorithm and further increase a user’s accessibility to new music.
Tools:
Tools:
Figma
Figma
Duration:
Duration:
September - December 2023
September - December 2023
See Final Design
See Final Design
So what’s the problem?
So what’s the problem?
The current Spotify algorithm predominantly recommends popular or similar tracks, drastically affecting users by restricting their music exposure. This consistently leads to a repetitive listening experience and hinders the discovery of diverse music, ultimately deterring users from Spotify and leading them to other music streaming services.
The current Spotify algorithm predominantly recommends popular or similar tracks, drastically affecting users by restricting their music exposure. This consistently leads to a repetitive listening experience and hinders the discovery of diverse music, ultimately deterring users from Spotify and leading them to other music streaming services.
Competitive Analysis
First and foremost, before any research was done, I had to establish and identify my target audience. Who does it affect? How does it affect them? Why is it the problem? What can be done? After this, I conducted a competitive analysis between other music streaming platforms, like Pandora, Tidal, and SoundCloud.
First and foremost, before any research was done, I had to establish and identify my target audience. Who does it affect? How does it affect them? Why is it the problem? What can be done? After this, I conducted a competitive analysis between other music streaming platforms, like Pandora, Tidal, and SoundCloud.
At this point in time, I was able to come up with my initial solution:
“One potential solution is to refine the algorithm based on a user’s diverse interests and past interactions. Similar to the “Explore Page” from Instagram and its function of sharing familiar and unfamiliar content, introducing a “Discovery mode” on Spotify that intentionally plays songs from genres the user is not very acquainted with could significantly enhance the user’s ability to discover new music.” By presenting users with a page/feature dedicated to bringing you new music to choose from, users can effectively expand their music palette.
At this point in time, I was able to come up with my initial solution:
“One potential solution is to refine the algorithm based on a user’s diverse interests and past interactions. Similar to the “Explore Page” from Instagram and its function of sharing familiar and unfamiliar content, introducing a “Discovery mode” on Spotify that intentionally plays songs from genres the user is not very acquainted with could significantly enhance the user’s ability to discover new music.” By presenting users with a page/feature dedicated to bringing you new music to choose from, users can effectively expand their music palette.
At this point in time, I was able to come up with my initial solution:
“One potential solution is to refine the algorithm based on a user’s diverse interests and past interactions. Similar to the “Explore Page” from Instagram and its function of sharing familiar and unfamiliar content, introducing a “Discovery mode” on Spotify that intentionally plays songs from genres the user is not very acquainted with could significantly enhance the user’s ability to discover new music.” By presenting users with a page/feature dedicated to bringing you new music to choose from, users can effectively expand their music palette.
Tools:
Figma
Duration:
September - December 2023
See Final Design
Spotify UX/UI Case Study
What is Spotify?
Spotify is a popular music streaming service that offers users access to a vast library of songs, podcasts, and other audio content. Users can create playlists, discover new music, follow artists, and share music with friends. The platform also offers personalized recommendations and curated playlists tailored to an individuals’ taste.
As an avid user of Spotify, I love the platform as much as I enjoy listening to music. For that very same reason, I decided to start this project to in order to challenge Spotify’s current algorithm and further increase a user’s accessibility to new music.
So what’s the problem?
The current Spotify algorithm predominantly recommends popular or similar tracks, drastically affecting users by restricting their music exposure. This consistently leads to a repetitive listening experience and hinders the discovery of diverse music, ultimately deterring users from Spotify and leading them to other music streaming services.
User Research
Once I knew my problem statement and had a solution in mind, it was time to begin user research. I determined that the best immediate method would be to conduct interviews to test my original hypothesis and further understand any struggles that users may have when it comes to music discovery on Spotify. Once the interviews were complete, I dispersed my information into empathy and affinity maps as well as user scenarios to better understand users and their pain points.
Once I knew my problem statement and had a solution in mind, it was time to begin user research. I determined that the best immediate method would be to conduct interviews to test my original hypothesis and further understand any struggles that users may have when it comes to music discovery on Spotify. Once the interviews were complete, I dispersed my information into empathy and affinity maps as well as user scenarios to better understand users and their pain points.
User interviews
User personas
My empathy Map
My affinity mapping
Learnings + Hypothesis
Learnings + Hypothesis
From the user research, I learned that while my original solution was OKAY, it really only appealed to the masses. So it was time to reiterate. From my interviews, I learned that users were getting frustrated and bored with Spotify because of the weight that popularity holds within the algorithm. Users want more control over the recommendation algorithm to present them with lesser known artists and songs
From the user research, I learned that while my original solution was okay, it really only appealed to the masses. So it was time to reiterate. From my interviews, I learned that users wanted control more than anything. Additionally, users wanted more representation of lesser known artists. It was also brought to my attention that some users struggle when they are out in the world and they hear a song but can’t quite remember the name of it.
From the user research, I learned that while my original solution was okay, it really only appealed to the masses. So it was time to reiterate. From my interviews, I learned that users wanted control more than anything. Additionally, users wanted more representation of lesser known artists. It was also brought to my attention that some users struggle when they are out in the world and they hear a song but can’t quite remember the name of it.
Using the aforementioned information, I was able to determine a new hypothesis:
“I believe that reducing the efforts needed for finding new, enjoyable music as well as reducing the weight that popularity has in the algorithm will greatly decrease the issues that users face on the Spotify platform. Not only this but by highlighting local and lesser-known artists, users gain more access and insights to unique, solitary music. ”
Using the aforementioned information, I was able to determine a new hypothesis:
“I believe that reducing the efforts needed for finding new, enjoyable music as well as reducing the weight that popularity has in the algorithm will greatly decrease the issues that users face on the Spotify platform. Not only this but by highlighting local and lesser-known artists, users gain more access and insights to unique, solitary music. ”
Ideation
Ideation
Having a final solution meant I could start designing. Starting with the user flows, my goal was to create and map out the fundamental functions of the new features and how exactly they would work.
Having a final solution meant I could start designing. Starting with the user flows, my goal was to create and map out the fundamental functions of the new features and how exactly they would work.
In order to achieve the reduced efforts of finding new music, I created two new features- Live Listen and Discover Mode. Okay great, so what the heck is that?
In order to achieve the reduced efforts of finding new music, I created two new features- Live Listen and Discover Mode. Okay great, so what the heck is that?
Hand sketched low-fidelity wireframes
Hand sketched low-fidelity wireframes
Live Listen is a feature that allows users to find the song that is currently playing out loud. During my interview, a user brought up their struggle/inconveniences when they are out and about, being unable to find a song that they may have heard throughout the day. Essentially, Live Listen allows music discovery to be more organic to the user’s physical environment.
Live Listen is a feature that allows users to find the song that is currently playing out loud. During my interview, a user brought up their struggle/inconveniences when they are out and about, being unable to find a song that they may have heard throughout the day. Essentially, Live Listen allows music discovery to be more organic to the user’s physical environment.
Discover Mode is a feature of the app that can be found in the main navigation, next to the library icon. Discovery Mode is a page that highlights up-and-coming artists, lesser known artists, and artists that are local to your area (city, state, country, providence, etc). Not only that, but the newest, more important feature is the Discovery Section (the red rectangle at the top of the page). From here, users can decide if they’d like to hear music from one genre, a mix of genres, or a random genre entirely (based on how they may be feeling). Once the user has made their selection, a queue will be generated for the user based on those selections. By doing this, we allow users more fine tune control over choosing genre mixes and lesser-known artists
Discover Mode is a feature of the app that can be found in the main navigation, next to the library icon. Discovery Mode is a page that highlights up-and-coming artists, lesser known artists, and artists that are local to your area (city, state, country, providence, etc). Not only that, but the newest, more important feature is the Discovery Section (the red rectangle at the top of the page). From here, users can decide if they’d like to hear music from one genre, a mix of genres, or a random genre entirely (based on how they may be feeling). Once the user has made their selection, a queue will be generated for the user based on those selections. By doing this, we allow users more fine tune control over choosing genre mixes and lesser-known artists
Wireframes
Wireframes
After discovering my new solution and creating my initial sketches, I decided I was well suited enough to begin mid-fidelity construction. Though there were multiple challenges I faced throughout the process, the overarching issue was configuring my design to be cohesive with the current Spotify design.
After discovering my new solution and creating my initial sketches, I decided I was well suited enough to begin mid-fidelity construction. Though there were multiple challenges I faced throughout the process, the overarching issue was configuring my design to be cohesive with the current Spotify design.
After discovering my new solution and creating my initial sketches, I decided I was well suited enough to begin mid-fidelity construction. Though there were multiple challenges I faced throughout the process, the overarching issue was configuring my design to be cohesive with the current Spotify design.
Once my mid-fidelity frames were complete, the next step was to see how they’d hold up in the real world. I gathered the group (the interviewees from before) for some hands-on testing, asking them to find their way to particular sections. Surprisingly, the feedback leaned heavily positive, indicating that there wasn’t much need for a major rework. Encouraged by this, I moved on to refining those high-fidelity wireframes (as well as making a desktop port) and piecing together a presentation to showcase my work.
Once my mid-fidelity frames were complete, the next step was to see how they’d hold up in the real world. I gathered the group (the interviewees from before) for some hands-on testing, asking them to find their way to particular sections. Surprisingly, the feedback leaned heavily positive, indicating that there wasn’t much need for a major rework. Encouraged by this, I moved on to refining those high-fidelity wireframes (as well as making a desktop port) and piecing together a presentation to showcase my work.
Once my mid-fidelity frames were complete, the next step was to see how they’d hold up in the real world. I gathered the group (the interviewees from before) for some hands-on testing, asking them to find their way to particular sections. Surprisingly, the feedback leaned heavily positive, indicating that there wasn’t much need for a major rework. Encouraged by this, I moved on to refining those high-fidelity wireframes (as well as making a desktop port) and piecing together a presentation to showcase my work.
In Conclusion
In Conclusion
Through this concept project, I delved deep into the core principles of design, while also immersing myself in the essence of effective user research and its pivotal role within the design realm. Deconstructing problem statements and translating them into tangible outcomes required a blend of persistence and receptiveness to user feedback, driving continuous iteration. Despite encountering moments of uncertainty, I persevered, ultimately birthing something entirely novel
Through this concept project, I delved deep into the core principles of design, while also immersing myself in the essence of effective user research and its pivotal role within the design realm. Deconstructing problem statements and translating them into tangible outcomes required a blend of persistence and receptiveness to user feedback, driving continuous iteration. Despite encountering moments of uncertainty, I persevered, ultimately birthing something entirely novel
As we wrap this up, it's clear we're onto a big idea. This project pushes Spotify to rethink its approach, moving beyond the same old tracks to a place where every click uncovers something new and thrilling. By understanding what listeners really want, we're not just tweaking; we're transforming music discovery. It's about shifting from the mainstream to the magical, turning Spotify into a platform where innovation leads. This is just the start. With targeted research and feedback, we can create concepts can better match songs to listeners and foster a more vibrant music community. Here's to a future where finding new music is as simple as pressing play.
As we wrap this up, it's clear we're onto a big idea. This project pushes Spotify to rethink its approach, moving beyond the same old tracks to a place where every click uncovers something new and thrilling. By understanding what listeners really want, we're not just tweaking; we're transforming music discovery. It's about shifting from the mainstream to the magical, turning Spotify into a platform where innovation leads. This is just the start. With targeted research and feedback, we can create concepts can better match songs to listeners and foster a more vibrant music community. Here's to a future where finding new music is as simple as pressing play.
Thank you for reading my case study :)
Thank you for reading my case study :)