Express
Electronica
01. OVERVIEW
A new individual project
Role
UX Designer – School assignment
Target audience
Younger music listeners
Tools
Figma
Context
Prototype of a music app interface
Time
1 month, October – November 2023
Background
The assignment was to develop a new music streaming service that not only delivers high-quality music but also provides an exceptional user experience. The goal was to design a prototype of the application’s interface – focusing equally on functionality and aesthetics.
Unlike previous assignments, this was completed entirely individually, giving me the chance to take ownership of the entire process: research, wireframes, design, user testing, and even logo exploration.
02. RESEARCH
Understand the competition
To better understand the landscape, I analyzed several competitors:
Spotify
Focus on playlists and personalized recommendations
Personalization plus lyrics, quizzes, and song recognition
Deezer
Hgh audio quality, plus live and video features
Tidal
Prioritizes audio but integrates visuals as well
Napster
Music sharing combined with social media-like functions
Sound Cloud
Leverages YouTube’s massive library with rare content
YouTube Music
This analysis revealed both similarities and unique features across platforms, and helped me identify opportunities for Electronica Express.
03. DESIGN
What is requested?
Product owner’s requirements:
A functional and visually appealing interface
Song search, category browsing, and playback controls
A timeline showing the duration of each track
How Might We questions:
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How can we evoke strong emotional responses through the app?
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How can we make sharing music effortless?
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How can we help users organize their content?
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How can we maintain engagement over time?
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How can we guide the user through the experience?
Wireframes & layout
I structured the app to feel familiar, drawing inspiration from Spotify and Tidal, while introducing unique elements through visual themes and interaction patterns.
Logo exploration
Even though a logo was not required, I explored four variations. The chosen concept combined a vinyl record with headphones, symbolizing electronic energy and music culture.
04. RESULT
Tests
I created a google form where I included my prototype and a couple of tasks. This form got shared with 17 people to test its visual design and structure. The final prototype blended familiarity with fresh design. Users could quickly navigate, search, and choose music, while enjoying a visually appealing and intuitive interface.
Although my first attempt was not perfect, I received valuable feedback that helped me improve the design and solve new problems. For example, one issue was an icon that caused confusion among users. I had used a speaker icon to represent audio output, but testing showed that most users found a headset icon more intuitive for this purpose.
05. REFLECTION
Reflection & Lessons Learned
This project was both fun and highly educational. I gained experience across the entire UX spectrum – from interaction design to UI, usability, and visual design – and saw how these elements come together to create meaningful user experiences and how distance between objects can make them stand out from each other or fit together.
If I could do it again, I would push the design further with more innovative features and layouts, especially in the music player and library, to help the product stand out more distinctly from competitors.
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