Project
001
WEYV
WEYV was available as an ad-free, subscription-based app that allows users to listen to music, read magazines and watch visual content.
In order to continue to deliver on WEYV’s multi-content commitment, they announced that the library will expand to include podcasts. As has been consistent with WEYV’s other content offerings and new app features and integrations, this expansion is a direct result of feedback from users.
Info
003
Figma
Sketch
Invision
Roles
UI
UX
Prototyping
User research
Tools
Overview
002
Unfortunately, the app wasn’t built with the foresight to include podcasts. Finding and creating an elegant solution will be difficult — but not impossible.
Problem
The objective is to investigate various approaches for integrating podcasts into the existing music-focused design of WEYV, with the aim of creating a seamless and complementary user experience that allows users to easily access and enjoy music and podcasts.
Goals
004
Design Process
01
Defining project goals along with prioritizing features while considering constraints will be imperative when we communicate all of this to the stakeholders. Essentially, this step will ensure that the design meets its goals and user needs, while staying within the project's constraints.
Specify scope
02
To identify problems in the UX design process, conduct research, analyze user feedback, map the user journey, identify gaps, prioritize the problems, and create a design solution that meets user needs.
Identify the problems
03
Creating user personas is always fun and allows us to look at the problem from different angles. Researching patterns and trends is also incredibly helpful during this step in the process.
Analyze the findings
04
Brainstorm solutions
During this step it’s important to encourage free thinking, use techniques like mind mapping, prioritize and refine ideas. These steps will help generate creative solutions to user problems and create a design solution that meets user needs.
05
In UX design, a prototype should include functionality, reflect the design and user flow and, contain appropriate content. These will be perfect for testing scenarios to refine the design solution with user feedback.
Prototype
06
Ultimately, the goal during this step is to create a design solution that meets user needs and provide a positive user experience. Once the design has been refined through testing and iteration, we’ll launch the new feature.
Deploy, test, improve
005
Research
Claire Anderson
-
28 years old | Female | Married
Bachelor's degree in Marketing
Marketing Manager
Income $70,000
-
Personality: Tech-savvy, music enthusiast, social media savvy, ambitious, busy
Interests: Attending live concerts, discovering new artists, staying up-to-date with music trendsValues: Convenience, quality sound, variety of music genres
-
Frustrations: Limited time to discover new music, difficulty finding specific genres, outdated recommendations
Needs: Efficient music discovery, easy-to-use platform, personalized recommendations
Goals: Find new music, curate playlists for different moods, stay informed on music news and events
-
Devices Used: Smartphone, laptop, smart speaker
Frequency of Use: Daily
-
Find new music, curate playlists for different moods, stay informed on music news and events
Alex Johnson
-
40 years old | Male | Married
Master's in Accounting
Accountant
Income $90,000
-
Personality: Family-oriented, career-driven, busy, budget-conscious, eclectic music taste
Interests: Playing guitar, listening to music while exercising, discovering lesser-known artists
Values: Family time, quality music listening experience
-
Frustrations: Limited budget for music streaming, difficulty finding less popular music genres
Needs: Affordable pricing, diverse music library, easy-to-use interface
Goals: Discover new music, create playlists for different activities, have access to music on-the-go -
Devices Used: Smart speaker, laptop, smartphone
Frequency of Use: Weekly
-
Discover new music, create playlists for different activities, have access to music on-the-go
Lisa Rodriguez
-
26 years old | Female | Single
Bachelor's in Marketing
Marketing Coordinator
Income $50,000
-
Personality: Social, tech-savvy, creative, prefers personalized experiences
Interests: Attending concerts, creating playlists for different moods and occasions, sharing music with friends
Values: Socializing, discovering new music, convenience
-
Frustrations: Limited access to new releases, ads interrupting music experience
Needs: Personalized music recommendations, access to live music events, ad-free listening experience
-
Devices Used: Smartphone, smart speaker, laptop
Frequency of Use: Daily
-
Discover new music, create playlists for different occasions, have access to music while on the go
David Chen
-
32 years old | Male | Single
Bachelor's in Finance
Investment Banker
Income $120,000
-
Personality: Tech-savvy, analytical, prefers control over music experience
Interests: Exploring new and niche music genres, attending music festivals, sharing music with friends
Values: Discovering new and underground music, being up-to-date with music trends
-
Frustrations: Limited access to obscure music, difficult playlist management
Needs: Advanced search and filtering options, customized playlists based on mood and activity, integration with other music software and platforms
-
Devices Used: Desktop computer, smartphone, smart speaker
Frequency of Use: Daily
-
Discover new and underground music, have control over playlist management and organization, seamless integration with other music software and platforms
Competitive analysis
006
01
Industry analysis
After identifying competitors, evaluating their products or services involves reviewing their website, app, or product to identify strengths and weaknesses.
02
After an in-depth analysis we were able to identify opportunities for improvement, including areas of competitor weakness or unmet market needs.
Discovering potential
Ideation
007
008
Challenges
Navigating challenges
While we were able to offer an extensive list of actionable items to address we were reminded of the site’s limited functionality.
01
Looking back, we should have integrated music and podcasts together from the beginning. Audio should have its own section, just as reading and video do. Building out the app with all future features in mind would have been the proper way to proceed.
Future proof
02
We should have budgeted and made time for more user testing. Not only for this new feature, but for every little thing that went into the app. Proper user testing is crucial in order to create a truly user friendly experience.
Not a perfect process
009
Retrospective
Reflecting on past events
Overall, creating a successful app requires a combination of factors, including offering a unique and compelling user experience, effectively marketing the app to its target audience, and having a solid monetization strategy in place.
01
We found a way to implement podcasts. Was it the best way? Who knows? We didn’t perform any user testing or real research. However, I was still able to take away a lot from working on this entire project. This entire experience reinforced how critical the design process truly is.
We did it
02
Relying on your novel “value-oriented licensing model” as the core foundation of the WEYV subscription, might not be enough to set yourself a part from the rest of the other media streaming giants.