Apple Music Redesign

Role

Team Lead

Collaborators

Najia Khan Aeon Seo Stella Matsukawa Sidney Desmangles

Tools

Figma FigJam Google Forms Mural

Duration

10 weeks

Overview

I participated in a semester-long UX design program called Creative Labs. In groups of 5-6, we were taught the basics of the design process and how to craft a case study.

Background

Despite Apple Music being integrated into the Apple ecosystem, many users prefer Spotify. We focused on redesigning the Apple Music app by improving navigation, increasing user connectivity and exposure to new media.

User Research

We interviewed and surveyed over 40 users to understand their experience with Apple Music. We asked them what their favorite features were, what features they wished their streaming service had and any other comments and suggestions they wanted to share.

Relevant responses:

“The app can feel a little bland. It's hard to find new music sometimes because it just keeps showing the same songs and playlists over and over.”
“It’s visually unappealing and I don’t understand the difference between the home and new page”
“It would be cool if I could make shared playlists with my friends”
“I don’t like how when you star a song it automatically adds it to your music library (I want to be able to just say “show me more like this”).”

Affinity Map

We wrote down feedback and quotes from our surveys and grouped them together to find underlying themes and trends.

User Research

Relevant responses:

“The app can feel a little bland. It's hard to find new music sometimes because it just keeps showing the same songs and playlists over and over.”
“It’s visually unappealing and I don’t understand the difference between the home and new page”
“It would be cool if I could make shared playlists with my friends”
“I don’t like how when you star a song it automatically adds it to your music library (I want to be able to just say “show me more like this”).”

Affinity Map

We wrote down feedback and quotes from our surveys and grouped them together to find underlying themes and trends.

User Research

Relevant responses:

“The app can feel a little bland. It's hard to find new music sometimes because it just keeps showing the same songs and playlists over and over.”
“It’s visually unappealing and I don’t understand the difference between the home and new page”
“It would be cool if I could make shared playlists with my friends”
“I don’t like how when you star a song it automatically adds it to your music library (I want to be able to just say “show me more like this”).”

Affinity Map

We wrote down feedback and quotes from our surveys and grouped them together to find underlying themes and trends.

Insights

After gathering and categorizing user responses by topic and needs, we identified three key areas to focus on for improving the mobile app over the next few months

Personalization:
By curating playlists and recommending new music based on user preferences, Apple Music can increase engagement and become the go-to platform for discovering new content.
Connectivity:
Enabling users to connect with friends will enhance engagement, making the platform more interactive and social by allowing users to see what others are listening to.
Navigation:
Enhancing navigation will make the app easier to use, encouraging users to stream more with Apple Music.

Wireframes

After several brainstorming sessions, we worked on Figma to create low fidelity screens of our solutions. We came up with new features to including a carousel view of playlists and a listening feature similar to Shazam.

Solution Screens

Home

We redesigned the Apple Music Home screen to make better use of space by reducing icon sizes, allowing users to see more music at a glance. We also emphasized features such as “Friends Are Listening To” and “Music by Mood” to create a more connected, tailored experience that reflects each user’s interests.

Library

We redesigned the Library screen to minimize wasted space by condensing the top sections, so users can view more of their recently added music right away. We also added access to podcasts directly within the Library, making it easier to switch between content types, creating a more seamless and efficient listening experience.

Profile

To enhance usability and prioritize functional content, we reduced the size of the profile image banner. We updated the label from "Followers" to "Friends" to promote a more personal and socially engaging user experience. We also introduced a "Shared Playlists" section to support music sharing and help users feel more connected.

Listen Feature

we introduced the new Listen feature to simplify song discovery. By allowing users to identify a song just by playing it nearby, the app listens and displays the title and artist. This creates a seamless, intuitive way to connect users with the music they love in real time

What I learned

Usability Testing: I learned how crucial research is at every phase of the design process. Moving forward, I would conduct more user testing at every stage of the design process to help make more informed decisions and ensure the redesign truly addresses the user’s needs.
Prioritizing Features: We initially set out with the overly ambitious goal of redesigning the whole app. However, with our limited knowledge and skills, this proved to be rather difficult. I now understand it’s better to focus on a smaller set of changes and execute them well, rather than trying to tackle too many ideas without the time or resources to do them justice.
Branding Matters: As this was my first case study, I was more focused on developing my technical skills and didn’t prioritize branding elements. I now realize that branding details such as typography, iconography and color, is essential for a brand like Apple, where consistency and recognition are key to the user experience.

What I learned

Usability Testing: I learned how crucial research is at every phase of the design process. Moving forward, I would conduct more user testing at every stage of the design process to help make more informed decisions and ensure the redesign truly addresses the user’s needs.
Prioritizing Features: We initially set out with the overly ambitious goal of redesigning the whole app. However, with our limited knowledge and skills, this proved to be rather difficult. I now understand it’s better to focus on a smaller set of changes and execute them well, rather than trying to tackle too many ideas without the time or resources to do them justice.
Branding Matters: As this was my first case study, I was more focused on developing my technical skills and didn’t prioritize branding elements. I now realize that branding details such as typography, iconography and color, is essential for a brand like Apple, where consistency and recognition are key to the user experience.