amazon music makeover
For this student project, I was tasked to give a design makeover to a mobile application of my choice. I undertook light research and testing to implement a new visual strategy that would move the product forward. This upgrade includes reworking some of the user flow and a reapplication of the branding including typography, buttons, colors, grid/layout, icons, various ui components, and photo/illustration styles. I prioritized 3 screens in my upgrade (home, find, library) and designed 6 additional screens to support my proposed user flows in a functional prototype. The project also includes a comprehensive UI pattern library (visual style guide). Click the buttons below to view the full case study and prototype.
the task
Amazon music is an app where users can stream music, listen to podcasts, and create playlists. Originally started as Amazon MP3 in 2007, It was the first service to sell online music in an MP3 format. It was upgraded with more songs and features in 2014 and rebranded as Amazon Music in an effort to compete with the market. However, initial user testing for this project concluded that the UI of the current Amazon Music app does not compete well against direct competitors such as Spotify and Apple Music. Users had difficulty interacting with important features like editing a playlist and creating a playlist. Users also noted that the app felt busy and overwhelming, which resulted in important features feeling hidden or out of the way.
original screens
the solution
redesigned screens
ADDITIONAL SCREENS
user task flows
find songs
The addition of community playlists to the discovery screen helps users find new playlists from other users with similar music taste. Category tiles have been styled to fit the look and feel of the rest of the app.
Edit playlists
A larger amount of tiles are now visible in the user library, making it easier for users to find their favorite playlists. Playlist editing has been simplified for ease of adding new songs.
view listening recap
Monthly listening analytics are an appealing feature to users, as seen with the popularity of direct competitors features like Spotify wrapped. The new user library adds personalization with a monthly listening recap card front and center.
create playlists
One of the main user goals of music streaming is playlist creation. The integration of the create button into the primary navigation bar will support a more user friendly experience. It also draws more attention to one of Amazon Music’s standout features—AI playlist creation.
ui pattern library
the outcome
Feedback from the redesigned prototype usability testing was largely positive. Users noted that the new UI could compete with Spotify, which showed promising progress towards solving the main problem of this project. The redesigned UI also received positive ratings in hierarchy and navigation.
