OVERVIEW
For this assignment, I was tasked with redesigning an existing music app to engage better with users aged 50+. This sprint required creating a user flow, as well as avoiding designing based on stereotypes or entirely rebranding the app. I chose to redesign the Spotify app, because it is a platform whose branding appeals mostly to a younger generation. I wanted to expand this audience and see how I would be able to make the app appeal to an older generation as well.
CHALLENGE
To locate Spotify's current accessibility issues with the target audience, I examined the process of both of my parents creating their own Spotify accounts. Before this test, both had only used Pandora as a listening platform, and were entirely unfamiliar with Spotify's interface. Some key takeaways I found were that the sign-up process was straightforward and easy to follow, but the library was often difficult to find, and searching for songs was sometimes difficult if they didn't remember the artist's name.
To solve this, I explored HMW statements including, "How might we preserve the branding of the app while making it more accessible?"
SOLUTION
In my redesign prototype, I aimed to use a light and easy to read interface, create a more consistent home page, add filter options to make searching for songs easier, and simplify the playlist making process. Below are my sketches, wireframes, and final prototype created in Figma.
EVALUATION
For this sprint, the easiest parts for me were deciding what I needed to change from Spotify's original interface. Spotify is confusing even for me sometimes, and I enjoyed being able to make it more accessible. The most challenging part for me was creating a unique design from Spotify’s original design, because I feel that the original design prioritizes clarity and readability already. If I had another attempt, I would try to take more risks with my design and stray more from Spotify’s current layout.
To pitch this design, I would state that my design preserves the flowy and relaxed design of the original Spotify app, while adjusting important navigational issues that may discourage users, especially those with little experience with Spotify before its many new features over the years. Some changes I made to improve the experience of the app for older users were creating a light interface that is more consistent with most other apps, making the home page consistent and relevant, and simplifying the process for making a playlist. These aspects were important for me to focus on because they adjust the immediate experience a user has when they first open the app.