PROBLEM
For people who work out finding the right music can be hard, playlists often become repetitive or music doesn’t fit the user’s needs. Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and Itunes have some good options of playlists for people who work out, and Spotify in particular does a good job of creating comprehensive playlists, but these playlists can get old fast and they are not often updated. My goal was to create an app that fits the specific needs of people who work out.
For people who work out finding the right music can be hard, playlists often become repetitive or music doesn’t fit the user’s needs. Apps like Spotify, Apple Music, and Itunes have some good options of playlists for people who work out, and Spotify in particular does a good job of creating comprehensive playlists, but these playlists can get old fast and they are not often updated. My goal was to create an app that fits the specific needs of people who work out.
SOLUTION
A music app designed specifically for people who workout which tailors playlists to the user’s specific needs and generates new playlists.
A music app designed specifically for people who workout which tailors playlists to the user’s specific needs and generates new playlists.
RESEARCH
I began my research by exploring what other music apps had to offer and finding out whether a workout music app already existed. While there were some options for workout music apps, they generally consisted of pre-built radios and playlists which weren’t customizable. I discovered that Spotify had the most tailored playlists, I gained a lot of inspiration from how their app works and how their data is collected to tailor playlists to their user’s preferences.
I began my research by exploring what other music apps had to offer and finding out whether a workout music app already existed. While there were some options for workout music apps, they generally consisted of pre-built radios and playlists which weren’t customizable. I discovered that Spotify had the most tailored playlists, I gained a lot of inspiration from how their app works and how their data is collected to tailor playlists to their user’s preferences.
In order to get more feedback about how I should build my app and what my target audience needed I created a 10 question survey which I posted to several Reddit and Facebook
pages. I received many responses and was able to gather useful information and look at
some common themes.
pages. I received many responses and was able to gather useful information and look at
some common themes.
Survey to collect user data
DISCOVERY
From my research I was able to create two key user personas for my target audience. I wanted to be able to look at a broad range of users so I focused on two ends of the spectrum of people who work out. One of the persona’s is someone who frequently works out and takes fitness very seriously and the other is someone who works out occasionally. I felt that it was important to look at these two extremes in order to develop an app that would work for my audience.
From my research I was able to create two key user personas for my target audience. I wanted to be able to look at a broad range of users so I focused on two ends of the spectrum of people who work out. One of the persona’s is someone who frequently works out and takes fitness very seriously and the other is someone who works out occasionally. I felt that it was important to look at these two extremes in order to develop an app that would work for my audience.
User persona A
User persona B
WIREFRAMES
After I established my user’s needs I began to sketch and wireframe. My goal was for my users to be able to create a custom workout playlist without having to do the work of picking out songs and arranging it themselves. I also wanted my users to be able to customize playlists based on what type of workout they were doing, since runners and lifters have different needs. The early wireframes had three main user journeys, one where the user could create a playlist based on mood and workout time, one where they could track their BPM and one that was a radio trained by likes and dislikes.
After I established my user’s needs I began to sketch and wireframe. My goal was for my users to be able to create a custom workout playlist without having to do the work of picking out songs and arranging it themselves. I also wanted my users to be able to customize playlists based on what type of workout they were doing, since runners and lifters have different needs. The early wireframes had three main user journeys, one where the user could create a playlist based on mood and workout time, one where they could track their BPM and one that was a radio trained by likes and dislikes.
Early wireframe sketches
Early brainstorming
Early digital wireframes
In my initial on-boarding process the user chose their music preferences, but after several iterations I decided linking the app to Spotify would be the best way to gather this data. This decision reduced the work that the user needed to do in the on-boarding process and created more accurate preferences.
High fidelity wireframes/user's select listening preferences
FINAL STAGES
Once I established my core flow I was able to work on refining the design and the user journey. I changed
the visual style to better fit my audience, refined the icons and visual elements, and worked on the flow until it
was smooth.
Once I established my core flow I was able to work on refining the design and the user journey. I changed
the visual style to better fit my audience, refined the icons and visual elements, and worked on the flow until it
was smooth.
Final screen design
END RESULT
My final prototype uses the user’s listening history to generate custom playlists. Users are able to choose workout types in order to tailor playlists to their needs and save the playlists they like for later. The app also features a radio function where users can listen to a new radio mix daily.
My final prototype uses the user’s listening history to generate custom playlists. Users are able to choose workout types in order to tailor playlists to their needs and save the playlists they like for later. The app also features a radio function where users can listen to a new radio mix daily.
Final deliverable promotional video