PRODUCT DESIGN
Web / iOS / Android / iPad / Desktop
Mudase, an emerging player in the online music streaming industry, was rooted in the ambition to revamp its platform's user experience. Their dedicated team, comprising a DJ, product manager, back-end developer, and an Android developer, sought to transform their vision into a captivating reality.
We adopted an agile workflow, marked by weekly meetings that facilitated seamless communication and iteration. My role was to infuse user-centered design principles into the project. This encompassed creating user-friendly wireframes, and intuitive prototypes, and conducting comprehensive user testing.
The transformation achieved throughout my journey underlines the potential for UX/UI enhancements to elevate user engagement and drive Mudase's success in the competitive music streaming landscape.
OpportunIty Statement
My collaboration with the Mudase team, comprising a DJ and a back-end developer, unveiled a unique venture in the music industry. The goal was to refine Musical Data Service for global expansion, marking our inaugural project within this dynamic sector.
Venturing into the B2B realm of music provided valuable insights into the importance of background music in shaping the ambiance of businesses. Music is a silent yet powerful language that influences emotions and fosters connections. However, we observed a knowledge gap among businesses in the art of music curation.
This gap presented a significant opportunity. While Spotify offered an affordable option, creating extensive playlists remained a time-consuming task. Pre-made playlists often fail to align with the diverse preferences of businesses, leading to a disruption in the carefully crafted music experience and recommendation algorithms.
My Role
Branding / User Research / User Interviews / User Testing / UXD / UID / Prototyping
The Research
Our research journey led us to heartfelt conversations with five individuals, representing both service and management spheres. We embraced the uniqueness of their user needs, aiming to understand the delicate interplay between them.
Service workers, driven by their ever-evolving musical tastes, frequently introduced disruptions to established playlists, driven by their affection for certain songs. In contrast, our empathetic managers, often caught in the whirlwind of their responsibilities, sought musical consistency, carefully curating each hour's ambiance. Morning serenity, midday liveliness, and evening vibrancy were all part of their carefully crafted tapestry of sounds.
ReframIng the Problem
⚠️ Creating an optimal musical atmosphere tailored to the clientele in establishments such as hotels, restaurants, and bars presents a complex challenge.
⚠️ Managers perpetually grapple with the responsibility of playlist curation, especially during peak business hours, leading to concerns about employee autonomy in music selection.
⚠️ Employees occasionally introduce random musical selections, inadvertently disrupting the sophisticated algorithms of music platforms.
⚠️ Inadvertently playing unsuitable music has a detrimental impact on the ambiance within the establishment, subsequently diminishing client engagement.
DesIgn Strategy
👉🏻 Enabling users to effortlessly switch music with precision for diverse business audiences.
👉🏻 Streamlined genre selection simplifies music choices, eliminating the need for playlists, and ensuring an ideal atmosphere throughout the day.
👉🏻 One-tap streaming synchronizes visual elements across channels, reducing the need for constant music changes, and ensuring uninterrupted listening pleasure.
EARLY INSIGHTS
In the early insights phase of our project, we meticulously scrutinized key design decisions within Mudase, such as toggling between light and dark modes, simplifying music selection, and refining music management features. Subsequently, upon revisiting our interviewees, we were pleased to discover a profound appreciation for the platform's straightforward user interface and adaptable color modes.
The implementation of a dark theme was especially well-received, as it rectified the issue of excessive white brightness, which proved burdensome in dimly lit bars and restaurants. Users also praised the ease of channel selection, facilitated by intuitive mood and time-based filters.
Notably, our engagement with a manager yielded significant insights. Their initial skepticism transformed into confidence in Mudase's ability to maintain an appealing background music ambiance, even if users deviated from prescribed choices. To enhance functionality, we explored the integration of manager profiles, allowing select individuals to control channel selection. This strategic feedback informed the development of Mudase Phase 2, which was poised to elevate the platform further.
👉🏻 The manager's skepticism evolved into confidence, enriching Mudase's musical ambiance.
👉🏻 Integration of manager profiles enhanced user control, boosting Mudase's functionality.
👉🏻 Strategic feedback even drove Mudase Phase 2's development, poised for advancement.
MVP
Throughout the MVP phase, Mudase grappled with internet-dependent technical challenges, such as unreliable hotel Wi-Fi and maintaining seamless music playback in case of disconnection. Nevertheless, this stage marked significant achievements.
At Hapimag Sea Garden Bodrum, we hosted an immersive showcase for bartenders, letting them engage with Mudase over multiple nights. Their response was remarkably positive, echoing our Phase 2 vision.
As we reflect on the MVP phase, Mudase not only captured user attention but also sparked excitement among bartenders and potential customers. The feedback mirrored our planned enhancements, reaffirming our proactive approach in addressing user needs. This momentum fuels our commitment to develop Mudase into a resonant and enriching platform for users.
