As a starting point for this project, I began to look at other music app’s to analyse their user interface and overall layout.
Since, I am a frequent user of the app, it will be difficult to analyse this particular music streaming platform. From quickly studying the layout, I realised it is broken into four main screens: home, search and library and player.
Home Screen
The first thing I notice from the home screen, is the bar along the top that is broken into music, podcasts and audiobooks. I find this feature very convenient, as it will bring you to where all the content for the one you choose quickly, instead of having to go to the search bar. Also, the recommended playlists, grabs your attention as soon as you open the app, and will come in useful if you want to listen to something new.
The overall design of the app is very minimal, but I feel there’s no personality because of the lack of colour. They use mostly monotone colours black, white and grey with hints of colour appearing on the song covers and Spotify’s signature colour green found in the top bar.
Search Screen
At first glance, the camera feature in the top right hand corner isn’t very obvious what function it serves, if you’re a first-time user. I feel like there’s a lot of space taken up incorrectly, by the “explore your genres” images are too big in my opinion and they don’t relate or match to the particular genre. They’re very general, just abstract imagery.
Although, compared to the home screen it is more vibrant especially the colourful colours: pink, green, blue and purple works well against the dark back ground.
Library Screen
My first impressions of the library screen, is that it’s not really personalised considering it says “your library.” This screen is laid out precisely, allowing you to change to a grid or a list. I feel like it would add a lot to this screen, if they allowed you to add backgrounds that you could change depending on your mood.
Player Screen
Lastly, this screen is quite basic and not interesting. There’s no character feel, connected to the song you’re listening to. This would add a personal touch, if they added some different, like by scrolling up brings you to similar songs to the artist you’re listening to.