Project Overview

Music apps often lack interactive, real-time social features. To stand out, I conceptualised Sing and Groove, a retro- themed app that blends FaceTime karaoke and an interactive dance feature. The design channels nostalgia with neon colours and vintage visuals, offering users a fun and unique way to connect through music.

I was responsible for the end-to-end design process within a 5-week timeframe, focusing on user research, visual design, and prototyping.

Design Process

Competitor Analysis

I explored several existing music apps, noting their strengths and areas for improvement:

• Apple Music: I admired the simplicity and bold colors but found the subscription management frustrating.
• Spotify: Enjoyed the features like joint playlists and Spotify Wrapped but felt the dark design was too intense.
• YouTube Music: Limited appeal due to overlap with YouTube; the main difference was the ability to play music in the background.
• SoundCloud: Unique for its focus on emerging artists, a feature not common on mainstream apps.
• Bandlab: Inspiration for music creation functionality, aligning with my app concept.

Initial Ideation

I aimed to create a unique, creative app reflecting the music industry's vibrant nature. Through brainstorming, I envisioned a retro, disco-themed app to stand out from competitors.

Sketches & Paper Prototypes

Initially, I struggled with unique UI ideas but was inspired by a circle design, reminiscent of a disco ball, to convey a fun, retro theme. This concept became the foundation of the app’s visual identity.

Wireframes

Wireframing helped visualise and refine the layout, leading to constructive feedback. I thought of incorporating a ‘Dance’ or ‘Karaoke’ feature, which aligned with the app’s interactive, fun focus.