Back to top

Overview

This was a school project with the task to design a podcast app. Using online statistics as my starting point of concept development, along with discoveries from my own research, has inspired me to design a podcast app suggesting based on user's mood.

Role

- UI UX designer

Deliverables

- Low and high fidelity web app screen designs
- Wireframes
- Research, and behavioural archetypes

Tools

- Figma
View full prototype of the app here

The problem

Online research

To understand existing podcast trends, I have conducted research online, here were my findings that I found particularly interesting:
Only 32%

of Australia listen to podcasts, lower than the global average than 41%.
(Sang et al, 2020)

Multitasking

More than half of podcast listeners consume podcasts while multitasking:
"59% have listened while doing housework. 52% while driving. 51% while cooking. And 46% while going for a walk.” (The Edison Research, 2017)

The statistic on multitasking sparked my interest most, thus I decided to begin from there.

Process

I was the only designer of this project, in charge of the full design process:

Research

User interviews

To dive deeper into understanding the habits of podcast listeners, an interview was conducted with three interviewees who were occasional podcast listeners.‍

Findings

Multitasking

My interviewees multitasks while they listened to podcasts. Two of my interviewees listens to podcast while sleeping, while one listens while driving

Voice and content

were two deciding factors into whether or not they would continue listening to a podcast.

App controls

My interviewees raised the issue of struggling to make manual controls (eg. switching podcasts, adjusting volume) while multitasking.

Behavioral Archetype

Two behavioral archetypes were then developed based on my interviews:

Defining the problem

After the interviews, I have gathered some key points and revisited my research afterwards and organised them into categories: A pattern I have found between these users was that they struggled with interacting with their podcast apps while conducting the task they were doing: Driving users can’t look at their phones while driving, while users falling asleep had issues with making interactions with their phones in the dark.
Opportunity for exploration #1

How might we ease interaction between multitasking users and the app?

Another important point that stood out to me was when asked about what factors influenced their choice of the podcast, one commented on how the host’s voice always factors into whether or not they will listen to it or not.
Opportunity for exploration #2

How might we increase confidence in the user's choice of podcasts, so interaction can be minimized between multitasking users and the app?

Not only should we enhance interaction for multitasking users, but we should make users feel more confident in their choice of the podcast, so interactions would be minimised.

Ideate

I have then took the pain points of users, and began ideating opportunities to solve these pain points:

Bodystorming

To narrow the scope of this project, I have decided to only focus on sleeping podcast users.

To have a better understanding of how it feels like to be one, I have conducted a body-storming session myself.
‍
I conducted this exercise in my room at night. I put on my earphones, played a random podcast while falling asleep. I also tried interacting with my phone, adjusting controls, and changing podcasts.

The question I kept in mind the time I was doing this was: 

How can I design better experiences for these users so they can have a better night’s sleep, improving motivation and performance the next morning?

After the bodystorming exercise, I have outlined some thoughts and feelings, aiding me to create a solution later on:

Wireframing

I have then wireframed screens before putting into high fidelity prototype:

User testing

Before mocking up at a high-fidelity level, I have asked one of my interviewees to perform three tasks with the wireframes to ensure the design matches their expectations.

Imagine it’s 11pm you’re really sleepy, but can’t fall asleep. Your task is to:
‍
1. Open the app and select a mood and task
2. Connect a smartwatch to the app
2. Choose an ASMR podcast with a male podcaster with a deep voice
3. Add 2 background noises to the podcast you chose
4. Lock the screen and extend the sleep timer

I have shared my prototyped wireframe, and set up a video call with interviewees. Using the share screen function, I have asked them to do the tasks above. All of them were completed successfully with no issues.

Prototype

My final solution is 'Moodcast', a podcast app that generates recommendations based on user's mood. For multitasking listeners, they can enter specific modes that enhance their listening experience.

Because of time constraints, I have only developed a solution for users that listens to podcasts while falling asleep. Here is a full view of the final solution:

Fun onboarding screens

Designed to look fun while walking through users what the app does.

Pick and choose a mood

  • Users get to pick moods they are feeling and a task they are doing
  • Recommendations are given based on this. (Eg. if the user is feeling ‘restless’, podcasts of meditation or ASMR will be recommended. If users ‘need a good laugh’, humour podcasts would be recommended)
  • Tasks dictate on what mode users will be taken to

Sleep mode - Helping users get a better sleep

  • If users click option ‘About to fall asleep' , they are taken to the sleep mode homepage
  • Dark mode automatically enabled to protect user’s eye in the dark

Extensive filters tailored to different tastes

  • Filters that allowing users to filter for taste in podcasters and content
  • A 30 second snippet preview of selected podcast, so users can feel more confident in their choice of podcast
  • Both available throughout the entire app, not only on sleep mode.

Soothing noises for a better sleep

When entering sleep mode, users can choose to play soothing background tunes to aid sleep

Lockscreen

  • A lock screen specifically designed for sleeping users
  • Minimal design with bigger buttons, without unnecessary to minimise cognitive strain in sleeping users
  • Minimising disturbance to user’s sleep while listening to their favourite podcasts

Seamless experience with Fitbit or smart watch

Takeaways and future considerations

This was a school project that spanned for a duration of 4 weeks where I was taught UX design thinking and put it to practical use.

If this was a real project. I would take time to do more research into podcast listeners, interviewing and observing their behaviour to identify needs and pain points. Additionally, I would also conduct research into non podcast listeners, so
I would explore on 'tasks' more, designing features for more multitasking listeners.
More projects
Edifyd

Learning management System

Popsup

Contactless dine-in experience

Come and say hello!
About CharmaineCV