A New Way to Listen.

Disc is a mobile iOS app that empowers users to take control of their music discovery through an advanced filtering feature. This prototype addresses the issue of repetitive recommendations by offering users a tool to take control of their listening experience. 

Role: UX/UI Design, Research
Tools: Figma, FigJam
Timeline: Two Months
The image featured in the middle of the about us page
The image featured in the middle of the about us page
Project Background

This project began with conversations among friends who all shared a common frustration: it felt like everyone was listening to the same thing, and they believed music algorithms were to blame. Fascinated, I decided to dive deeper and explore how others felt about this experience.

Approach

I took a human-centred design approach, conducting both secondary and primary research to understand user needs. Next, I created wireframes and ran two rounds of user testing to refine the experience before moving on to high-fidelity designs.

RESEARCH
Over half of streaming subscribers (57%) feel their current services don’t do a good job of helping them discover new music that matches their tastes.
Over half of streaming subscribers (57%) feel their current services don’t do a good job of helping them discover new music that matches their tastes.

Forbes, "New Data Exposes Gaps in the Streaming Music Market and Opportunities for Niche Services." Forbes, 2 Aug. 2019

Listening to Listeners

After validating the problem through secondary research, I conducted four in-person interviews to deepen my understanding. Across the board, users expressed frustration with stale recommendations and the need to bounce between platforms to find new music.


A theme emerged: users want more variety and control over music discovery.

  • Morgan Reese

    Age: 26

    Gender: Female

    Frustrated by predictable, genre-based recommendations and the lack of options to expand her music tastes beyond current preferences.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

  • Jamie Cole

    Age: 33

    Gender: Male

    Has had poor experiences with Apple Music’s algorithm and doesn’t rely on it to discover new music.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

    TIDAL

    SoundCloud

  • Jaden Lowell

    Age: 29

    Gender: Male

    With Spotify it's got this kind smudging effect where it just makes everything everyone listens to similar things.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

    YouTube Music

  • Claire Taylor

    Age: 30

    Gender: Female

    Feels stuck in a rut with music and constantly being shown the same songs.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

The Problem

How might we help music listeners with multiple musical identities discover new music and break out of feedback loops caused by music streaming algorithms?

The End User

Next, I created a persona to represent my end user. This helped me step into their shoes (or headphones) and make decisions aligned with their needs, behaviours, motivations, and frustrations.

The End User

Next, I created a persona to represent my end user. This helped me step into their shoes (or headphones) and make decisions aligned with their needs, behaviours, motivations, and frustrations.

Listening to Listeners

After validating the problem through secondary research, I conducted four in-person interviews to deepen my understanding. Across the board, users expressed frustration with stale recommendations and the need to bounce between platforms to find new music.


A theme emerged: users want more variety and control over music discovery.

  • Morgan Reese

    Age: 26

    Gender: Female

    Frustrated by predictable, genre-based recommendations and the lack of options to expand her music tastes beyond current preferences.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

  • Jamie Cole

    Age: 33

    Gender: Male

    Has had poor experiences with Apple Music’s algorithm and doesn’t rely on it to discover new music.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

    TIDAL

    SoundCloud

  • Jaden Lowell

    Age: 29

    Gender: Male

    With Spotify it's got this kind smudging effect where it just makes everything everyone listens to similar things.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

    YouTube Music

  • Claire Taylor

    Age: 30

    Gender: Female

    Feels stuck in a rut with music and constantly being shown the same songs.

    Music Apps

    Spotify

    Apple Music

PERSONA
Challenge
Reframe

I found myself struggling to ideate. I had serious tunnel vision. I got stuck trying to solve the wrong problem: improving the algorithm, which was out of scope. 

Stepping back, I revisited user interviews and reconnected with participants, which allowed me to see my users more clearly.

My end users aren’t passive listeners. They dig deep, chase rabbit holes, and actively seek out sounds. While they’re open to surprise, they have a strong sense of what resonates. Even if they don’t know what they’re looking for, they know it when they find it.

Solution

I realized that the solution wasn’t about providing smarter recommendations; it was about giving listeners more control. This insight inspired the idea for a tool that allows users to guide their discovery more intentionally through an advanced filtering feature.

Surprisingly, none of the major streaming platforms provide advanced filtering options.

Challenge

I found myself struggling to ideate. I had serious tunnel vision. I got stuck trying to solve the wrong problem: improving the algorithm, which was out of scope. 

Reframe
Challenge

Stepping back, I revisited user interviews and reconnected with participants, which allowed me to see my users more clearly.

My end users aren’t passive listeners. They dig deep, chase rabbit holes, and actively seek out sounds that move them. They love uncovering new genres, obscure artists, and unexpected sounds. While they’re open to surprise, they have a strong sense of what resonates. Even if they don’t know what they’re looking for, they know it when they find it.

I found myself struggling to ideate. I had serious tunnel vision. I got stuck trying to solve the wrong problem: improving the algorithm, which was out of scope. 

Reframe

Stepping back, I revisited user interviews and reconnected with participants, which allowed me to see my users more clearly.

My end users aren’t passive listeners. They dig deep, chase rabbit holes, and actively seek out sounds that move them. They love uncovering new genres, obscure artists, and unexpected sounds. While they’re open to surprise, they have a strong sense of what resonates. Even if they don’t know what they’re looking for, they know it when they find it.

Solution

I realized that the solution wasn’t about providing smarter recommendations; it was about giving listeners more control. This insight inspired the idea for a tool that allows users to guide their discovery more intentionally through an advanced filtering feature.


Surprisingly, none of the major streaming platforms provide advanced filtering options.

TASKFLOW
WIREFRAMING
User Testing

I conducted two rounds of user testing with a low-fidelity prototype to ensure the feature was not only useful to my end user but also that the layout felt intuitive. Users were excited about the product and engaged with the concept. After some (many) iterations based on feedback, I was ready to translate the design to high fidelity.

I conducted two rounds of user testing with a low-fidelity prototype to ensure the feature was not only useful to my end user but also that the layout felt intuitive. Users were excited about the product and engaged with the concept. After some (many) iterations based on feedback, I was ready to translate the design to high fidelity.

SETTING THE TONE
CREATIVE DIRECTION
Mood Board Breakdown

Music as a lived experience: listening, digging, sharing.

Typography

Futura evokes vintage signage and posters, giving a timeless and nostalgic feel. SF Pro Text is a clean, highly legible font that lets the music be the loudest thing on the screen.

Illustrations
For logo design, the concept embraces soft, rounded shapes that feel friendly, funky, and direct. The jazz collage adds movement and energy, and the black-and-white grain introduces grit and a raw, authentic vibe.

Texture

Sound waves and overlapping spheres suggest the rhythm and fluidity of music, while symbolizing the range and diversity of musical tastes. Graffiti-covered walls are a reminder of underground venues and the thrill of finding new sounds.

Colour

Burnt orange gives energy, while grey-blue acts as a grounding force, providing focus and direction. Creamy white creates openness and freedom, giving users space to feel in control of their own journey.

Logo System

The logo combines a custom icon and an all-caps wordmark, designed to work together or stand on their own. The icon reimagines a Futura D as a record sliding out of its sleeve, a quiet nod to analog discovery. The wordmark, set in bold all-caps Futura, draws from old gig posters and record labels. It’s clean, confident, and not trying to be anything it’s not. Just honest, and exactly what it is.

TOWARDS HIGH FIDELITY
The image featured in the middle of the about us page
The image featured in the middle of the about us page
The image featured in the middle of the about us page
The Outcome

A high-fidelity prototype for a music discovery app that empowers listeners to take charge of how they explore music. The final product provides a tool for music exploration.


Users navigate from an Explore screen to a Filter screen, where they can filter by niche, genre, location, and more. Ultimately, it’s all in service of allowing the user to search as broadly or as narrowly as they like.

  • What I Learned
  • Refocus on What Matters

    I learned that it’s okay to pivot. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away, reflect, and come back with a clearer perspective.

CONTACT

You’ve seen what I do. Now imagine what we could create together.

Reach out to me at meredith_lorimer@mac.com.

CONTACT

You’ve seen what I do. Now imagine what we could create together.

Reach out to me at meredith_lorimer@mac.com.

CONTACT

You’ve seen what I do. Now imagine what we could create together.

Reach out to me at meredith_lorimer@mac.com.

CONTACT

You’ve seen what I do. Now imagine what we could create together.

Reach out to me at meredith_lorimer@mac.com.