William Raphael Battle, IV
Project Overview
Role: UX Designer
Timeline: Mar 2021 – Oct 2021
Platform: Mobile (Concept)
Tools: Figma, Usability Testing Tools, Wireframes & Prototypes
Project Summary
Local Vocal is a community-focused music app designed to help local creatives — musicians, artists, producers, and enthusiasts — connect, collaborate, and grow their online presence. 
Problem:
Local artists lack time and tailored tools to build a following on existing platforms. 
Objective:
Design an app that enables collaboration, discovery, and community engagement in a streamlined, user-centered experience. 
User Research
Target Users:
Musicians and music professionals seeking more than static audio platforms. 
Key Insights:
• Users desire personalized curation and intuitive navigation. 
• Offline accessibility was a significant usability gap in comparable products. 
• Existing music platforms are often static (focused on listening, not community). 
Persona Snapshot:
• Emma — Professional musician who needs an efficient way to increase visibility and manage music sharing alongside a busy schedule.
Design Process
1. Sketching & Wireframes
Paper wireframes established layout direction.
Digital wireframes focused on core flows like audio upload.
2. Prototyping
Created low-fidelity prototypes to validate primary tasks.
Iterated into high-fidelity designs based on usability feedback.
3. Usability Studies
Two rounds of unmoderated tests with diverse participants (including visually impaired users).
Findings informed clearer navigation and streamlined interactions.
Key Iteration
Solution
Simplified flow; removed confusing subcategories.
Moved upload button from FAB to top screen placement.
Defined clear primary access paths (Feed, Library, Profile).
Issue
Upload process unclear
Upload visibility
Navigation confusion
Accessibility Considerations
Color palette and contrast aligned with accessibility standards.
Multiple navigation methods and larger touch targets for ease of use.
Inclusive usability testing with participants of varying abilities.
Impact & Takeaways
Design Impact:
• Created an app experience that fosters community engagement and discovery for local creatives. 
What I Learned:
• Iterative testing and peer feedback dramatically improved clarity and usability. 
• Flexibility in persona definition deepened understanding of the user problem. 
Next Steps:
• Conduct further usability testing to validate recent design changes.
Download the Local Vocal case study slide deck for a full product walkthrough.