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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.  ï¿¼

 

Problem:
Local artists lack time and tailored tools to build a following on existing platforms.  ï¿¼

 

Objective:
Design an app that enables collaboration, discovery, and community engagement in a streamlined, user-centered experience.  ï¿¼

User Research

Target Users:
Musicians and music professionals seeking more than static audio platforms.  ï¿¼

 

Key Insights:
   •    Users desire personalized curation and intuitive navigation.  ï¿¼
   •    Offline accessibility was a significant usability gap in comparable products.  ï¿¼
   •    Existing music platforms are often static (focused on listening, not community).  ï¿¼

 

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.  ï¿¼

  • What I Learned:
       •    Iterative testing and peer feedback dramatically improved clarity and usability.  ï¿¼
       •    Flexibility in persona definition deepened understanding of the user problem.  ï¿¼

  • Next Steps:
       •    Conduct further usability testing to validate recent design changes.

Download the Local Vocal case study slide deck for a full product walkthrough.

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