SOUND SELECT STREAMING
REDEFINING THE LISTENING EXPERIENCE USING INTUITIVE DESIGN TO ALLOW THE USER TO
DISCOVER AND ARCHIVE MUSIC
YOUR SELECTION
ENHANCING THE LISTENERS EXPERIENCE
There was an element of difficulty which really required some creativity and exploration to
innovate and design something new for the users of Sound Select as the spectrum for
streaming apps isn't very vast but we wanted to ask the vital questions before we begun
which would really impact the small features and elements that would really elevate and
differentiate the users experiences. Questions such as;
How can we replicate a feeling of ownership
What user frustrations currently exist with competing streaming platforms
Is the app visually appealing and emotionally resonant with the target audience
How can we create a balance between users more interested discovering new
music and listeners interested in collecting and cataloguing their collection
What are the primary user goals when using a music streaming app
Answering these questions with the design were the most important part of the project
for the team as it is what was going to set our work apart from the crowd.
PRESS PLAY
DOES THE PLAN SOUND GOOD?
The outcome is something everyone involved can be proud. The final design really captured
the energy and experience that was intended. The focal point of the design was to centre
collection and artwork by creating a very personalised library interface, This emulates the
feeling of collection vintage vinyl records, seeing the stacked up of packed into boxes making
you feel like you genuinely own the music.
Streaming services have a simulated feeling which does'nt resonate with everyone, Music
is more than sound for many. It is identity and belong. It is community and history or a journey
that can remind you similar to a smell of a period in your life and transport you back there, Being
in control completely of how you decide to organise and arrange this makes me feel human. It
makes you feel in control and safe which is what the design captured.
Part of the interface was inspired by one of apples original designs. It was a carousal design for
the library which was the first of its kind. This was one of the first designs of digital personal
archiving of music which is so instrumental to how we enjoy our music. We wanted our design to
have a modernised iteration of the design to invoke a reminiscent and nostalgic air about the app.
TAKE TWO. RECORDING
FROM OUR SCREEN, TO YOUR HANDS. STIMULATE ALL SENSES
The concept of sound select is not a new idea but the execution was intended to be.
An issue with music streaming platforms is in a world where music is everywhere but often feels impersonal,
Sound Select sets out to make music feel truly yours. The app is designed to solve a key problem in today’s
streaming experience: the lack of meaningful connection between users and their music libraries.
While most platforms emphasise algorithms and mass consumption, Sound Select focuses on personalisation,
curation, and intuitive discovery. Through a clean, user-first design, the app makes it simple to catalogue and
organise your favourite tracks while effortlessly exploring new sounds that align with your taste. It’s not
just about listening—it’s about reclaiming ownership of your musical world.
To deepen the sense of ownership, the design of Sounds Elect draws inspiration from physical
music collections—where organising, displaying, and revisiting albums was part of the experience.
Users can create personalised folders, tag tracks with custom labels, and visually sort their music in
ways that reflect their identity. Each user’s library becomes a curated space, not just a list of songs.
Micro-interactions, like subtle animations when adding music to a collection, and visual cues such as
artwork pinboards or genre-based badges, reinforce the feeling that your library is uniquely yours. By
emphasising control, customisation, and visual familiarity, the app turns passive listening into an active,
personal ritual—more like collecting vinyl than scrolling through an algorithmic feed.
Achieve the desired visual impact dictated by the emotional connection we intended was
the biggest challenge faced when piecing the design together in a collaborative effort. This
meant first making sure everyone was on the same page about what it is exactly we were
trying to do by individually identifying what music meant to us and how we could capture
and deliver this to present something to the client that would resinate with their vision and
brand image the direction.
Collectively we are proud of the outcome achieved due to the elements that we brought to
life. There will always be obstacles when trying to do something like redesigning the wheel
but looking at the tyre market it is very evident that it is not something impossible but in fact
very possible with desire and innovation which is what the team brought to this project. Taking
a look back at the work is pleasing to see as one of our main goals was to put the music at
the centre of the app. This means everything about the music from the artwork which is very
important to the listener to not trying to overcrowd or create noise in the places that matter.
By limiting the amount of space for distraction, this mitigates things such as excessive or the
over use of algorithms and unwanted suggestions just to fill space of to make use of sections
that are required. Overall this was a successful project we can all feel was worth our time and
attaching our names to.
FINAL TAKE
GREAT WORK TEAM, THATS A WRAP
Role
Product Designer
User Research
Deliverables
High Fidelity Designs
Component Library
Usability Testing
Team
Developers - iOS and Android
Web Developer