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inTune App
An engaging social platform that enables professional and amateur musicians to network online
Overview
This networking app enables musicians of all genres and skill levels to connect with fellow artists and local businesses that are seeking performers. By blending the addicting swipe functionality of Tinder with music-themed ice breakers inspired by Hinge, the app offers a fun and interactive experience. It not only helps local businesses discover talent but also bring people together through the universal language of music.
Challenge
The image of the struggling, unemployed musician is a common stereotype, and for good reason—finding job opportunities can be a major challenge. During my time at Oberlin Conservatory as a pianist, we relied on outdated methods like peeling phone numbers from paper flyers or by word of mouth. The way musicians connect with opportunities needs to evolve in line with today’s technology.
Empathize with users
I set out to collect information on what the people want. I conducted 3 semi-structured phone interviews to identify key areas for improving music networking apps. My focus was on individuals passionate about creating music, regardless of skill level, who were seeking opportunities to collaborate with others or gain exposure in the industry.
Interview Questions
1. Can you tell me about your background in music?
2. How long have you been involved in music, and what roles do you typically take on (ex. musician, producer, songwriter)?
3. What are your main goals as a musician?
4. How do you currently find and connect with other musicians?
5. What challenges do you face when trying to collaborate with other musicians?
6. Can you describe a recent experience where you tried to find collaborators and what difficulties you encountered?
7. What platforms or tools do you currently use to connect with other musicians?
8. What do you like and dislike about these platforms?
9. What features would you find most valuable in an app designed to connect musicians?
10. How would you prioritize these features in terms of importance?
11. How important is it for you to be part of a musician community?
12. If you could design the perfect app for musicians to connect, what would it look like?
13. Are there any specific features or functions that you think are missing from current platforms?
Through these, I was able to create personas and empathy maps. Like this one:
Pain Points
— Don't know where to look for gig opportunities
— Feels uncomfortable meeting strangers
— Don't know where to gain exposure to different genres of musicians
Problem Statements
— Alex is a music student and barista who needs an easy way to book gigs because he wants to obtain more experience and exposure as a performer.
— Laura is a business consultant who needs a way to build rapport with people she meets through the app because she feels anxious about meeting strangers online.
— Nia is a opera singer who needs a way to connect with musicians from various genres because she wants to expose herself to various types of music.
Market Research
With these in mind, I conducted a competitive audit to gain insights into existing platforms in the market. In this analysis, I examine the strengths and weaknesses of Vampr, a direct competitor, alongside Tinder, Hinge, and LinkedIn, which serve as indirect competitors focused on connecting people.
After completing the competitive audit, I developed "How Might We" questions to inspire innovative solutions and address the identified challenges. These questions allow me to explore potential strategies for enhancing user experience and differentiating our app in the market.
How Might We?
— How might we design ice breakers that are both fun and effective in building trust?
— How might we design a reporting system that effectively addresses safety concerns without being overly intrusive?
— How might we create a user onboarding experience that sets the tone for safe interactions?
Information Architecture
As I started conceptualizing the app's design, I focused on developing the information architecture to efficiently organize its features and functionalities. This phase proved to be the most challenging aspect of the process, as I was initially overwhelmed by the abundance of ideas and potential directions for the app's features. However, after multiple revisions and thoughtful deliberation, I prioritized the most essential features, leading to the final structure you see here.
Wireframing
Paper Wireframes
My paper wireframes allow me to visualize the potential designs of my brainstormed solutions, allowing me to explore various concepts before committing to one direction. Below, I brainstorm some solutions to the pain points.
— Don't know where to look for gig opportunities
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Allow users to browse job/gig opportunities through swiping and connecting with local businesses
— Feels uncomfortable meeting strangers
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Include ice breakers prompts that users can answer about themselves to create a sense of familiarity
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Set the tone to prioritize safety during the user onboarding process
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Allow users to filter options for gender/age etc. so that they feel more comfortable
— Don't know where to gain exposure to different genres of musicians
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Give users the option to filter what musical genres they are interested in seeing from others
Digital Wireframes
Here are several examples of paper wireframes that I have translated into digital formats. These images illustrate how I intend to establish a secure environment within the app, ensuring users feel comfortable and safe. Beyond this, users will have to option to report and block users if they feel unsafe. I also present examples of prompts that users can respond to, serving as icebreakers and fostering a sense of familiarity. The last slide features the design that enables users to swipe through potential connections.
Low Fidelity Prototype
Feel free to explore the prototype by clicking here
Usability Studies
Usability studies were conducted to assess whether users could efficiently complete core tasks within the prototype. Key performance indicators, like task completion rate and time on task were utilized to evaluate the app's ease of use. 2 participants were recruited to gather insights and they were also interviewed to gather their thoughts and feedback on the overall user experience. After synthesizing the results of my usability study using an affinity diagram, I translated those results into actionable insights. Below are the prioritized insights.
Insights
— Participants wanted a way to quickly see if a profile was “open to work” or “open to hiring”, so I will create clearly visible banners on a user's profile to indicate their intentions.
— Participants wanted a way to assess a user's credibility and experience, so I will create an album on the user's profile which allows businesses to tag the user and share the work that they have done for the business (similar to tagged photos on Instagram).
High Fidelity
Mockups
Participants from the study wanted a clear way to understand other users' intentions. To meet this desire, I redesigned the profile page to include an optional banner where users can display their goals. They can choose from a variety of preset text options that best align with their intentions. On the swiping page, the glowing shadow under each card (gray or orange) will help users easily distinguish between individual user profiles and businesses/profiles seeking to hire.
Before
After
Before
After
Prototype
Onboarding and swipe networking shown below. Explore the entire high-fidelity prototype by clicking here
Takeaways
Through this project, I learned the value of maintaining a continuous, forward-thinking mindset, as innovation is essential for professional growth, regardless of immediate outcomes. I still see growth potential for the app, including premium features like "inTune Plus" with enhanced search tools, career development opportunities, and advanced networking capabilities.
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