SoundCloud Redesign

SMAD 417 (Business & Management Interactive Design) Project, November 2023 - December 2023

SMAD 417 (Business & Management Interactive Design) Project, Nov 2023 - Dec 2023

“Founded in 2007, SoundCloud is an artist-first platform powered by a global community of artists and listeners on the pulse of what’s new, now and next in music culture. We empower independent artists with the tools, services and resources they need to help them build and grow their careers. With over 250 million tracks from 30 million artists from 193 countries on SoundCloud, we are the largest audio discovery platform in the world. "

What is SoundCloud?

Soundcloud has been around since 2008. At first glance, the website is a bit outdated and inconsistent with the design of it’s mobile application.

The primary goal of this project is to revitalize the visual appeal and user experience of the SoundCloud website. While the current platform is functional and has many features that are intended for artists and listeners, it does not have intuitive design that directs users to key functions of the website.

Problem Statement

Present SoundCloud

Mobile

Website

The design of SoundCloud has undergone several updates since its initial launch in 2008; however, it still falls short of achieving an innovative and captivating visual identity that could enhance the overall user experience on the platform.

When it comes to the Discover Page:

Outdated: The navigation buttons appear outdated when compared with those of its competitors.
Complicated: The navigation bar is cluttered with numerous items, creating an overwhelming user experience and making it challenging for users to locate essential features.
Redundant: Redundancies are evident in the promotion of premium memberships, such as Go+ and Next Pro.

When it comes to the Music Page:

Stagnant Updates: The interface dedicated to adjusting the current song, following favorite artists, and engaging with other SoundCloud users through comments has seen minimal updates since around 2015.
Overbearing Margins: The margins on this page occupy significant space.
Disorganized Information Hierarchy: There is a lack of organization in the information hierarchy. Notably, the 'write a comment' section is the first element encountered by users, but it is spatially distant from the actual comment section, contributing to a less intuitive user experience.

How can our design ensure a seamless and consistent user experience across both mobile and web platforms, while maintaining a fresh and modern design?

Design Question

Competitive Analysis

Spotify

Product Offering:

Music & Podcast Streaming

Window panes of similar content grouped together. Easy to navigate. Swim lanes used for genres and music/podcast recommendations. Sidebar navigation with liked music and custom playlists. Music player at the bottom.

Desktop Experience:

Features:

Search Bar, Custom Playlists, Friends List, Daily Mixes (Spotify offers six Daily Mix playlists that are tailored to users' listening habits). Lyrics can be displayed for certain songs.

Apple Music

Sidebar navigation with dropdown links and various categories. Features swim lanes based on recommendations and genres. Bombarded with Apple Music sign-up ads and banners for a free trial. Music player at the top.

Music & Podcast Streaming

Search Bar, Custom Playlists, Radio, Music Player, "Just Ask Siri" playlists.

Youtube Music

Song recommended from YouTube history. Features sidebar navigation with custom playlists and liked music. Swim lanes for music genres, recommendations, and music videos. Music player at the bottom.

Music, Music Video, & Podcast Streaming

Search Bar, Genre Navigation Buttons, Music Videos, Screen Casting, and recommended albums and playlists from the community.