SoundCloud Redesign

SoundCloud Website Redesign

Problem Statement

Soundcloud is a music platform that has been around since 2008, and the website has had minor changes since then. At first glance, the website seems outdated and lacking compared to its competitors, such as Spotify or Apple Music.

The primary goal of this project is to revitalize the SoundCloud website's visual appeal and user experience. Despite its functionality and numerous features catering to both artists and listeners, the platform lacks an intuitive design that guides users to essential website functions.

Role

UI Designer

Interaction, Visual Design, Prototyping & Testing

October 2023 - December 2023

Present SoundCloud

Mobile

Website

Although the SoundCloud website has evolved through multiple updates since its launch in 2008, it still falls short of achieving an innovative and captivating visual identity that could enhance the overall user experience on the platform.

Some pain points from the current website’s design:

Discover Page:

Outdated visual: Buttons within the page appear outdated compared to its competitors.
Complicated features: The navigation bar is cluttered with numerous items, creating an overwhelming user experience and making it challenging for users to locate essential features.
Lack of Incentives: The page failed to promote premium memberships like Go+ and Next Pro.

Stagnant Updates: The interface displays the playing song and related tracks, and user interactions through comments on the SoundCloud website have barely been updated since around 2015.
Margins and Spacing Issue: The buttons on this page are too close together, while the margins take up a substantial amount of space.
Disorganized Information Hierarchy: There is a lack of organization in the information hierarchy. Notably, the 'write a comment' bar is placed at the top of the page, while the actual comment section is located further down. This creates confusion for the users, causing a less user-friendly experience.

Music page

Design Questions

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

Competitive Analysis

Spotify

Product Offering:

Music & Podcast Streaming

Desktop Experience:

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.

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

Music & Podcast Streaming

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.

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

Youtube Music

Music, Music Video, & Podcast Streaming

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.

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