Qup
Qup
Instant collaborative playlists
Instant collaborative playlists
OVERVIEW
Qup is an iOS app that enables users to create location-based collaborative playlists, making the process of song selection open and democratic. Originally designed as a proof-of-concept on my apprentice class, Qup got released in the App Store in 2015.
ABOUT
iOS App, Summer 2014
ROLE
Product Design, Design Strategy, User Interface, User Experience
TEAM
Design - Guilherme Schmitt, Maple Kuo, Alice Chuang
Development - Matt Bridges, Mark Daigneault, Logan Wright, Colin Smith, Nick Brewer, Eve Asher
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
A Record-Scratching Moment
A Record-Scratching Moment
We've all been there... a good party with a bad soundtrack. While everybody has different tastes, party soundtracks need a good balance of eclectic styles to please a good portion of guests.
The ask to build Qup came from our own teams' frustrations when hosting gatherings... who controls the playlist? Through an internal assessment, we identified the following problems when dealing with music playback in shared spaces:
We've all been there... a good party with a bad soundtrack. While everybody has different tastes, party soundtracks require a good balance of ecletic styles to please a good portions of guests.
The ask to build Qup came from our own teams frustrations when hosting gatherings... who controls the playlist? Through an internal assessment, we identifyed the following problems when dealing with musical playback in shared spaces:
FOR PARTY GUESTS
Musical Taste Overload
Even our music-savvy friends have limitations - their musical taste only goes so far. A good party should include multiple musical perspectives to ensure that everyone is having a good time.
Even our music-savvy friends have limitations - their musical taste only goes so far. A good party should include multiple musical perspectives to ensure that everyone is having a good time.
FOR PARTY HOSTS
Spotlight Pressure
While having control of the soundtrack of the party is a great privilege, it is also an anxiety-inducing burden. What if suddenly it starts playing your own musical guilty pleasures? (It's ok to like Nickelback, everyone)
While having control of the soundtrack of the party is a great privilege, it is also an anxiety-inducing burden. What if suddenly it starts playing your own musical guilty pleasures? (It's ok to like Nickelback, everyone)
How might we...
How might we...
How might we...
bring effortless collaboration
to instant, in the moment, party playlists?
bring effortless collaboration
to instant, in the moment, party playlists?
bring effortless collaboration
to instant, in the moment, party playlists?
bring effortless collaboration
to instant, in the moment, party playlists?
Process
Process
User Stories
We interviewed colleagues around the company to collaboratively build an initial list of user stories for a Minimum Viable Product.
We interviewed the product owner (our own CTO) and colleagues around the company to collaboratively build an initial list of user stories for a Minimum Viable Product strategy.
We interviewed the product owner (our own CTO) and colleagues around the company to collaboratively build an initial list of user stories for a Minimum Viable Product strategy.
We interviewed the product owner (our own CTO) and colleagues around the company to collaboratively build an initial list of user stories for a Minimum Viable Product strategy.
Comptetive Analysis
Apps and competing products in the marketplace at the time were both too cumbersome to set up and poorly designed - bombarding users with unwanted features and functionalities. Qup needed to be focused and straightforward to use.
Visual / Pattern References
We built moodboards and researched established interaction patterns to convey actions of addition, searching music and playlist display. By knowing what users are familiar with, we can incorporate (and improve upon) established mental models of interaction into our solution.
We built moodboards and researched established interaction patterns to convey actions of addition, searching music and playlist display. By knowing what users are familiar with, we can incorporate (and improve upon) established mental models of interaction into our solution.
Queue Control Prototype
Queue Control Prototype
Queue Control Prototype
One of the alternatives featured a Tinder-inspired concept to control the queue. To evaluate its viability as a solution, I built a quick prototype on Principle. Despite being entertaining and joyful, these gestures increased the chance of users performing accidental actions. Since there's nothing more buzz-killing than a song ending abruptly at a party, we went with a more pragmatic approach.
One of the alternatives featured a Tinder-inspired concept to control the queue. To evaluate its viability as a solution, a quick prototype was built on Principle. Despite being entertaining and joyful, these gestures increased the chance of users performing accidental actions. Since there's nothing more buzz-killing than a song ending abruptly at a party, we went with a more pragmatic approach.
One of the alternatives featured a Tinder-inspired concept to control the queue. To evaluate its viability as a solution, a quick prototype was built on Principle. Despite being entertaining and joyful, these gestures increased the chance of users performing accidental actions. Since there's nothing more buzz-killing than a song ending abruptly at a party, we went with a more pragmatic approach.
Iterations
Iterations
Iterations
Starting with paper sketches and moving to digital tools, the iteration process was focused on solving the problem of creating an experience that was flexible to fit both the host needs and guests priorities. I also explored different solutions to display and interact with the queue, a key feature of the product.
Starting with paper sketches and moving to digital tools, the iteration process was focused on solving the problem of creating an experience that was flexible to fit both the host needs and guests priorities. We also explored different solutions to display and interact with the queue, a key feature of the product.
Starting with paper sketches and moving to digital tools, the iteration process was focused on solving the problem of creating an experience that was flexible to fit both the host needs and guests priorities. We also explored different solutions to display and interact with the queue, a key feature of the product.
Solution
Solution
Ready, Set, Qup
Ready, Set, Qup
Ready, Set, Qup
Starting a collaborative playlist (a.k.a. Qup) as a host is as easy as choosing the name of your event. To help users get things started quickly, a party name randomizer is available to surprise and delight guests and hosts alike.
Starting a Qup as a host is as easy as choosing the name of your event. To help users get things started quickly, a party name randomizer is available to surprise and delight guests and hosts alike.
Starting a Qup as a host is as easy as choosing the name of your event. To help users get things started quickly, a party name randomizer is available to surprise and delight guests and hosts alike.
Everybody is the DJ
Everybody is the DJ
Everybody is the DJ
Nearby users get notified and can join a Qup to immediately add songs, no setup necessary.
Users can search and add any song from the vast Spotify catalog. A smart algorithm arranges the songs to make sure that a balanced setlist is being played so that everyone gets a chance to hear their favorite tune.
Nearby users get notified and can join the qup to immediately add songs, no setup necessary.
Users can search and add any song from the vast Spotify catalog. A smart algorythym arranges the songs to ensure a balanced setlist, so that everyone gets a chance to hear their favorite tune.
Nearby users get notified and can join the qup to immediately add songs, no setup necessary.
Users can search and add any song from the vast Spotify catalog. A smart algorythym arranges the songs to ensure a balanced setlist, so that everyone gets a chance to hear their favorite tune.
Bragging Rights
Bragging Rights
Bragging Rights
No need to wonder who of your friends has great (or terrible) music taste - an optional Facebook integration lets users know who to congratulate (or to blame).
No need to wonder who of your friends has great (or terrible) music taste - the optional Facebook integration let users know who to congratulate (or to question).
No need to wonder who of your friends has great (or terrible) music taste - the optional Facebook integration let users know who to congratulate (or to question).
Democracy for the Win
Democracy for the Win
Democracy Melody
Trolls playing Smash Mouth? Users can vote to skip songs while the host can ban users from adding songs altogether.
And, while the host has complete control of what to play next, guests can vote for songs to be bumped up as they get their dancing shoes on.
Trolls playing Smash Mouth? Users can vote to skip songs while the host can ban users from adding songs altogether.
And while the host has complete control of what to play next, guests can vote for songs to be bumped up as they get their dancing shoes on.
Trolls playing Smash Mouth? Users can vote to skip songs while the host can ban users from adding songs altogether.
And while the host has complete control of what to play next, guests can vote for songs to be bumped up as they get their dancing shoes on.
links & hobbies
links & hobbies
links & hobbies
links & hobbies
links & hobbies
Photography ∙ Playlists ∙ Films
hey, thanks for visiting
hey, thanks for visiting
hey, thanks for visiting
hey, thanks for visiting
hey, thanks for visiting
have a nice day
have a nice day
have a nice day
have a nice day
have a nice day
PIXELS POLISHED WITH ♥, BY GUI ∙ UPDATED SOMETIME AMIDST THE BLUR OF 2020-21
PIXELS POLISHED WITH ♥, BY GUI ∙ UPDATED UPDATED SOMETIME AMIDST THE BLUR OF 2020
PIXELS POLISHED WITH ♥, BY GUI ∙ UPDATED UPDATED SOMETIME AMIDST THE BLUR OF 2020
PIXELS POLISHED WITH ♥, BY GUI ∙ UPDATED SOMETIME AMIDST THE BLUR OF 2020
PIXELS POLISHED WITH ♥, BY GUI
UPDATED SOMETIME AMIDST
THE BLUR OF 2020