The initial idea started with the vision of a digital application that allows the user to tune into the played music of other people in their physical surroundings. By exploring this thought throughout an iterative process, I challenged the initial concept and revised it to be fully adapted to the user’s needs. As a final result, I designed a digital application that cannot be fully used without the requirement of real physical interaction and therefore challenges the need of interpersonal relationships in its full potential.

Expert Interviews

The research process involved conducting expert interviews in order to obtain first hand knowledge and perspectives from professionals related to fields of the music industry, digital consumption and data privacy.
The saturation process allowed me to gather their answers and decipher insightful information from their deepest thoughts.

“The great potential is within interpersonal and not in the digitalization.”

“Consuming music in current times can be contrasted in a way with the information consumption.”

“The implementation of physical experiences in digital applications might be one of the first steps to overcome the fast food information consumption.”

User Interviews
Exploring the initial solution led to the decision to focus on the target group Generation Z living in Berlin. Selected potential users shared their opinions and stories with relation to music and their environment. Within this observation, my objective was to test particular hypotheses that combine the most essential findings of the prior developed research.

Image, Detail of User Saturation

“Meeting a stranger is like a waking up call.”

“I have already seen people in public transportation and was curious to know what music they were listening to.”

Image, 2 by 2 Insight Framework

Prototyping & Testing
The qualitative extended research explored the intertwinements of the digital and physical spheres from an empathic perspective. The results show that being completely digital is problematic by own nature and its side effects increasingly occur. Considering the findings, the following thesis’ objective is to merge the positive qualities of the digital world, such as easy interaction and organisational matters, with the pyhscial context.
This idea was then prototyped during the Early Prototyping phase in the form of paper App Dummys to be tested with users. Their feedback was used for iterative steps, as a way of improving the interface for the definite concept in a digital form. After iterating, specific users were again tested to compare answers and validate the potential of the offered service.

Image, Prototype Testing Live Scenario

Iteration

After several testing sessions, recorded user feedback was helpful in allowing me to reflect upon current achievements and potential future changes and/or improvements.

Image, User Feedback Grid

Zoom in Design Concept
Initially, the idea was to design a logo with a double/multiple interpretation. Thereby, the progress was inspired by post-it’s visualizations from the research process.
The finalized logo consists of an eye (discover) and at the same time, musical note with an implied second one that forms the complete logo. As a double meaning, the note can also be seen as a headphone. It was important to design an obvious element that implies the physical necessity within the application.

Strategic Design at design akademie berlin. It has been supported by M.A. Joost Alleblas and Prof. Katrin Androschin.

Archive Projects 2015 — 2018

Archive Projects
2015 — 2018