Combo
Problem Statement
Music apps have become quite generic
Users & Audience
Jazz enjoyers
Roles & Responsibilities
Research, Design, Wireframing, Prototyping
Scope
Research, App prototype
Context
Overview
Combo is a music app solely for jazz music. It incorporates styles of the 1920's, inspired by the golden age of swing.
Research
I started my process by making a moodboard for my app idea. I wanted to make a jazz app that aligned with the music in its design. I then did some competitor analysis and a dive into all things jazz. I looked at the way people listened to music in the 1920s, music posters, art and interior design styles. I think this is what really helped me get a grasp of the common styles across this era. I really enjoyed researching this time, it was so creative and moody. This helped me to find what I wanted my app to feel like.
Development
With a good foundational knowledge I started wireframing and creating a brand. I researched several different fonts, since typography is a key feature of jazz posters. I also settled on a rich and moody colour scheme. I spent a good bit of time sketching and designing icons. I made the icons modern in style to keep the app legible.
Design
Illustration took up a big portion of time. I wanted to progress my skills because I had never done it before. I made a small tambourine to use in my wordmark to replace an “o” which I was happy with. I made some simple illustrations of instruments for my homepage too to add a bit of colour. I then connected my screens and made a simple loading animation. Finally, I tesed everything to make sure it was fully operational.
Results and Outcomes
Overall, I’m really happy with how it turned out. I am proud of the small animations I have made and that my UI looks quite professional. If I were to do this project again, I would spend more time in the sketching and low-fi stage. This way I could spend more time on making better decisions, not the fastest one. I wish I had more animation knowledge so I could create some interesting designs, but I didn’t have enough time. I was focused on learning alignment, spacing, and type scales, which were more important to master at this stage.
