As the sole designer behind the upcoming Silopod music player app, I am excited to introduce this innovative product that promises to revolutionize the music experience for both Android and iOS-based platforms.
The Silopod app is designed to offer a comprehensive music experience, enabling users to play locally available music files as well as stream from the internet. The app has three main parts – Music, Podcast, and Radio stations, each designed to cater to users’ diverse needs.
The idea behind the Silopod app was born out of a personal desire to create a unique music application that offers users more than just playing music. I had a vision of creating an all-in-one app that offers not just music but also other media content, such as podcasts and radio stations, all in one place.
This idea led to the development of the Silopod music player app, which promises to be an all-encompassing platform that caters to the music and media needs of users.
The Silopod app has been designed to offer users a retro feel, reminiscent of the early 2000s when physical MP3 players were in vogue. The app has a throwback aesthetic that appeals to millennials, making it a unique product in the music app market.
The retro design extends to every part of the application, from the user interface to the backend service where all channels would come from.
While I did not conduct market research or interview users to understand their needs in a music player app, I did extensive research on other music player applications and analyzed their functionalities to identify gaps and opportunities to innovate.
This helped to create a product that caters to the needs of users while also offering unique features that distinguish it from other music player apps.
The development process of the Silopod app was a challenging but exciting experience. I started by creating the design using Adobe Photoshop, and then transferred it to AdobeXD to make it interactive.
The app’s backend service was also designed to ensure smooth integration of music, podcast, and radio stations. The entire project took about two weeks from inception to completion.
While the Silopod app is still in development, we are excited to launch the Android version first before the iOS version. The app promises to offer a unique music experience that appeals to users’ nostalgia while also providing modern functionality.
We look forward to launching the Silopod app and providing users with a comprehensive music and media platform that caters to all their needs.
Project Scope
When I started working on the Silopod music player app, my primary goal was to create an application that could transport users back to the early 2000s while still providing a modern user interface.
I wanted to evoke feelings of nostalgia in millennials who had grown up using physical MP3 players and create an app that was visually appealing, easy to navigate, and offered a seamless music-listening experience.
To achieve this goal, I began by determining the key features that a music player app needed to have.
I identified playlist management, song selection, and playback control as the most important features, and made sure that they were included in the app.
In addition to these basic features, I also added the ability to stream music from the internet and included a podcast and radio station section.
In order to ensure that the app was visually appealing and in line with the design trends of the early 2000s, I conducted research on the styles and color schemes that were popular during that era.
I created mood boards to narrow down the direction of the design and establish a consistent look and feel for the entire app.
From there, I created a style guide to help guide the design process and ensure that all of the design elements were consistent and cohesive.
The app needed to have a simple and intuitive navigation system, which I achieved through careful planning and organization of the various sections of the app.
I created a clear hierarchy of information, grouping related features together and placing them in easy-to-find locations. The app was designed to be user-friendly, with a clean and uncluttered interface that made it easy for users to find the features they needed.
To provide a seamless music-listening experience, I incorporated various playback controls into the app especially directly on the home page. Users can easily skip tracks, pause and resume playback, adjust the volume, and shuffle or repeat their playlists all on the active playing screen.
I also included a search function, so users can quickly find the songs or artists they want to listen to.
In addition to the basic music player features, I also added the ability to create and manage playlists. Users can easily create custom playlists, add or remove songs from them, and save them for later listening.
I also incorporated a feature that allows users to rate songs, so they can easily find their favorite tracks later on.
The ability to stream music from the internet was a key feature of the Silopod music player app. I integrated a backend service that provides access to a wide range of online music channels, including popular music streaming services like Spotify and Pandora.
Users can easily switch between local and online music, and can even create playlists that combine both types of music.
To keep up with their online media, users have the option to create an account in order to store their preferences, playlists, and favorite tracks. However, this is not a mandatory feature and users can still enjoy the app without creating an account.
In summary, the Silopod music player app was designed to cater to the nostalgia of the early 2000s while also providing a modern and seamless music-listening experience. It offers all the necessary features of a music player app, including playlist management, song selection, and playback control, as well as the ability to stream music from the internet.
The app is visually appealing and easy to navigate, with a clean and uncluttered interface that makes it user-friendly. Overall, I am proud of the work I have done on this project, and I believe that the Silopod music player app will be well-received by users who are looking for a high-quality music player app that combines the best of both worlds.
The Design System
As the sole designer behind the Silopod music player app, the design process for this innovative product began with a focus on the target audience and design trends of the early 2000s.
I explored various styles and color schemes that were popular during that era and created mood boards to narrow down the direction of the design.
After narrowing down the design direction, I created a Style Guide to guide the entire design process.
The Style Guide served as a reference document that outlined the design principles, color schemes, typography, and other design elements that would be used throughout the application.
It also helped to ensure consistency in the design elements across the different sections of the app.
I began designing the app’s user interface using Adobe Photoshop, experimenting with different design elements and aesthetics to create a unique and visually appealing product.
Using Photoshop allowed me to experiment with various design elements and effects that were not available in AdobeXD at that time. This helped me to explore different design directions before selecting the final design.
Once I was satisfied with the design, I exported the entire design into AdobeXD to make it interactive. AdobeXD allowed me to create interactive prototypes of the application, which helped to refine the design and improve the user experience.
With AdobeXD, I was able to add interactions and animations to the user interface to create a more immersive experience for the users.
During the design process, I made sure to keep the target audience in mind. The app was designed to cater to millennials who have a fondness for the early 2000s era and physical MP3 players.
As a result, the design elements and aesthetics of the app were chosen to create a nostalgic feel that appeals to this demographic. The retro design extended to every part of the application, from the user interface to the app icon, creating a cohesive and visually appealing product.
The app was designed with three main sections – Music, Podcast, and Radio stations. Each section was designed to have a distinct visual identity that was consistent with the overall design of the application.
The Music section, for example, featured a bold and dynamic design that reflected the energy and excitement of listening to music. The Podcast section, on the other hand, had a more relaxed and subdued design, reflecting the calm and contemplative nature of listening to podcasts.
Throughout the design process, I worked closely with my development partner to ensure that the design was feasible and could be implemented in the app. This collaboration helped to ensure that the final product was not only visually appealing but also functional and easy to implement.
In conclusion, the design process for the Silopod music player app was a challenging but rewarding experience. I started with a not-so-extensive research of the target audience and design trends of the early 2000s, which helped to inform the design direction. I then created a Style Guide to guide the entire design process, using Adobe Photoshop to experiment with various design elements and aesthetics before exporting the entire design into AdobeXD to make it interactive. The result is a visually appealing and cohesive app that offers a unique and immersive music experience for users.
Project Outcome
The outcome of the Silopod music player application has been very positive since its launch on both Android and iOS platforms.
The app has met the expectations of the target audience and has received great feedback from users who appreciate the nostalgic design and seamless music-listening experience it provides.
One of the key outcomes of the project was the successful implementation of the features and functionalities we set out to create. The playlist management, song selection, and playback control features have been seamless and intuitive, allowing users to easily navigate and enjoy their music.
Another outcome we were pleased with was the successful integration of the app with various internet streaming services. This has enabled users to enjoy their favorite podcasts and radio stations with ease, and has further cemented the Silopod app as an all-in-one music player solution.
We were also happy with the successful implementation of the retro design aesthetic. The app’s user interface and visual design elements were tailored to provide a nostalgic experience for millennial users who reminisce about the physical mp3 players of the early 2000s.
The aesthetic was further complemented by the use of various design elements and color schemes that were popular during that era, which resulted in a visually appealing and coherent design.
One of the most important outcomes of the project was the positive feedback from respondents. The app has been praised for its simplicity and intuitive navigation, which makes it easy for users to find and play their favorite music, podcasts, or radio stations.
Features Implemented in the app
As mentioned earlier, there were three major features of the application namely: Music player, Podcast, and Radio al of which can be synced through the internet with ease. But there are some important aspects of the application as well.
Music Player Screen
This is the main screen of the app where users can play music. It features a large album cover, song title, artist name, and controls such as play, pause, skip, and repeat. Users can also access the music playlist from this screen.
Music Playlist
This feature allows users to create and manage their music playlists. Users can add or remove songs from their playlist, reorder the songs, and delete the entire playlist.
Music Lyrics
The music lyrics feature displays the lyrics of the song currently playing on the music player screen. This feature enhances the music-listening experience and enables users to sing along to their favorite songs.
Music Albums
This feature allows users to browse and view music albums available on the app. Users can view the album art, tracklist, and select a song to play.
Music Artist Page
This feature allows users to view all the music by a specific artist. Users can view their albums, top tracks, and songs in the playlist.
Radio UI
This feature provides a user interface for streaming radio stations on the app. Users can search for radio stations based on location, genre, or station name. They can also save their favorite stations for quick access.
Equalizer
This feature allows users to adjust the audio settings to enhance their listening experience. Users can adjust the bass, treble, and other audio settings to their preference.
User Account (Including Login/Sign up Screen)
This feature allows users to create an account and log in to the app. Users can save their favorite songs, playlists, and radio stations to their account for easy access. The login/sign up screen is the first screen users see when opening the app for the first time.
What I learnt designing Silopod UI
In conclusion, designing Silopod music player application was an exciting and challenging experience that taught me a lot about researches and User interface altogether.
The goal was to create a music player app that catered to the nostalgia of the early 2000s while also providing a modern user interface. The outcome was a successful launch of the application on both Android and iOS platforms with positive feedback from users.
One of the most important lessons I learned was the significance of user research. Although I did not conduct extensive research, I explored various styles and color schemes that were popular during the early 2000s.
This helped me to understand what users might expect from a music player app with a retro aesthetic.
Wireframing would’ve been essential for this project I wasn’t essentially keen on it. Normally, creating a low-fi design can help to ideate much better but I didn’t think about this as so important or “required” because of the app wasn’t essentially a serious thing at first until it later became one. I also mentioned that I designed the app using Adobe Photoshop at first. also essential in creating the final design of Silopod.
One thing I eventually had to do was to conduct User testing which was a crucial aspect of the project. By testing the app with a group of users, I was able to get feedback and insights that helped me to improve the design.
The user feedback also helped me to identify areas of the app that needed improvement and where new features could be added.
One of the biggest challenges in designing Silopod was balancing a retro aesthetic with modern functionality. To achieve this, I made sure to include all the necessary features of a conventional music player app such as playlist management, song selection, and playback control while also incorporating its unique design aesthetics.
The music player screen is the heart of Silopod, allowing users to play their favorite music and control playback immediately they open the app. The music playlist feature provides a simple and intuitive way for users to manage their music playlists.
The music lyrics feature provides users with the lyrics of the song they are listening to, enhancing their music experience. The music albums and artist pages also provide users with a way to explore their favorite artists and albums.
The radio UI feature allows users to stream live radio channels and listen to their favorite radio stations. Adding new radio channels to the app is also straightforward, giving users the flexibility to listen to new radio channels as they discover them.
The equalizer feature enhances the audio quality of the app, allowing users to customize the audio output to their liking.
The changing views feature, which includes grid and card views, provides users with the flexibility to choose how they view their music and radio channels. The radio channel screen provides users with a detailed view of the radio station they are listening to, including information about the current song playing, the DJ, and more.
Finally, the user account feature, including the login/sign-up screen, allows users to create an account, log in, and manage their preferences. This feature also allows users to keep track of their listening history and favorite songs.
What people said about Silopod
“Silopod would be my new favorite music app if it’s ever developed! It has a great interface and it’s easy to navigate through. The retro aesthetic is amazing and it gives me a nostalgic feeling.”
Kayode Omole
“I love the fact that the app will also have an EQ which will make it easy to finetune the audio output of the app which in my opinionis a cool idea”
kunbi
“I love the fact that Silopod has a Radio feature. It mean I can now listen to my favorite radio stations all in one app.”
chioma anabella
“Silopod’s artist page is amazing. It gives the impression that you’ll be able to findall the information required about an artist including their albums and their tracks, lyrics, and so forth.”
Bethel
“Silopod in my opinion woul be a great app for discovering new music especially for those not willing to pay for Spotify. I also love the fact that I can listen to local music files as well as stream from the internet. I think it would be great if the admin can create a wide range of genre and playlists using AI based on users’ interests and preferences like Spotify or Apple Music.”
Segun Oladele
“I’ve tried several music player apps before, but I believe Silopod if rreleased can be competitive on the market. While it’s niched due to its aesthetics, I think what would help it better apart from the UI would be the main functionalities of the app itself.”
Sion Watsen
What’s next?
As the creator of Silopod, I have always envisioned this app to be more than just a basic music player. My ultimate goal is to develop a full-blown service that provides users with a seamless and personalized music experience.
To achieve this, I am planning to incorporate AI-based technology that will help users to create music playlists and song selections based on their selected preferences during account setup.
One of the major challenges of a music player application is discovering new music that matches the user’s preferences. With the integration of AI technology, Silopod will be able to analyze user data such as music history, favorite genres, and artists to suggest personalized music playlists.
This feature will ensure that users always have a fresh and updated playlist that aligns with their music taste.
In addition to the AI-based technology, I am also planning to implement a design update to fix some issues regarding the overall aesthetics of the app. While the current design has been positively received by users, I believe that there is always room for improvement.
The planned update will focus on improving the user interface, enhancing the color scheme, and improving the overall user experience.
Another feature that I am planning to add to Silopod is the ability to stream music videos. This feature will allow users to watch music videos of their favorite songs without leaving the app. This will create a more immersive and engaging music experience for users who love both audio and visual aspects of music.
To ensure that Silopod remains relevant and up-to-date, I will continue to conduct regular user research and gather feedback from users. This feedback will be used to make necessary changes and updates to the app to meet the evolving needs and preferences of users.
Furthermore, I plan to integrate social media sharing features to allow users to share their favorite songs and playlists with their friends and family on social media platforms. This feature will help to increase the reach of Silopod while also creating a community of music lovers who share similar music interests.
In conclusion, my future plans for Silopod aim to provide users with a more personalized and engaging music experience.
By incorporating AI technology, updating the design, adding music video streaming, and integrating social media sharing features, I am confident that Silopod will continue to be a go-to music player application for users who love retro aesthetics and modern functionalities.
