appétude

An app that controls music production software or hardware allowing allows users with little or no knowledge of music theory or playing ability to create professional sounding compositions quickly and easily.

My Role

Product Designer, UX/UI (April 2018-June 2020)


I was the sole Product and UX/UI designer receiving input from the client and extensive user testing. My team consisted of 3 members, the founder and a PR/Strategist. The most significant asset I contribute to this project is considering the needs of the product while designing an interface that was cohesive, aesthetically pleasing, and easy to use.


  • Defined feature sets with client directly
  • ‍Streamlined client's multi screen prototype to a user friendly single screen UI
  • ‍High level product thinking including market climate, price point, competitive analysis
  • ‍Conducted extensive user research to define the specific needs of specific personas I defined
  • ‍Validated the personas based on testing, surveys and 1 on 1 interviews

Problem

ryanmainscreen

Client's Initial Prototype (Touchable OSC)

The client’s prototype needed a complete design overhaul due to scattered features on multiple screens and overall usability issues. Without extensive demoing, documentation, and practice a first time user would be challenged or incapable of any musical output from this original prototype.


  • Original prototype was not user friendly enough
  • ‍Too many knobs and buttons for single actions
  • ‍Layout needs to incorporate 2 types of instruments
Client's design in Touchable OSC of a keyboard and many knobs & buttons

Client's Initial Prototype (Touchable OSC)

Solution

Combined all features into a single home screen


  • Refined client’s prototype by combining complex features into Appètude’s controls
  • ‍Designed all features to be available independently on every track in the product
  • ‍Pivoted the MVP design interactions to create a new functional pixel perfect prototype

Appétude Arpeggio (Single Multi gesture Button)

Appétude Chord (Single Multi gesture Knob)

Consolidated multi knob functions into a single button/knob


  • ‍Arpeggio reduced from 5 controls to a single multi gesture button
  • ‍Chord reduced from hundreds of controls to a single multi gesture knob

A mockup of Appetude on iPad with the Melodic channels highlighted

Percussion and Melodic tracks can exist side by side, now with an additional gesture‍


  • Overcame major design challenge by adding the long press gestures to Melodic Channels
  • ‍Additional Melodic features hide behind the shared features of the Percussion Channels
  • ‍Allows for a seamless design between the two vastly different Channel options

Process

  • Define all components, features, how they behave, how the users may interact with them
  • ‍Decide which features we must have for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
  • ‍Lay out all the components via a wireframe
  • ‍Test, pivot, test, design some more, test until the team is happy with how the app interacts and behaves
  • ‍Design a more pixel perfect version now that the interactions are finalized
  • ‍Collaborate with our developer to create a working prototype that functions as intended
A sketchbook on a desk with MIDI controller and sharpies

Initial concept Sketch

Initial
Wire Frame

Early wireframe of Appetude on iPad

Pivoted
Wire Frame

Updated wireframe of Appetude on iPad

MoSCoW

MVP

A whiteboard with several post it notes in a 4 part grid

Principle
Prototype

Screenshot of Principle app showing how the Appetude prototype is built
A Keynote presentation with logo and iPad of Appetude

View the TLDR Case Study

Results

Appètude is currently being pitched to investors while it is in development


Now that the design of Appètude is finished and handed off to the developer I created a demo video to pitch to investors. The MVP is in the hands of testers and being iterated on based on feedback.


  • The video showcases the main features of Appètude in a musical context
  • ‍Explains what the app is, how it works, how users can interact with it
  • ‍Create a track start to finish in only a few minutes
  • ‍Highlights the potential and upside of Appètude

APPÉTUDE Early Development Demo - With Sound

APPÉTUDE Instructional Video - With Sound

User testing and demos of Appètude have been overwhelmingly positive


Now that the app has been demoed to users ranging from industry leaders to first time composers the feedback has been immensely encouraging. The Next steps are finalizing the MVP into a finished product and working on a release to the App Store.


  • Several industry leaders have already pledged support and are requesting permanent licenses
  • 90% of all testers surveyed would use the app and pay for it
  • ‍Based on the positive feedback and perceived potential we are leaning towards developing and releasing Appètude privately instead of selling to a larger firm to maximise potential return

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