ML Designs Emotions and Music Research
Project Insight
This semester-long project focused on user research, problem-solving, and designing with the user in mind. My group and I explored the relationship between music and mood, investigating how people use music to influence, express, and respond to their emotions.
Through multiple rounds of field research, user feedback, and exploration, we identified opportunities to create a product that could make this relationship more intentional and personalized. Based on our research findings, we ultimately chose to develop a mobile app that allows users to interact with music in a more personalized and functional way.
The project challenged us to move beyond designing based on assumptions and instead use research and user needs to guide our decisions. Each stage of the process helped us refine our direction and ensure that our final concept was rooted in the behaviors and experiences of the people we were designing for.
Design Concept
Based on our research, we developed a mobile app designed to create a more personalized relationship between music, mood, and community. The app allows users to interact with music based on how they are feeling while also encouraging connection with others through shared recommendations and conversations.
The experience includes several features that support this relationship, including personalized mood-based quizzes, music recommendations, messaging, community groups, and a personal journal. The journal allows users to reflect on their experiences and connect specific songs and memories to their emotions over time.
The goal was to create more than another music-streaming experience. Instead, we designed an environment where users could discover music that fits their emotions, share those experiences with others, and reflect on how music influences their everyday lives.
Final Paper