“What’s Spinning?” is a vinyl record mat designed to bridge generational gaps through shared music experiences. It blends analog nostalgia with digital interactivity, using a built-in microphone and LED lighting system to notify users when friends or family tune in to listen alongside them remotely.
The accompanying mobile app displays real-time listening activity, fostering meaningful conversations and connections through comments, emojis, and reactions. For the video pitch, I filmed using a Sony A7R II with a Tamron 28-75mm lens, performed as the grandpa character, and handled the editing.
• Role: Visual design lead, established a cohesive visual identity for app and physical product presentation.
• Style Chosen: Neobrutalism, selected for its balance of retro charm and modern simplicity.
• Target Audience: Designed to resonate with older vinyl enthusiasts and younger, tech-oriented users alike.
• Design Priorities: An intuitive, accessible interface emphasizing ease of use and legibility enables effortless connection without complex interactions.
Our iterative design process involved extensive user-centered research, prototyping, and ongoing user feedback, ensuring intuitive interaction across generations. Regular testing and refinement informed our design decisions, particularly around usability, accessibility, and user engagement.
Key stages of our process:
• Initial Interviews & Surveys: Identified user listening habits, challenges, and social behaviors around music.
• Ideation & Sketching: Quickly generated multiple concepts, focusing on bridging analog nostalgia with digital connectivity.
• Participatory Workshops: Engaged participants directly, gathering immediate insights and feedback on ideas.
• Prototyping: Developed physical prototypes using laser-cut cork and integrated LED systems to visualize real-time sharing.
• Usability Testing: Conducted iterative testing sessions, refining the design’s clarity, simplicity, and ease of use.
Through this user-centered approach, we prioritized simplicity and accessibility, achieving an intuitive and engaging design for tech-savvy and older vinyl enthusiasts alike.
A crucial insight was the importance of intuitive simplicity. Older participants appreciated a “set-and-forget” approach, while younger users valued immediacy and clarity. Balancing aesthetics with functional clarity was vital, proving that visually appealing designs must also prioritize ease of use for diverse age groups.
