The Vault

Alternative music streaming app.

This app caters to the niche of alternative music, offering a dedicated space for discovering new artists and connecting with fellow enthusiasts. It enriches the listening experience, fosters a vibrant community, and emphasizes transparency by showcasing song production credits. This platform serves as an outlet for artists to express personal and societal messages, encouraging engagement through interactive features for sharing playlists, thoughts, and events.

Interaction Design

Client

San Jose State University

Year

2023

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Discover the scene.

Addressing the scarcity of alternative music platforms, this app provides a dedicated space for discovering new artists and subgenres. It incorporates your music library to help you explore diverse alternatives. By connecting users with similar musical tastes, the platform fosters a sense of community and safety.

Phones displaying the app
Phones displaying the app

Play your sound.

The Vault’s music player comes with 3 key main functions:
- Integrated lyrics and insightful notes, bridging the gap between you and the artist's creative intention.
- Sound isolation to listen to each instrument on its own or to play along to.
- Credits section that celebrates the collective brilliance responsible for crafting each captivating melody.

Connect with artists.

Immerse yourself in a direct connection with the artists who resonate with your soul, gaining an exclusive front-row seat to their latest revelations. Furthermore, seamlessly link up with your comrades, catching glimpses of their posts, all while embarking on an exhilarating journey to unearth avant-garde talents that ignite your passions.

Phones displaying the app
Phones displaying the app

Meet like-minded fans.

Rediscover cherished friendships or forge exciting new bonds through our thoughtfully designed recommended friend feature, connecting you with kindred spirits who groove to similar musical vibes. In the world of Alternative music, forging connections is the heartbeat that drives the scene forward.

[Menu Features]

iPhone displaying the app features
Lots of iPhones displaying the whole app

[What is alt?]

Alternative music is a genre that emerged as an unconventional and experimental alternative to mainstream popular music, encompassing a diverse range of styles and subgenres. It's characterized by its non-conformist approach to composition, production, and themes, often associated with independent and underground music scenes. Alternative music artists explore innovative sounds, lyrics, and counter-cultural ideas, impacting both the music industry and mainstream culture.

What is Alt?

User Profile

Who listens to Alternative music?

Following a series of interviews, a user profile was created to help us understand and exceed the needs of alternative listeners.

Alternative Listener Persona
“I went to a couple of alternative punk and rap concerts and you could just see how much passion they had for their music. They were always in a really small venue, and sometimes it was just at someone’s house. It was music by the people for the people.”

[Styleguide]

The Vault Styleguide

Styleguide

Wireframes

the vault wireframes
iPhones floating in smoke displaying the app the vault

Final Prototype

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