SoundCloud Redesign
I discovered an issue through the SoundCloud community regarding the overall design of the site, with complications coming from an out-dated interface, legacy users resisting change, and new users feeling overwhelmed. From this discovery, I set out to redesign the home page. With my goals being to give SoundCloud a fresh look while enhancing the user experience for all users.
Users feel a distinct disconnect when it comes to the usability and design of the SoundCloud website, hindering the user experience and pushing users away to competitors.
- Secondary Research
- User Interviews
- Design Theory
- Brand Research
- Competitor Research
- Sketches
- Wireframes
- Design
I will be redesigning the SoundCloud website and improve the overall experience and look, revitalising the brand and bringing a fresh new experience to users. I will incorporate features that are commonly used in other music streaming platforms while keeping the overall layout and charm of the original SoundCloud design.
This is especially detrimental to new users who have taken a chance to get on SoundCloud and have been faced instantly with this pain point.
Users feel a distinct disconnect when it comes to the usability and design of the SoundCloud website, hindering the user experience and pushing users away to competitors.
SoundCloud has long been known as the go-to platform for discovering fresh, underground artists—while still offering the popular tracks everyone knows and loves. But in recent years, that sense of discovery has started to fade. Many users now say the ‘Golden Age of SoundCloud’ has come and gone.
SoundCloud has stuck with the same general layout for years. While that’s great for long-term users who know the system inside out, it can be off-putting for newcomers. Compared to other music platforms, the interface can feel overwhelming and unexpectedly different, making it harder for new users to get comfortable.
To accommodate various screen sizes without managing tricky breakpoints, SoundCloud uses a narrow column in the centre of the screen. This design choice ends up creating a cramped and cluttered experience.
This will help me design better for new users who are used to another platform and need some familiarity when trying to join SoundCloud for a smoother user experience.
This will also help me see how other platforms tackle challenges and how I can design SoundCloud to enhance the experience above and beyond their competitors.
I will be redesigning the SoundCloud website and improve the overall experience and look, revitalising the brand and bringing a fresh new experience to users. I will incorporate features that are commonly used in other music streaming platforms while keeping the overall layout and charm of the original SoundCloud design.
I used these wireframes to help iterate my design process, showing them to the target audience, gathering feedback and reworking the design based on this feedback.
SoundCloud has stuck with the same general layout for years. While that’s great for long-term users who know the system inside out, it can be off-putting for newcomers. Compared to other music platforms, the interface can feel overwhelming and unexpectedly different, making it harder for new users to get comfortable.
To accommodate various screen sizes without managing tricky breakpoints, SoundCloud uses a narrow column in the centre of the screen. This design choice ends up creating a cramped and cluttered experience.
I redesigned the interface to look more modern and less daunting for new users. An important feature of my design choices in the overall layout is that I have retained the general composition of features and content to keep the site intuitive and comfortable for existing users.
I have used Open Sans to aid in making the site easier and quicker to load which I had found in my research to be a common issue on the platform.
There should be a toggle for light mode and dark mode in the settings to give users more control over the appearance.
An important feature that should also be in the settings is the option to use the new design or the legacy design to balance the needs between existing users and new users.
This is done because there is a lot of tension in the Soundcloud community over how the design should be changed, usually persuaded by some user’s nostalgia which often halts design progress.
