A lively social hub that fuses karaoke, KJs, singers, and venues into one dynamic app
The Clients
Karaoke Jockeys
Singers
The Product
End-to-End Mobile App
My Role
UX/UI Design, Market Research, Competitor Analysis, Participant Recruitment, User Interviews, Affinity Map, Problem Statement, HMW’s, Persona Development, Site Map, User Flows, Task Flows, Wireframing, Branding, Prototyping, User Testing, Iterations, UI Kit
Venue Owners
Timeframe
16 weeks / 300+ hours
The Tools
Figma, Figjam, Similar Web, Google Slides, Google Meet, Envato, Screen Recorder, TapeACall, Noun Project
defining “The…
The Background
Karaoke is a popular social activity that fosters community engagement and entertainment. However, finding local karaoke events can be challenging and many KJs lack a centralized platform to manage their music libraries and interact with their audience. With the rise of mobile technology, there is a significant opportunity to create a dedicated app that addresses these challenges.
The Solution
The Objective
The goal is to create an all-encompassing mobile application that links users to local karaoke events. This platform will also enable DJs to showcase their music collections and accept song requests, ultimately enriching the karaoke experience for both participants and performers alike. Through this innovative approach, we aim to foster a more interactive and enjoyable atmosphere for all users.
The Potential
The karaoke industry is booming, with more bars, clubs, and private events hosting karaoke nights than ever. This growth offers a unique opportunity to create a specialized mobile app for karaoke lovers. The app could help users find local events, connect with other singers, and access music libraries. Incorporating event notifications and venue specials will help attract and engage a dedicated user base.
Design a Karaoke app that addresses a market gap by providing a centralized platform for karaoke enthusiasts and KJs. This solution improves user experience and fosters social connectivity, making karaoke nights more enjoyable and profitable. Investing in this app can increase participation in karaoke events and build a vibrant online community.
Analyzing similar platforms will uncover gaps and potential opportunities.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
In today’s entertainment landscape, understanding the competition and analyzing key players will provide insights into user preferences and available features.
Mission statement
Target market
Pricing
Strengths
Weaknesses
Notes
“Bring the world together through live experiences”
Adults 18-55+
Free to use but users pay service fees on tickets, payment processing fees and pricing plans are offered for organizations to choose from
-User friendly platform
-Wide range of tools for event organizers including ticketing options, promotion features, analytics and social media integration
-Reliable, credible and well-known, strong brand
-Service fees on ticket sales
-Relies on stable internet connection for ticket sales
-Limited customization capabilities for users compared to other platforms
-Excellent advertising and customer draw to events
-Doesn’t provide music library sharing and requests for karaoke
-Karaoke is not listed in categories but is capable of search
“Enhancing social experiences through music and events”
Adults 18-44
Free to use
-User friendly interface, easy to navigate, find events and connect with friends
-Fosters social connectivity through interest in similar music and events
-Provides an intuitive platform for discovering local events, concerts and activities
-Limited brand recognition
-Focus on music events may limit the app’s appeal to a larger user database by extending event options beyond music and nightlife
-Relies on active user participation and engagement
-Excellent advertising and customer draw to events
-Doesn’t provide music library sharing and requests for karaoke
-Includes a limited karaoke focus
User
“The only app you need at karaoke”
Adults/Singer 18+
Free to use
-Provides an easy way to make song requests for users
Singers can monitor the status of their song requests
-Singers can request songs that are not already in the host’s library
-Keeps track of requests and history if account is created
-Singers can withdraw son requests in the app if they need to leave
-Geo location available
-Restrictions in creating account
-Poor user experience
-Multiple errors
-Not well known or used in the US
-Lacks social connectivity and draw to events
-Provides ability for singers to find karaoke events near them and request songs
Host
“The only app you need at karaoke”
Adults/KJs 18+
3 Pricing Plans:
-Provides KJs with the ability to share their music libraries with users
-Encourages hosts to expand their library
-Eliminates need of keeping track of hand written requests from singers
-Good payment plan options for KJs to decide on
-Creates a community for KJs to draw singers to their events
-Restrictions in creating account
-Poor user experience
-Multiple errors
-Not well known or used in the US
-Lacks customizable account and social media integration
-Provides ability for dj’s to share their music library to karaoke singers
It’s clear that Groovi excels in user experience and event discovery. However, it lacks essential features like music library sharing, song requests, and a live queue. In contrast, the WCIS app includes these features but lacks strong social connectivity, limiting user engagement.
Combining Groovi's strengths with WCIS's essential features presents a significant opportunity to create a comprehensive karaoke app. By adding social functions like chat options and shared playlists, the app could attract more users, boost engagement, and increase revenue and brand recognition.
Recruiting participants for user interviews will provide valuable insights into the needs of singers and KJs, helping me tailor the app to enhance the karaoke experience.
-
$2 AUD/mo
($1.33 USD)
*One venue w/ unlimited gigs and hosts -
$10 AUD/mo
($6.63 USD)
*includes up to 12 venues simultaneously w/ unlimited gigs and hosts -
$1
($.66 USD)
*good for private functions, single use - any future date
USER INTERVIEWS
Singers and DJs seek a karaoke app that not only displays local gigs with detailed event information but also includes a social feature to help users gauge the atmosphere of each event.
Through interviews, my primary focus will be to gain clarity on:
User Experience and Interface Preferences:
Understanding what features and design elements users find most intuitive and enjoyable in a karaoke app.
Song Request and Queue Management Needs:
Exploring how users prefer to request songs and manage their queue status, including any challenges they face.
Social Interaction and Community Building:
Investigating the importance of social features, such as messaging and collaboration, and how they can enhance the karaoke experience for both singers and KJs.
It would be awesome to have the app notify you if you’re three songs out or something. Being able to see a real time accurate list of the queue would be so nice!
-Brad H, Singer & Interviewee
The top three wants from users and KJs are:
Streamlined Song Request System
An easy-to-use interface for searching and requesting songs.
Real-Time Queue Management
Notifications about queue status and position to enhance time management during events.
Social Interaction Features
Opportunities for users to connect, collaborate, and communicate with each other and the DJ.
Essential key features defined by users:
Simple navigation for song searches.
Display current queue status with notifications.
Allow users to submit requests ahead of events.
Organizing interview responses according to similar patterns will facilitate the identification of distinct groups and their associated categories.
Users can find local karaoke events easily.
Messaging options for collaboration.
DJs can promote their events within the app.
AFFINITY MAPPING
Drawing from the insights gathered in the interviews and utilizing the results in an affinity map, I can begin to pinpoint key themes and patterns that will outline the development of a user-centered karaoke app.
Key bullet points that interviewees commonly agreed upon:
- Interviewees emphasized the need for a single app to easily find local karaoke events.
- Specific details such as time, date, location, and costs were considered important.
- Participants valued social features for rating and commenting on events.
- A simple and intuitive interface was deemed essential for user experience.
- Real-time updates on upcoming events were suggested to keep users informed.
- There was a consensus on fostering a sense of community among users to share karaoke experiences.
By organizing the feedback into cohesive sections, key categories emerged that highlight essential app features and those of lower priority. Affinity mapping revealed clear insights on what should be prioritized versus what is less important.
Most Important
At this time, there are no products available in the market that encompass all the categories that have surfaced, and maintaining these categories is essential for the app's design and development.
Leverage the fact that karaoke performers rely exclusively on Facebook to uncover details about local events to incorporate a strong social feature into the app.
Create a user-friendly interface that includes song requests at events, advance song requests, and shared music libraries with search filters. It should feature a live queue for singers, options to find and save events, notifications for reminders, and connections between KJs and singers.
Least Important
While some singers showed interest in feedback, many DJ hosts do not see its importance; thus, a robust feedback mechanism may not be needed at this stage.
The desire to share personal karaoke experiences (photos or videos) varies among users. Some singers prefer privacy and may not see value in this feature, making it a lower priority.
Some users are willing to pay for specific features, but a subscription model faces skepticism. Simpler monetization strategies, such as one-time payments for song requests, should be prioritized over complex pricing.
The insights derived from the affinity mapping will provide a basis for crafting user personas that accurately represent the needs and preferences of our target audience.
USER PERSONAS
Understanding the needs of singers and KJs is essential for creating effective user personas for the karaoke app. This knowledge allows me to tailor the app to meet their specific requirements.
From the information gathered during user interviews, I created user personas by analyzing the responses to identify common traits, needs, and behaviors among participants. This involved categorizing the insights into distinct groups based on factors such as:
Demographics:
Understanding the age, gender, and background of users to create relatable personas.
Pain Points:
Recognizing challenges users face, like difficulty in discovering events or a lack of community interaction.
Goals and Motivations:
Identifying what users aim to achieve with the karaoke app, such as finding events or other singers.
Preferences:
Gaining insights on desired features like song libraries, social sharing, and user-friendly interfaces.
By synthesizing this information into detailed personas, I was able to create fictional representations of different user types, each reflecting specific needs and characteristics. This process helped ensure that the app design is user-centric and tailored to meet the diverse requirements of its audience.
From the development of user personas, I can create a Venn diagram that visually represents the overlapping and distinct needs of different user groups.
PROJECT GOALS
Creating a Venn diagram to map the overlapping and distinct needs of user groups will help identify common features and establish a strong baseline.
The diagram revealed distinct and clear objectives, facilitating the identification of the primary goals for each group. These objectives offer a targeted pathway for technical advancement, user interaction, and business planning, ensuring that the requirements of all parties are met effectively. While the diagram below presents additional opportunities, I highlighted what I consider to be the three most important bullet points for each group:
Technical Goals
Performance Optimization:
Ensure smooth operation with minimal latency.
Security:
Implement robust measures to protect user data.
Cross-Platform Compatibility:
Ensure seamless function across devices and operating systems
User Goals
Ease of Use:
Create an intuitive and user-friendly interface.
Access to a Diverse Song Library:
Provide a wide range of songs across genres.
Social Interaction:
Enable features for users to connect and share experiences
Business Goals
User Acquisition:
Develop effective strategies to attract new users.
Retention and Engagement:
Foster loyalty through updates and community features.
Monetization:
Identify revenue streams through subscriptions or ads.
In conclusion, the diagram serves as a strategic component for aligning the app's capabilities with user requirements, enabling the creation of a more efficient and user-focused product. I have a strong foundation to build upon as I progress with further development.
Establishing problem statements and "How Might We" questions will clarify available opportunities essential for the app's design.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Grasping the viewpoints of prospective users will foster a thoughtfully designed app that provides an outstanding user experience.
Through the integration of insights from user interviews, the affinity map, personas, and project goals, I formulated detailed problem statements and relevant "How Might We" inquiries.
POV’s and HMW’s
You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.
—Harper Lee
Users often struggle to find local karaoke events and may lose interest in the app due to a lack of engaging features.
How might we improve user engagement and retention by providing a more interactive and personalized experience that encourages regular participation in karaoke events?
How might we create personalized event recommendations based on users' singing preferences and past activities to encourage regular participation?
Users face difficulties discovering songs and submitting requests during live events, leading to frustration and a negative experience.
How can we streamline the song discovery and request process to ensure users can easily find their favorite songs and make requests in real-time?
How might we develop an intuitive search and filter system that allows users to quickly find songs by genre, artist, or popularity during live events?
How might we integrate a real-time request queue feature that notifies users of their song status and estimated wait time to enhance the request process during karaoke sessions?
There is limited interaction between singers and KJs, which diminishes the sense of community within the app.
How might we enhance community interaction features to foster a more connected and supportive environment for users during karaoke events?
How might we introduce chat and social features that allow users to connect with each other and DJs before, during, and after karaoke events to foster a sense of community?
How might we create a feedback system where users can share their performance experiences and encourage each other, building a supportive atmosphere within the app?
By emphasizing and concentrating on the various user perspectives, I can begin to identify the categories and subcategories that will form my feature set, site map and user flows.
FEATURE SET & INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
By understanding the user's pain points, preferences, goals, and motivations, as well as having a clear grasp of the priority features to include in my set, I can effectively begin to establish a visual hierarchy of categories.
Creating the feature set is crucial for designing a successful sitemap. While changes are expected, this lists the top ten priority categories and their importance:
1. Event Discovery and Calendar - A feature that allows users to search for local karaoke events and view a calendar of upcoming shows.
Business Goals: High, User Needs: High
2. Song Search and Filter System- An intuitive search tool that allows users to find songs by genre, artist, or popularity.
Business Goals: High, User Needs: High
3. Real-Time Request Queue- A feature that shows users the status of their song requests and estimated wait time.
Business Goals: Medium, User Needs: High
4. User Profiles and Personalization- User accounts that save favorite songs, events, and performance history, allowing for personalized recommendations.
Business Goals: High, User Needs: High
5. Social Interaction and Chat Feature- A platform for users to chat with each other and DJs, sharing experiences and encouragement.
Business Goals: Medium, User Needs: High
SITEMAP-VERSION 1
6. Feedback and Rating System- A feature that allows users to rate their performances and provide feedback on events.
Business Goals: Medium, User Needs: Medium
7. Gamification Elements (Rewards and Challenges)- Introducing achievements, rewards, and challenges to motivate user engagement.
Business Goals: High, User Needs: Medium
8. Offline Functionality- Allow users to view their favorite songs and events offline.
Business Goals: Low, User Needs: Medium
9. Integration with Music Libraries- Collaborate with existing music libraries for a wider selection of songs.
Business Goals: High, User Needs: High
10. DJs and Venue Profiles- Profiles for DJs and venues that provide information about their events and specialties.
Business Goals: Medium, User Needs: Medium
The first version of my sitemap served as a foundational framework for developing my user flows. The outline, structure and organization of the content was an intricate guide for mapping out important user needs and goals:
USER FLOWS
Focusing on the sitemap, it was crucial to outline a user flow for a singer and a KJ, ensuring each experience is tailored to their specific needs.
Singer Flow: A new user/singer visits the app for the first time to look for karaoke events near them.
KJ Flow: A KJ that visits the app for first time and chooses to create an account
Once I completed my user flows and transitioned to low-fidelity wireframes, I identified the need for important adjustments to my sitemap. Before advancing with my wireframe sketches, I revised the sitemap by eliminating, combining and moving different categories:
“I’m A Singer section” -Moved Help & Support from its own category to User Profile
This allowed me to have five main categories in the footer menu rather than six
“I’m the DJ/KJ section” -Cut down on number of settings originally included to create a profile
Felt there were too many to complete and they were steps that could be done later
“I’m the DJ/KJ section” -Scaled down number of categories from eleven categories to five
The new categories are much more refined and will be easier for the user to manage navigation
SITEMAP-VERSION 2
Making the adjustments was a crucial step in advancing the design and provided me with the confidence in moving forward with sketching the low-fidelity wireframes.
LOW-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
With strong feature set, updated sitemap, and established user flows, I felt well-prepared to confidently create the low-fidelity wireframes.
Because sketching low-fidelity wireframes is essential for visualizing user interactions within a design layout, I understood that any changes made at this stage would be easy to implement and would serve as a visual starting point.
With a visual design concept in place, the next priority was to establish my brand's identity.
BRAND DEVELOPMENT
Creating a compelling brand identity for me is not just about the visuals; it's the core of a story that connects with my audience and sets my vision apart in a competitive landscape.
My initial design ideas came together effortlessly. I envisioned vibrant colors and elements that echoed the look of neon lights. Incorporating a dark mode was essential to ensure the phone screen remained subdued, perfect for a bar setting.
QRAOKE MOODBOARD
Gathering images and curating a mood board was the perfect way to lay the foundation for a comprehensive style tile design. This process allowed me to explore various inspirations and visualize the aesthetic I wanted to achieve. As I collected visuals that resonated with my vision, I began to see how different elements could come together to create a cohesive look that truly represented my brand's identity. Each image I selected contributed to a rich combination of colors, textures, and styles, ultimately shaping my design direction and setting the stage for the final outcome.
The last element in my brand development journey was designing a logo that resonated with users and radiated a lively, playful, electrifying energy reminiscent of nightlife.
A brand identity that truly stood out and embodied everything I envisioned, making it the perfect foundation to move forward with creating the high-fidelity wireframes.
HIGH-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
Developing high-fidelity wireframes will connect the concept and execution, allowing for a detailed visualization of the user experience while ensuring that every design element is thoughtfully considered and aligned with the overall brand strategy.
Creating two distinct sets of wireframes was essential to illustrate how interactions would manifest in both the singer version of the app and the KJ version, highlighting the unique user experiences for each role.
SINGER
KARAOKE JOCKEY
Having completed the high-fidelity wireframes, I was prepared to evaluate the usability of each task with my initial interview participants.
USABILITY TEST PLAN
To effectively assess and enhance the user experience of the Qraoke website, I established specific goals, background context, task flows, and metrics for evaluation.
Goals:
To assess the usability of the Qraoke website for both singers and KJs, and to identify any necessary modifications to enhance the user experience.
Background:
Karaoke is a widely enjoyed social activity that encourages community involvement and entertainment. However, discovering local karaoke events can be difficult, and many DJs lack a unified platform for managing their music libraries and engaging with their audience. With the advancement of mobile technology, there exists a substantial opportunity to develop a dedicated app that resolves these issues.
My two task flows will focus on:
1. A new user/singer accessing the app for the first time to search for nearby karaoke events.
2. A KJ using the app for the first time to create an account.
Metrics:
- Was the task successfully completed?
- What errors or obstacles were encountered?
- Were there any questions or assistance required to finish the task?
- Was the experience user-friendly or confusing?
USABILITY TEST RESULTS
Reflecting on the testing observations and interview responses from five singers and two KJs, I gained valuable insights into the usability and design of the Qraoke app, which revealed a generally positive experience among participants while also highlighting areas for potential improvement.
Key Findings—
Navigation and Usability:
-Most users navigated the app without hesitation, although a few experienced minor confusion when selecting location when viewing upcoming events. The dropdown options on the home page were areas of concern for some users.
Clarity of Information:
-Users found the information provided within the app to be clear and straightforward. There were no suggestions for additional filters beyond location, driving distance, and dates, indicating satisfaction with the current filtering options.
Visual Design:
-The app's design received positive feedback, with users appreciating the aesthetics, including the dark mode for a more comfortable experience in low-light environments. The bright and colorful pages were also well-received.
Categories and Features:
-Participants agreed that the categories made sense and felt that no additional categories were necessary. Suggestions included adding trending indicators for upcoming events and potential incentives at venues.
Account Creation:
-Users responded favorably to the positioning of the account creation prompt, noting that it was well-timed and not intrusive. Most indicated a willingness to sign up for an account based on the information presented.
Overall Satisfaction:
-All testers expressed a high likelihood of recommending the app to others, citing its functionality and enjoyable user experience. Participants also indicated a strong intention to use the app regularly.
-Singer Suggestions for Improvement:
-Singers suggested minor enhancements including the addition of event popularity indicators.
-The ability to see incentives at venues.
-Include event end times on “upcoming events card.”
-Consider streamlining text on the “welcome page” or removing the page because it didn’t seem to make a difference in the decision of the user creating an account .
KJ Suggestions for Improvement:
-Adding a “to do list” on the KJ home page
-Adjust the welcome page to include information regarding the singers.
-Expressed interest in customizable features on the KJ home page.
-Remove the “your music library card” and “create a new event card” on KJ home page
-Add the option to “create a new event” as a plus sign to the upcoming event card on the KJ home page.
Conclusion
The results from the usability tests indicate that the Qraoke app is on the right track, with a solid foundation in usability and design. While users expressed general satisfaction, incorporating their suggestions will further enhance the app's appeal and functionality. Overall, the feedback highlights a promising future for the Qraoke app and implementing necessary iterations will continue to strengthen the design.
Through the analysis of significant insights gathered from usability test outcomes, user feedback, and visual indicators, initiating revisions that integrate practical modifications will enhance the overall user experience.
ITERATIONS - SINGER PORTION OF APP
User testing is a vital part of creating and improving my app, as it allows me to hear directly from my users. Their helpful feedback inspired me to make meaningful changes, ensuring the app truly fits their needs and meets their expectations.
SINGER - ORIGINAL & REVISED SCREENS
ITERATIONS - KJ PORTION OF APP
From all of the fantastic ideas and insights I received from my singers and KJs, it was clear how much this app means to them.
KJ - ORIGINAL & REVISED SCREENS
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Knowing that developing the ideal app requires patience and multiple revisions to fine-tune everything, I came to the conclusion that I needed to implement another adjustment to resonate more effectively with users.
I wasn't happy with how the intro page for KJs was designed and believed it could be improved. My goal was to reduce the amount of text displayed, so I chose to organize it into three distinct categories of users who benefit from the app. I also wanted to incorporate the floating card design to enhance its visual appeal and maintain design consistency.
ORIGINAL DESIGN
The introductory text focused solely on the advantages specifically associated with the KJ.
FINAL REVISION
FIRST REVISION
The updated introductory text was altered to encompass information regarding the benefits for both KJs and singers.
The third revision now features individual cards that highlight the important details and advantages for KJs, singers, and venues. User testing revealed that KJs are interested in understanding how the app benefits both themselves and their users.
Having an app like this would be incredibly beneficial; it's hard to believe that nothing like it currently exists with these features.
—Scott S, KJ & Interviewee
With the final touches in place, my high-fidelity prototype has reached a polished state that is not only easy to navigate but also visually appealing and ready for exploration. I took the time to meticulously proofread my wireframes one more time, implementing necessary adjustments to enhance usability. Each screen was thoughtfully reviewed to ensure that I was satisfied with its design and the overall flow of the user experience.
HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES - SINGER
After adjusting the singer pages, I shifted my focus to the KJ pages. The next wireframe section involved refining the features and functionalities that specifically cater to karaoke jockeys, ensuring that their experience is equally seamless and engaging.
HIGH FIDELITY WIREFRAMES - KJ
Final thoughts and wrapping up…
Careful attention to detail has resulted in a seamless interface that invites users to engage fully with the app.
The intuitive navigation allows users to explore features effortlessly, minimizing frustration and enhancing the experience. The aesthetic appeal, with thoughtfully chosen colors and typography, creates an inviting atmosphere that fosters enjoyment.
Optimized flow between screens guides users smoothly from song selection to performance, encouraging deeper exploration and active participation. This design approach empowers users and leads to a more satisfying karaoke experience, cultivating a community of enthusiastic users eager to return.
You're welcome to view the prototypes to experience the seamless interface firsthand here:
