Case Study
Spotify Redesign
Listening With Intention
Reimagining music discovery as reflection, not endless scrolling.
Role
UX Designer
Duration
2 weeks
Tools
React, Tailwind, Figma
Platform
Mobile (iOS)
Your Threads
01
The Story
Spotify is excellent at helping users find more music — but over time, I noticed that saved songs became easy to forget, recommendations felt opaque, and listening turned passive.
This redesign explores what Spotify could look like if it prioritized meaningful listening over infinite discovery.
I introduced a new mental model called Listening Threads: finite, behavior-driven collections of music that explain why they exist, help users rediscover forgotten favorites, and reflect how music fits into their daily lives.
Rather than asking "What do you want to play?", this experience asks: "Why are you listening right now — and what does that say about you?"
02
Key Ideas
Listening Threads
Finite, intention-based collections shaped by behavior — not algorithms
Why This Exists
Transparent, human explanations for every recommendation
Listening Memory
A living reflection of listening patterns over time
Rediscovery Moments
Resurfacing music tied to personal context and memory
03
What Makes This Different
04
Research & Problem Framing
What I observed about long-term Spotify use — pain points around discovery, trust, and memory.
Saved songs become forgotten archives
Recommendations feel random, not personal
No context for why songs were suggested
Listening becomes passive background noise
Research notes & insights
05
Early Concepts & Wireframes
Exploring how discovery could be finite, reflective, and calm — without losing speed.
Low-fidelity wireframes
06
Iteration & Refinement
Refining hierarchy, reducing density, and making the "why" behind recommendations immediately scannable.
Added 'WHY THIS EXISTS' labels
Makes intent immediately obvious to users
Capped threads at 5-7 tracks
Finite collections feel intentional, not overwhelming
Replaced stats with contextual insights
'47 plays' → 'Most replayed during finals week'
Single primary CTA per thread
Reduces decision fatigue
Before / after comparisons
07
Final Design
A Spotify experience organized around how and why users listen — not just what they play.
Listening Threads Home
Maximum 3 threads, full-width cards, no carousels
Thread Detail View
Reason at top, finite track list, refine controls
Listening Memory
Animated patterns, emotional clusters, one insight at a time
Contextual Now Playing
Memory insights replace raw metrics
Final UI screens
08
Reflection
This project challenged me to design within an iconic product while introducing a fundamentally new interaction model.
It reinforced my belief that the most meaningful digital experiences help users understand themselves, not just consume more content.
• Constraints enable creativity and clarity
• Context is more valuable than content
• Explaining "why" builds trust in recommendations
• Finite choices can feel more generous than infinite ones