Spotify Desktop Re-design Project
Project Overview
Spotify Desktop Redesign is a personal UX/UI project focused on addressing key usability issues in Spotify's desktop application. Through user research and interface analysis, I identified critical pain points that affect different types of listeners - from students using Spotify as background music to podcast enthusiasts seeking better content management.
Project Goals:
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Streamline navigation and reduce interface clutter
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Optimize the mini player for background listening workflows
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Create content-specific interfaces for podcasts and audiobooks
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Improve consistency between mobile and desktop experiences
My Role: UX/UI Designer
Duration: 4 - 6 weeks
Tools: Figma, React
Approach: User-centered design process starting with pain point identification, followed by user story development, competitive analysis, and iterative interface redesign focused on workflow optimization.
Problems with the current UI
Navigation & Accessibility Issues
Inconsistent button sizing and placement creates usability friction throughout the interface. Critical navigation elements like back/forward buttons and the home button are undersized, making them difficult to locate and interact with efficiently.
Search functionality placement varies across different sections, breaking user expectations and creating cognitive load as users must relearn interface patterns within the same application.
Playlist Management Inefficiencies
Visual clutter on the home screen displays the entire playlist library simultaneously, overwhelming users and making it difficult to focus on current tasks or discover new content.
Non-functional drag interactions mislead users - playlist items appear draggable but provide no feedback or action, creating frustration and breaking interface expectations.
Inconsistent sidebar controls use different interaction patterns for similar functions (queue minimization vs playlist panel), forcing users to learn multiple paradigms for basic navigation.
Mini Player Limitations
Static positioning requires manual repositioning when the mini player obscures important content, interrupting user workflow and creating unnecessary friction for background listening scenarios.
Cross-Platform Consistency
Desktop-mobile disconnect creates a fragmented experience for users switching between platforms, with different icon sets, layouts, and interaction patterns that don't translate learned behaviors.
Content-specific optimization gaps fail to serve users who primarily consume podcasts or audiobooks, forcing them to navigate music-centric interfaces for different content types.
Common user complaints
(Source: Reddit & Spotify customer service platform)
User Stories
1. Background Listener (Mini Player)
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User type: Professional/student who uses Spotify while working
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Pain Point: The Current mini player is bulky and distracting during work
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User story: “As a background listener, I want a minimal, unobstrusive mini player so I can control music without disrupting my workflow.”
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Success metric: Controls are accessible with fewer clicks, and there is a smaller footprint
2. Music Explorer (Navigation & Discovery)
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User type: Active music discoverer with a large library
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Pain Point: UI feels cluttered, hard to navigate between multiple personal libraries, and discovery
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User story: “As a music explorer, I want streamlined navigation between my library and discover featured so I can easily access both familiar and new music.”
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Success metric: Faster access to saved albums, better discovery integration
3. Cross-Platform User (Consistency)
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User type: Mobile-first user adapting to desktop
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Pain point: Desktop interface doesn't match mobile mental model
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User story: "As someone familiar with mobile Spotify, I want the desktop app to follow similar navigation patterns so I don't have to relearn the interface."
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Success metric: Consistent navigation patterns across platforms
4. Podcast/Audiobook listener (Content - Specific UI)
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User type: User who primarily consumes spoken content
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Pain point: Podcast/audiobook interface lacks depth and takes up excessive space
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User story: "As a podcast-first listener, I want a dedicated interface optimized for spoken content discovery and management."
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Success metric: Better content organization, less scrolling, episode management
Research & Analysis
Coming Soon...