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Samsung Tune Station 2
UI DESIGN · PRODUCT STRATEGY
INTRODUCTION
TUNE STATION, a music player for Samsung TVs, was launched in India in 2019 as a key feature of the Unbox Magic TV Series. We set out to convert the television into a virtual music system with a skeuomorphic design language that would also serve as a shop floor differentiator for potential buyers while making purchasing decisions
MY ROLE
Trend Research, Analysis, UI design, Features, User-Testing.
THE TEAM
5 designers, 1 product manager, 8+ engineers.
TIME LINE
June 2019 — Feb 2020
My Role as the UI Designer was to Study Epistemic & Cross Generational Aesthetic to design that evokes Functional Nostalgia to Music
CONCEPT
TV SOUND WALL, a music player for the Eden UI was proposed to create more synergy while pairing Samsung TVs with the rising 'Soundbar' Category
Reflection- Vinyl & Family Hub
RISING CATEGORY
AT CAGR 8.6%
OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT REDESIGNED UI
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Skeuomorphic Design
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Showcase Mode
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Concert Mode
BHANGRA
GHAZAL
FOLK
CARNATIC
Ai Music Mode
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Online Streaming:
Screen Off Mode
RESEARCH & BENCHMARKING
Market Research
Key Takeaways
Millennials & Nuclear Families
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Concept Validation Research
The target group aimed at older millennials who would be open to a nostalgic take on a musical platform. It can also act as a cross generational preference exchange for nuclear families
Before diving deep into the brief, as a part of an agile product innovation process, we tested out our top incubated concepts with a range of contexts and users. The validated results are used to streamline concepts further based on context.
MUSIC PART OF EVERYDAY
Music is the most popular YouTube video genre in India making it the No. 1 recreation/hobby of Indian Consumers.
out of 100 people listen to music (either primary listening, in the background or at live music events throughout the year)
out of 100 Online Consumers consider Music to be a very important part of their life.
CONSUMER INSIGHT
'TV often plays music at home, but is not seen as a Music Player'.
OPPORTUNITY
To create a Visual Music Experience to transform TV into a Music Player.
PROCESS
We kicked of the process by a comprehensive experience review of the current experience against the targeted one.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Content Partner Integration
Generational Music Exchange
Compatible with & Recalling current app based platforms. Music is all very scattered due to being on too many devices.
Instead of everybody on their phones for music, a music hub results in everyone hearing the other's musical preferences in a nuclear family.
Sound Wall UX integration through TV & Sound-bar
New Viewing Experience for TV
Bringing visual thematic detail to interiors, and music system which has been minimalized to a TV & Sound bar. TV doesn't blend in with home interior & the black screen looks out of place.
To add a digital music streaming experience much like OTT for the television. Lack of a single screen UX makes it difficult to navigate music spread across many platforms on TV.
Music Visualization /Light Up Interface Nostalgia of Stereo Systems & Jukeboxes
Hi-Fi stereos with CD-changer, radio & double tape deck has a very strong recall value for a visual space for music player
Mental Model
The Skeuomorphic hub interface would have a high recall value across the Target User Groups & help them align the interface with products functionality
Versatile Usability
The design has to be versatile in terms of input/platforms & user flow based on genre preferences
New Interaction
While the mental model is based on physical the User Flow & affordances will cater to newer interactions.
Design Goals
The Consumer & Market Insights helped us define our focus areas for the redesign
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
User Interface Design
MOODBOARDS
RESEARCH
Mood boards
Based on the insights and discussions with the key stakeholders, we decided that the overall design of the Music player would be tastefully skeuomorphic in order to ape the visuals of a real-life stereo. This visual would not only just be for the aesthetics but also for the users to relate to it.
MODERN
RETRO
VINTAGE
DESIGNING MATERIALS
4 Variations of Colour Gradients for the default skin
As 4 states were being created for the system, namely Morning, Noon, Evening and Night, we were working with 4 variations of colours and assets for all the motion design elements. We chose the sky at different times of the day for each.
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MORNING
NOON
EVENING
NIGHT
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
Concept & Key Features
WIREFRAMES
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DESIGN
Home screen
User Interface
RISE OF DUAL INCOME
As China became one of the fastest growing economies, the resulting rise in Manufacturing caused a rise in
DESIGN
How it looks like in Eden TV GUI
Tune Station App icon appears on the launcher
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Content
ACCLERATOR
Category
LAUNCHER
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FIRST TIME USER
Once a user selects Samsung Music Icon a banner appears in preview space which explains key functions of Tune Station
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RETURN USER
Once a user selects Samsung Music Icon a banner appears in preview space which explains key functions of Tune Station
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IF USB NOT CONNECTED
if no USB connected then a message appears for the same in the acclerator
USER ONBOARDING
Soft Landing for Diverse Target Users
As 4 states were being created for the system, namely Morning, Noon, Evening and Night, we were working with 4 variations of colours and assets for all the motion design elements. We chose the sky at different times of the day for each.
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WIREFRAMES
Player UI
Specifications
As China became one of the fastest growing economies, the resulting rise in Manufacturing caused a rise in
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USER ONBOARDING
Concert Mode
As 4 states were being created for the system, namely Morning, Noon, Evening and Night, we were working with 4 variations of colours and assets for all the motion design elements. We chose the sky at different times of the day for each.
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WIREFRAMES
Ambient Mode
RISE OF DUAL INCOME
As China became one of the fastest growing economies, the resulting rise in Manufacturing caused a rise in
DESIGN
Screen Off Mode
Tune Station App icon appears on the launcher
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USER ONBOARDING
Behaviour
The list of elements that needed motion were Speakers, Halo rings highlighting the speakers, Woofers, micro-interactions in the player view, Visualizer and the Splash screen.
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The colors of all these assets change as per the active state (Morning, Noon, Evening, Night)
MICRO-INTERACTION
The video player view has multiple micro-interactions like a mini-visualizer to show an active song that's playing, loader animation when there's no internet connection etc.
VISUALIZER
Functions like a normal visualizer and in sync with the passage of song. It stops and comes to a halt whenever the user stops playing or pauses.
HALO RING
The colour gradient inside flows in the ring as the music progresses and comes to halt when user stops or pauses the song.
SPEAKERS
The speakers mildly pulsate as the song progresses and comes to halt when user stops or pauses the song.
WOOFER
The woofer pulsates with energy and apes the real life woofer motion, comes to halt when user stops or pauses the song.
DESIGN HIGHLIGHTS
User Experience for Smart TV
NUI FEATURES
Tap to Play
Music Continuity from Smartphone to Smart TV
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DESIGN
Multi-User Playlist
Songs can be queued from two Samsung phones
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Retro
Vintage
SKINS
Other skins for different interiors
As China became one of the fastest growing economies, the resulting rise in Manufacturing caused a rise in
USER ONBOARDING
Launch Event & TV Commercials
The list of elements that needed motion were Speakers, Halo rings highlighting the speakers, Woofers, micro-interactions in the player view, Visualizer and the Splash screen.
REFLECTIONS
Tune Station for Samsung Family Hub Refridgerator
MERGING THE ECOSYSTEM
Samsung Family Hub
Samsung Family Hub is a smart refrigerator with IoT capabilities and helps the user not only monitor, notify & order the contents of the refrigerator but also does the same for the rest of the IoT devices in the house
UPCOMING
Following the success of Tune Station. I also had to work with the developers on the scaling the same product for the vertical screen of 'Family Hub' giving the users a similar cooking experience.
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