This project aimed to enhance Spotify’s Discover Weekly feature to reduce cognitive overload and empower users with meaningful control over their personalized music recommendations. As a UX Designer and Researcher, the 6-week project incorporated competitive benchmarking, persona-driven research, and iterative prototyping to design a mobile experience that makes music discovery more intuitive and engaging.
Competitive benchmarking, persona analysis, journey mapping
Information architecture, user flow optimization, interactive prototypes, dynamic UI components
UX Designer & Researcher (Solo Project)
Figma, UserTesting, Miro
3 weeks
B2C, Music Streaming, Mobile Application, Consumer Entertainment Platform
Discover Weekly delivers 30 new songs weekly, but user feedback indicated frustration with the volume of choices, lack of control over recommendations, and unclear contextual understanding of song suggestions. The key challenge was to redesign the interface to give users agency in tailoring their discovery, while transparently communicating why tracks were recommended.
"I love finding new music but I get bored if the first few songs don't match my vibe"
Competitive Benchmarking
Persona analysis leveraging existing
Spotify research (Melodic Melanie, Ranger Dave)
Journey mapping across complete Discover Weekly experience
Users skip 60-70% of recommended tracks without giving them a chance
Primary frustrations: Content overload, lack of control, unclear relevance, repetitive suggestions
Users think about music by mood/activity, not just technical genres
Even finding one great track can make the entire discovery experience feel successful
"I have 30 minutes to work out - I can't waste time skipping through random genres"
Mood/Genre Filters: Horizontal filter chips for immediate playlist customization
Dynamic Aura: Color-coded background reflecting playlist mood with emoji descriptors
Progressive Disclosure: Filtered track subsets reducing cognitive overload
Enhanced Context: Clear labeling showing why each track was recommended
Two entry points to the “Discover” feature - one in the top filter bar and one in the bottom navigation - improve visibility and accessibility. The top placement supports lightweight, in-context exploration, while the bottom tab positions Discover as a core destination within Spotify’s experience. This dual-entry design balances familiarity with habit formation, making mood-based discovery feel both natural and essential.
The flow merges visualization and discovery into one fluid moment. Users blend moods, watch them animate, and instantly receive playlists that match their vibe - a fast, playful, and emotionally aware experience.
Potential future enhancements include multi-filter combinations, activity presets, and personalized recommendation explanations. Expansion to desktop/web platforms and integration with social features are planned to broaden user reach and engagement.
