A presentation slide with a purple background displaying the Spotify logo and text about designing an adaptable listening experience using biofeedback. An Apple Watch shows a screen with activity options including exercise, relaxation, and study.

ROLE

UX Researcher

Product Designer

Video Animation

Spotify Sync

This feature allows users to connect their wearable devices and unlock playlists that adapt to their activities in the moment.

This opens the door to discovering and curating new music that fits the many facets of you.

TEAM

Curtis Winiesdorffer

Laura Gardner

Paige Majdic

TYPE & TIMELINE

Competition Brief

2 weeks

TOOLS

Figma

After Effects

Principle

Current Landscape

One of Spotify’s biggest draws for customers is its recommendation algorithm.

Problem

There is often a gap between Spotify’s suggested playlists and what listeners are seeking in the moment.

AHA Moment

Adopters of wearable technology are primed to explore new features that personalize their experiences.

Opportunity

Spotify can leverage integrated technologies to create new feedback loops that improve the listening experience.

Solution

Use biofeedback to present listeners with adaptable, contextual playlists.

SPOTIFY SYNC

This feature allows users to connect their wearable devices and unlock playlists that adapt to their activities in the moment. This opens the door to discovering and curating new music that fits the many facets of you.

phone mockup of Apple Watch syncing with Spotify app
Apple Watch mockup of Spotify sync featured on it

How this works

Leveraging Spotify’s audio and data features

Users can choose their intended activity using the phone or wearable. During a Sync session, the playlist modulates based on how the listener’s biometrics change over the course of the session.

The app will use machine learning to cross-analyze the listener’s biofeedback and their reaction to audio choices based on the audio features tracked by Spotify. (Source) This creates a new feedback loop by which to generate insights about the user experience.

4 phons mockups showcasing UI designs of teh experience

1. DATA PRIVACY

Opting Out

Throughout this project, we recognized that data privacy is an important issue and a concern for many people, especially when it comes to biometric data.

We established following guidelines for the use of Sync data to address some of the most pressing concerns.

  • All Sync health integrations are opt-in

  • Health data sourced from wearables and other devices will be read-only

  • Spotify will store no data after the sessions end (aside from songs liked during the activity)

Apple Watch displaying Spotify app with shuffle toggle on and recently played songs list.

3. BIO FEEDBACK DEEP DIVE

Using the Taptic Engine on the Apple Watch, Spotify listeners can feel pulsing vibrations at the start of each Sync session.

Exposure to vibration has been shown to acutely affect people's heart rate variability. Sync takes advantage of Apple's Taptic Engine to deliver evidence-based vibration patterns at the start of a listening session. This creates a multi-sensory bridge to the chosen activity state. (Source)

Screenshot of a music streaming app showing friend activity including friends listening to songs and playlists, with sections for good afternoon, recently played, and made for you, and navigation icons at the bottom for home, search, and library.
Apple Watch Spotify sync playlist sending out sound waves

4. SYNC WITH FRIENDS

Sync can be a tool for social connection

Spotify is not a social network, but Sync offers a way to enhance connection on the app.

Listener's can now see when a friend is in a Sync session and listen alongside them, deepening the social dimension of music discovery on the platform.

5. SYNC STATS

Creating moments for reflection

By offering stats from Sync sessions on the profile screen, listeners can track their listening over time.

This adds a reflective utility to the rarely-used profile page.

phone mockup of person getting notified of Spotify sync

2. ACCESSIBLE ACROSS MULTI-DEVICES

Users can choose their intended activity using the phone or wearable.

During a Sync session, the playlist modulates based on how the listener’s biometrics change over the course of the session. This is an example of an interactive wearable prototype.

A smartphone screen displays a podcast or music app profile named Marcus, with a black and white profile picture of a man. It shows stats including playlists, followers, and following, along with weekly activity in exercise, focus, and relax categories. The app also features a monthly sync session chart with dots for March 2021.

Measuring Success

Exploring the intersection of business and design

Sync is not a shipped feature, so I do not have real-world outcomes to discuss. That said, we wanted to explore a few metrics against which Spotify might gauge the impact of this work.

Business Objective

  • Increase conversion and retention rates for Spotify premium subscriptions

mockups of phone and Apple Watch next to each other

Potential Performance Metrics

  • Increased daily usage rates

  • Conversions to premium subscription by listeners using Sync

  • Number of users that opt in for Sync feature

  • Percentage of "Liked Song" interactions during Sync session

  • Time spent listening to friend Sync sessions

mockups of Apple Watches connected together featuring Spotify sync
Illustration of a woman sitting with knees drawn to chest, holding a book over her face, wearing blue top, pink pants, and having black hair.

Reflections

Playing around with the power of audio, an individual’s intentions, and wearable tech - has the potential to revolutionize everyday activities.

Within this team and DanD competition brief, I got to grow as a UX strategist/UX designer more so, rather than finalize the UI aspects of the deliverables. Working with a fellow product designer, who has more experience in visual design, went very well.

I got to lead the product design feature conversation and strategic decisions behind those features. I then took this opportunity to learn from my teammate and also learned to use a new software: Principle.

Case Studies