Elevating Songwriters on Apple Music
Project Name
Apple Music - Songwriters
Organization
Apple (unofficial)
Role
Design Researcher
Design Strategist
UX Designer
Timeline
6 months
Skills
Design Research
UI/UX Designer
Design Systems
How might we redesign Apple Music's platform to celebrate the contributions of songwriters, ensuring their work is visible and valued in the digital music ecosystem?
As a design researcher and strategist, I led a project to reimagine the platform’s information architecture and design systems, integrating songwriter credits seamlessly into the user experience. By prioritizing transparency and recognition, this initiative empowers songwriters while enriching the music discovery journey for users.
Overview
Objective
To create a songwriter-centric experience on Apple Music by integrating songwriter credits into the platform's information architecture and ensuring discoverability, equity, and visibility through design systems.
Challenges
Lack of industry-wide standardization for displaying songwriter credits.
Low awareness of songwriters’ contributions among users.
Need to balance visibility of credits with a streamlined user experience.
Approach
Conducted interviews with songwriters, producers, and listeners to understand the significance of crediting.
Analyzed competitors and adjacent industries (e.g., film and publishing) for crediting best practices.
Identified pain points in the current Apple Music interface, focusing on content discoverability and hierarchy.
Research & Discovery
Insights & Problem Framing
Songwriters on the “View Credits” page are not click-through.
Users value context about their favorite songs, but many are unaware of where to find credits. The ones who found the credits were cited the credited songwriters metadata being static as disappointing.
Songwriters expressed frustration over limited recognition, which impacts their careers and fan engagement.
Design Strategy
Information Architecture
Introduced a dedicated "Songwriters" section within Apple Music profiles and song pages.
Organized credits hierarchically, prioritizing clarity and relevance (e.g., lyricists, composers, producers).
Discovery Pathways:
Added songwriter-linked profiles, enabling users to explore other works by the same writer.
Implemented songwriter-based recommendations in curated playlists.
Design Systems:
Created reusable UI components for credits across multiple touchpoints, ensuring consistency.
Integrated a scalable tagging system to accommodate updates or new crediting standards.
Prototyped solutions and conducted usability testing to validate how users interact with songwriter credits.
Refined designs based on feedback, focusing on balancing detail and simplicity.
Testing and Iteration
Solution
The redesigned system positions songwriter credits as a core element of the Apple Music experience.
Key features include:
Enhanced Song Pages
Clearly displayed songwriter names with links to their profiles.
Songwriter Profiles
Comprehensive profiles featuring biographies, discographies, and collaborations.
Discoverability Features
Songwriter-based playlists and recommendations to amplify their visibility.
Cultural Impact
Educational content and spotlights celebrating notable songwriters and their contributions.
Impact
For Songwriters
Greater recognition, career opportunities, and fan engagement through visibility on a global platform.
For Users
A richer music discovery experience, fostering deeper appreciation for the craft behind the music.
For Apple Music
Differentiation as a platform that values and elevates all contributors in the music ecosystem.
My Reflections
This project reaffirmed the power of design to drive equity and storytelling in digital spaces. By advocating for songwriters and designing systems that celebrate their craft, we enhanced the platform for all users while setting a precedent for industry-wide change.