Youtube Music

A Mixed-Methods Research Report & Redesign.

problem

YouTube Music has a discovery problem. Despite a vast library, our research found that users struggle to access the app’s most powerful features. Critical mood-based playlists are buried behind complex navigation, and simple social sharing feels like a chore, creating a disconnect between the user and the music they love.

solution

We moved beyond simple tweaks to a bold redesign that realigns the interface with how people actually feel about music. By prioritizing emotional connection and social ease, our solution transforms a confusing navigation system into an intuitive experience that significantly boosts user satisfaction and efficiency.

This is a data-driven evolution of the YouTube Music app, born directly from user observation and performance metrics. By synthesizing qualitative "think-aloud" feedback with quantitative error rates, we transformed the product from a confusing utility into an intuitive companion. The redesign specifically targets the "severity 1" usability issues identified during our initial research phase.

Our heatmap analysis drove three specific design interventions. We relocated hidden mood filters to a high-visibility "Discover" tab to correct navigation errors, and we implemented a one-tap Floating Action Button (FAB) to solve the "five-tap" sharing fatigue. Furthermore, we replaced ambiguous iconography that 50% of test participants failed to recognize, ensuring feature adoption is no longer blocked by confusion.

year

2025

timeframe

16 days

tools

Framer