Welcome to
DreamDay Connect!
Overview
DreamDay Connect is mobile application for artists, musicians and event planners who want to collaborate with other creatives to create music along with planning and booking their next show. This could include artists looking to collaborate with other artists for a song, planning an event together and bands looking for new members
As a Product Designer, my focus was to design a mobile application connecting local artists, focus on intuitive UI/UX, enabling easy navigation and profile creation. I wanted to incorporate networking features like messaging to facilitate interaction among artists. By utilizing geolocation and event listings for local art events, this fostered engagement and discovery.
Product
iOS Mobile Application
The Problem
The problem is the lack of a centralized platform for local artists to connect and collaborate within their community. Currently, artists often struggle to find like-minded individuals nearby, discover local art events, and have meaningful collaborations. Without a dedicated space, networking opportunities are limited, hindering the growth and visibility of local artistic talent. This fragmentation within the artistic community leads to missed opportunities for collaboration, skill-sharing, and support, ultimately impacting the vibrancy and cohesion of the local art scene.
Product Goal
This would accomplish the barrier of looking for artists inside of their town. Artists can meet locally and create music on a personal level rather than virtual and plan events to showcase their work. By creating profiles, Artists and Event planners can showcase their expertise. It would be crucial to make their profiles as detailed as possible so the matching process is absolute. This way artists perform at venues that align with their brand.
Competitive Analysis
React Presents
Strengths
Discovery Research
Brief summary
The interviews feature individuals from diverse backgrounds within the music industry, including producers, DJs, and newer artists. Each interviewee shares insights into their experiences such as:
Building local reputations.
Navigating industry challenges.
Pursuing unconventional paths to success.
Despite their varied perspectives, all express a common dedication to their craft and a desire to leave a meaningful impact in the music world.
User Motivations:
Innovation of sound
Events are always getting better
Each shows continue to get bigger
Artist music continues to grow
Watching other artists
Family
Passion for organizing events
Bringing people together
Naturally want to make sure people have a good time
Affinity Map
Welcome to Affinity mapping! We were able to successfully interview our 3 candidates. Each interview was 10 minutes and we saw 3 key similarities, Impacting the world, Brand alignment, and venue preferences. This are pillars in the music industry that would artists succeed.
UI Kit
High Fidelity wireframes
Usability Testing
Usability Test - Results
DreamDay Connect Prototype Motivators
Easy to navigate going back and forth
Easy to send escrow payment
User friendly, easy to understand
Great app to connect artists
Great way to help artists make sure they get paid
I like how I can add Spotify and Soundcloud but also other music streams
Great color choice
I like how you have your own wallet
Reviews tab is super important to build credibility
High Fidelity wireframes - Re-iteration
Final thoughts
Through the process of crafting DreamDay Connected, I've garnered invaluable insights. It's been a journey of discovery, where we identified a significant challenge within the music industry. We firmly believe that our project has the potential to catalyze positive change within the industry, empowering artists on a broader scale. Our commitment lies at the intersection of music and event planning. We recognize the universal desire for quality entertainment and the importance of fostering memorable experiences. Let's come together to elevate these moments and ensure they are nothing short of exceptional.
Thanks for listening!
Auris
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
March - August, 2023
P7
React Presents - has a massive pull on the nightlife. They have been around for decades and most likely have the biggest investors in their pocket.
Auris - is still fairly new to the industry. Their biggest advantage is they are taking over the House music scene in Chicago
BoilerRoom - strength is they have a big underground artist pool. Their artist selection are usually very unique
P7 - If your're going out in Chicago, you will eventually end up at a P7 event. They're at the biggest local venues for people that enjoy open format music.
Weaknesses
React Presents - could do better with their ticketing system. It usually takes long period of time to process their website. Maybe being able to save tickets in the customers wallet would be a great feature.
Auris - should have a website in our opinion. It would be great if they interview artists and Merchandise to sell.
BoilerRoom - is starting to phase out of intimate climates and we feel like it can take away from the brand.
P7 - is only local and only in the fast pace nightlife circuit. They could improve on RSVP events and have a Festival presence.
Research plan
Methodologies
User Interviews
Competitive SWOT Analysis
Key questions to ask our Candidates
Tell me a bit about yourself and your history as an artist?
So how do you go about choosing the music you DJ and Produce?
How do you feel connected with that kind of sound?
What would you say that keeps you motivated?
Is there something that you look for specifically in shows that you're going to perform at?
Can you tell me about a time where you enjoyed the venue?
Are there factors that you would turn down an event?
How do you think an event planner for house music producers specifically can benefit an artist?
What is the impact that you wanna have as an artist in the world?
Boiler Room
Research Objectives
Determine what goal Artists have as a House music producer - 5 years from now.
Understand how having their own event can brand their name.
Understand the processes of having their own event.
Learn if Artist’s have triggering or conflicting events.
If there was a platform like DreamDay Connect, would they use it.
Research Goal
We aim to understand the perspectives of emerging House music producers on hosting their own events and the challenges they encounter.
Our goal is to streamline event planning by addressing their specific needs and obstacles.
User Interview Candidates
We were fortunate to interview 7 candidates for this research study. Four of which were artists and three were event planners. They all expressed pain points in their respectable fields and similarities that they all feel.
We were able to ask them about 8-10 questions each and the interviews on average were 30 minutes long. Each interviewee has at-least three experience in their fields. Their age group was 26-40. Their ethnicities and gender were mixed.
User Persona
Key findings about Alex
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
User Pain Points:
Overbooked in same venues
Events are not aligned with artist brand
Finding the right people to collaborate
Working with people that genuinely care Staying motivated to produce music
Finding artists last minute
Making enough money from the events
Tickets not selling well
DJ’s and Venue cost gone up
Preparation and organization
Alex Detrick is a House music creator, performer, and producer known for his passion for music and skill in beat-matching with CDJ-3000s. He specializes in producing 4-on-the-floor beats and frequently performs live shows at clubs and venues, sometimes touring to promote his music. His greatest motivation lies in connecting with fans globally and witnessing their enjoyment of his music. Additionally, Alex enjoys collaborating with other artists and event planners to continually innovate and evolve the sound.
Passion for Music: Alex has a deep passion for music, which serves as the driving force behind his creative endeavors.
Skill in Beat-Matching and Production: He is skilled in beat-matching using CDJ-3000s and enjoys producing 4-on-the-floor beats, indicating proficiency in DJing and music production techniques.
Live Performance: Alex frequently performs live shows at clubs and venues, suggesting a strong stage presence and ability to engage with audiences.
Global Fanbase: He connects with fans from around the world, indicating a significant reach and popularity within the electronic music scene.
Collaborative Nature: Alex enjoys collaborating with other artists and event planners, highlighting his openness to new ideas and the desire to push the boundaries of sound innovation.
POV:
I’d like to explore a way to help music producers to have an easier time planning events so music producers can focus on their art.
I’d like to explore ways for artists to not be a victim of greedy event planners so they aren’t taken advantage
I want to explore ways for artists to create proper industry connections so they can expand their network for future shows/gigs
Wireframing
Potential logo Ideas
How Might We…
How might we help music producers align with event planners so artists can focus on their performance?
How might we shift the focus of profit first events to focus on the event culture?
How might we develop artists to expand their industry connections?
Striking a balance!
DreamDay Connect is a premier platform that connects artists and event planners, offering features such as profile browsing, booking requests, and user-friendly interfaces. It aims to scale artists user profiles and subscriptions, boost event bookings, and diversify revenue streams through value-added services and advertisements. The platform prioritizes efficiency, security, and quality standards while fostering a vibrant community and facilitating seamless communication between artists and planners.
Key features:
Based on User interviews and Competitive analysis, this is a breakdown of features that are “Essential” requirements critical for project success, including core functionalities, basic security measures and compliance standards. They are non-negotiable and prioritized above all else. "Nice to have" features, while desirable and providing added value, are optional and may be deferred to later stages of development if resources permit.
User-flow
Below, is a visual representation that outlines the steps a user will take to connect with an artist or event planner . This will map out the sequence of interactions and decisions a user makes as they navigate through the various pages.
Task-flows
Below is an example of DreamDay Connect’s key Task-flows. This is a visual representation of how users will register their account, browse for potential performances and match with artists.
Sitemap
Below is example of DreamDay Connect’s site-map that serves as a dynamic platform bridging artists and event planners effortlessly. Users can easily sign up or log in to access their personalized profiles, enabling artists to showcase their work, manage bookings, and communicate with event planners. Also, event planners can post new events, browse artists, and send booking requests seamlessly.
Through the search and browse feature, users can discover artists based on genre, location, and availability, enhancing their ability to find the perfect match for their events. Booking functionality streamlines the process, allowing event planners to request services and artists to accept or decline requests with ease.
The research goal for DreamDay Connect is to get an idea how musicians and event planners interact with each other. Additionally, this plan is to connect the right people for their needs. With my usability test, I will have a better understanding on how an event planner or musician will connect with each other and invoice for the work that was provided.
Digitizing Main Ideas
Final Logo
The idea behind choosing Design #2 as the official logo symbolizes navigation and exploration through the vast world of music, guiding users to discover new genres, artists, and songs. It represents direction and guidance, suggesting that the app can lead users towards the music they seek or introduce them to new musical paths. Additionally, the compass implies personalized recommendations, aiding users in finding music tailored to their tastes while encouraging exploration beyond their usual preferences. The symbol evokes feelings of freedom and adventure, aligning with the experience of exploring music and the excitement of discovering new sounds. Its universal recognition makes it easy for users to understand and remember the app's logo, conveying reliability and trustworthiness. Overall, the compass logo effectively communicates the application's purpose of guiding users through their musical journey, helping them explore, discover, and enjoy new music experiences.
clickable prototype
DreamDay Connect Correction Notes
Credit sign is confusing, adding a dollar sign within the card or ATM so we know that is officially a credit card
A user should be able to search for specific artists. Filter tab is very important.
A user should be able to listen to promo tracks on within their profile page.
When messaging between 2 people, their bubble colors should be different.
Going from the original dark theme to light theme when an Artist is selected does not fit the overall vibe.
Add names under navigation icons
Methodologies
Remote testing
Recorded inrterviews