SoundMind, Music with Intention
MOBILE UX · INTEGRATIONS · PLUG-IN
Postgraduate students were already using music to focus, regulate mood, and unwind. We explored what happens when the listening experience actively supports those intentions instead of simply serving the next song.
Postgraduate students were already using music to focus, regulate mood, and unwind. We explored what happens when the listening experience actively supports those intentions instead of simply serving the next song.
Role: UX Researcher + Product Designer · Duration: 5-6 weeks
Discover . Context & problem space
The opportunity was not to create a new habit. It was to make an existing one more intentional.
The opportunity was not to create a new habit. It was to make an existing one more intentional.
The opportunity was not to create a new habit. It was to make an existing one more intentional.
Discover . Research & Observations
Research only became useful when it changed a design decision.
Research only became useful when it changed a design decision.
Research only became useful when it changed a design decision.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
Define . Thematic analysis & product framing
Eight coded themes became three jobs the product had to do well.
Eight coded themes became three jobs the product had to do well.
The full thematic analysis stayed rigorous, but the product story became simpler: help students regulate a moment, reflect on a pattern, or connect a feeling to someone or something worth remembering.
The full thematic analysis stayed rigorous, but the product story became simpler: help students regulate a moment, reflect on a pattern, or connect a feeling to someone or something worth remembering.
Define . Persona & journey map
Define . Persona & journey map
Carlos did not need more music. He needed more intention around the music he already used.
Carlos did not need more music. He needed more intention around the music he already used.
Carlos did not need more music. He needed more intention around the music he already used.
The Design Principle
The Design Principle
Research grounding: Obendorf's four dimensions of minimalism × Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory.
Design . Early Explorations
Before the polished prototype, I explored how much support should live around the music.
Before the polished prototype, I explored how much support should live around the music.
Before the polished prototype, I explored how much support should live around the music.
My early sketches helped narrow the concept before visual refinement. I used them to test structure, level of intervention, and how the product could feel supportive without becoming another demanding wellness app
My early sketches helped narrow the concept before visual refinement. I used them to test structure, level of intervention, and how the product could feel supportive without becoming another demanding wellness app.
My early sketches helped narrow the concept before visual refinement. I used them to test structure, level of intervention, and how the product could feel supportive without becoming another demanding wellness app
What changed through early explorations
What changed through early explorations
What changed through early explorations
Design . Product Overview
Six features, but one mental model: what do you need from music right now?
Six features, but one mental model: what do you need from music right now?
Six features, but one mental model: what do you need from music right now?
Six features, but one mental model: what do you need from music right now?
HOME + NAVIGATION
The home screen is a dashboard, not a player.
The home screen is a dashboard, not a player.
The home screen is a dashboard, not a player.
The concept extends Spotify rather than recreating it. Listening remains persistent while SoundMind's tools sit one layer above it, available when a student wants to act with more intention.
No onboarding. No training session. No existing mental model. Analysts arrive at a completely new interface and it has to be
immediately comprehensible.
REGULATE . TASK + MOOD-AWARE LISTENING
Reduce the effort between “I need to focus” and pressing play.
Reduce the effort between “I need to focus” and pressing play.
Reduce the effort between “I need to focus” and pressing play.
Both features start with context rather than music taste: one builds around a task; the other builds an environment
Both features start with context rather than music taste: one builds around a task; the other builds an environment
FEATURE 01 . PLAYLIST CURATION
Music that knows what you're trying to do.
Music that knows what you're trying to do.
Music that knows what you're trying to do.
The creation flow narrowed to four taps after early versions asked users to make too many decisions.
The creation flow narrowed to four taps after early versions asked users to make too many decisions.
Key Decision
Pre-built task tags replaced a blank starting point. Users still control the result, but they never face an empty input.
Pre-built task tags replaced a blank starting point. Users still control the result, but they never face an empty input.
Pre-built task tags replaced a blank starting point. Users still control the result, but they never face an empty input.
FEATURE 02 . SOUND SCAPING
Describe your environment. Hear it come to life.
Describe your environment. Hear it come to life.
Describe your environment. Hear it come to life.
A prompt generates ambient audio with three simple controls. The interaction reflects how participants described music: fluid, environmental, and companion-like.
A prompt generates ambient audio with three simple controls. The interaction reflects how participants described music: fluid, environmental, and companion-like.
A prompt generates ambient audio with three simple controls. The interaction reflects how participants described music: fluid, environmental, and companion-like.
Key Decision
A generative visualisation moves with the soundscape, signalling that the
environment is created from the user's prompt rather than chosen from a
preset.
A generative visualisation moves with the soundscape, signalling that the environment is created from the user's prompt rather than chosen from a preset.
A generative visualisation moves with the soundscape, signalling that the environment is created from the user's prompt rather than chosen from a preset.
A generative visualisation moves with the soundscape, signalling that the environment is created from the user's prompt rather than chosen from a preset.
REFLECT . MOMENTS + PATTERNS
Reflection should feel like noticing, not grading yourself.
Reflection should feel like noticing, not grading yourself.
Reflection should feel like noticing, not grading yourself.
Reflection should feel like noticing, not grading yourself.
The interfaces deliberately avoid clinical language and negative scoring. The goal is awareness without making emotional data feel like another performance metric.
The interfaces deliberately avoid clinical language and negative scoring. The goal is awareness without making emotional data feel like another performance metric.
FEATURE 03 . JOURNALING
Log the moment. Let the music remember it too.
Log the moment. Let the music remember it too.
Log the moment. Let the music remember it too.
A journal entry stays anchored to the song that was playing, making reflection easier to revisit later.
A journal entry stays anchored to the song that was playing, making reflection easier to revisit later.
A journal entry stays anchored to the song that was playing, making reflection easier to revisit later.
Key Decision
Mood chips reduce input effort and give users a quick emotional vocabulary before they decide whether to write anything.
Mood chips reduce input effort and give users a quick emotional vocabulary before they decide whether to write anything.
Mood chips reduce input effort and give users a quick emotional vocabulary before they decide whether to write anything.
FEATURE 03 . WEEKLY ANALYSIS
A mirror for your musical mind.
A mirror for your musical mind.
A mirror for your musical mind.
Listening and journal patterns are translated into a weekly narrative instead of a cold analytics dashboard.
Listening and journal patterns are translated into a weekly narrative instead of a cold analytics dashboard.
Listening and journal patterns are translated into a weekly narrative instead of a cold analytics dashboard.
Key Decision
No negative framing. The report describes patterns without labels like “bad week” or “too stressed,” keeping emotional data informative rather than judgmental.
No negative framing. The report describes patterns without labels like “bad week” or “too stressed,” keeping emotional data informative rather than judgmental.
No negative framing. The report describes patterns without labels like “bad week” or “too stressed,” keeping emotional data informative rather than judgmental.
CONNECT + PRESERVE . MEANING BEYOND PLAYBACK
Give a song back the context that made it matter.
Give a song back the context that made it matter.
The final pair moves beyond productivity. They treat music as a social object and a memory object, not just content in a queue.
The final pair moves beyond productivity. They treat music as a social object and a memory object, not just content in a queue.
FEATURE 05 . MAILBOX
When words fall short, send a song instead.
When words fall short, send a song instead.
Mailbox pairs a song with a written note so the emotional context is not lost when it crosses platforms.
Mailbox pairs a song with a written note so the emotional context is not lost when it crosses platforms.
Mailbox pairs a song with a written note so the emotional context is not lost when it crosses platforms.
Key Decision
The inbox previews enough to feel personal, but keeps the full note hidden
until opening so the interaction still carries anticipation.
The inbox previews enough to feel personal, but keeps the full note hidden until opening so the interaction still carries anticipation.
The inbox previews enough to feel personal, but keeps the full note hidden until opening so the interaction still carries anticipation.
FEATURE 06 . TIME CAPSULE
Seal a moment. Let your future self open it.
Seal a moment. Let your future self open it.
Seal a moment. Let your future self open it.
Songs and notes are packaged into a visible but locked object, turning waiting into part of the emotional experience.
Songs and notes are packaged into a visible but locked object, turning waiting into part of the emotional experience.
Songs and notes are packaged into a visible but locked object, turning waiting into part of the emotional experience.
Key Decision
Different physical metaphors, box, cassette, tin, make the capsule feel
owned before it is filled and strengthen the sense of memory as an object.
Different physical metaphors, box, cassette, tin, make the capsule feel owned before it is filled and strengthen the sense of memory as an object.
Different physical metaphors, box, cassette, tin, make the capsule feel owned before it is filled and strengthen the sense of memory as an object.
Deliver . Prototype Testing & Results
What users actually wanted to keep.
What users actually wanted to keep.
What users actually wanted to keep.
After three prototype rounds, 17 SUTD postgraduate students evaluated the six feature concepts for appeal, intended use, and perceived wellbeing impact
After three prototype rounds, 17 SUTD postgraduate students evaluated the six feature concepts for appeal, intended use, and perceived wellbeing impact
Deliver . Reflection
Designing for wellbeing changes the details that matter.
Designing for wellbeing changes the details that matter.
Discover . Research & Observations
Research only became useful when it changed a design decision.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
My team combined background research, semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis, concept exploration, and prototype testing. I worked across research synthesis, product definition, prototyping, and evaluation.
Define . Persona & journey map
Carlos did not need more music. He needed more intention around the music he already used.
The Design Principle
Research grounding: Obendorf's four dimensions of minimalism × Sweller's Cognitive Load Theory.
Deliver . Prototype Testing & Results
What users actually wanted to keep.
After three prototype rounds, 17 SUTD postgraduate students evaluated the six feature concepts for appeal, intended use, and perceived wellbeing impact