The redesign of Spotify’s lyrics feature successfully addressed the key pain points of unsynced lyrics and a disruptive
fullscreen takeover.
The redesign of Spotify’s lyrics feature successfully addressed the key pain points of unsynced lyrics
and a disruptive fullscreen takeover.
Reflection
Takeaways
Final Design
After building high fidelity wireframes, we conducted user testing to assess
the usability of the redesigned lyrics feature. Here’s what we learned:

1.  Lyrics Toggle Visibility:

   Feedback: Many users wanted a more visible and accessible lyrics button on the Now Playing screen.
 Solution: We integrated a lyrics icon directly into the main playback screen, allowing

  users to instantly toggle the feature.

2. Real time Lyric Syncing:

 Feedback: Users were thrilled with synced lyrics.
Solution: We integrated synced lyrics across the board by partnering with third-party providers for updates,

ensuring the lyrics follow the song’s progression and providing a more immersive experience.

3. Less Intrusive Lyrics Overlay:

Feedback: Some users still wanted to keep the lyrics accessible without fully taking over the screen.
Solution: A semi-transparent lyrics overlay was introduced, allowing users to view lyrics while still seeing

the playback controls and track information.

User Testing Insights
Wireframes
Style Guide
User Personas
Persona - The Karaoke Lover
Aspiration
"I love to sing along to my favorite songs. I need quick, hassle-free access to lyrics that are always in sync."
Frustrations
The full page lyrics display makes it hard to switch between lyrics and playback controls.

Unsynced lyrics break the flow when trying to sing along.
Interests
Favorite Genres: Pop, Indie Rock, Alternative
Lyric Interaction Frequency: High

Mia
Marketing assistant
New York, NY
Persona - The Language Explorer
Aspiration
"I listen to foreign-language music to improve my language skills. I rely on synced lyrics to follow along and understand both pronunciation and meaning."
Frustrations
Unsynced lyrics make it difficult to match the words to the music and learn effectively.

The lyrics feature isn’t available offline, especially when trying to study or practice language skills during travel.
Interests
Favorite Genres: Reggaeton, K-Pop, EDM
Lyric Interaction Frequency: Moderate to High

Lucas
Data Scientist
New York, NY
How might we redesign the lyrics feature to identify the needs of users to establish an effective system that is more intuitive and immersive?
Problem Statement
Research Insights
Pain Points
"I listen to music in other languages to improve my skills, but when the lyrics don’t match the timing of the song, it’s difficult to follow."
"I’m often doing other things, and I need to quickly toggle between lyrics and controls. It feels bad having to press a small area of the screen to get back."
"I like having lyrics on occasionally, but I don’t want it to block the whole screen. It’s hard to go back to my playlist quickly."

• Users who want to sing along or understand

the lyrics of the music they are listening to.

• Language learners using lyrics as a tool to

learn a new language through music.

Target Users

• Competitive analysis

• Quantitative research (user surveys)

• Usability Testing

Research Methods
Initial Thinking
Background

Spotify's lyrics feature, while useful, lacks real-time syncing between lyrics and music diminishes the enjoyment for users who want to follow along with the song, prompting a need for a more seamless and intuitive redesign.

Design Process

Product Designer

My Role

Self-initiated

Project

3 days

Timeline

Figma and

Illustrator

Tools Used
Spotify Lyrics

An improved lyrics feature that seamlessly integrates synced lyrics with the music player, allowing users to easily access and dismiss lyrics without interrupting their listening experience.

© 2024 Miles Brown. All Rights Reserved.

Monday, Dec 2