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partheniadis-mdd · 7 years ago

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Album2020 Personal Project

& Download Springer style Research Paper made for Nazli Cila’s lecture.

Brief

Designing a long-lasting music playback device for home that can add personal, social and practical meaning to the life of the active music listener.

home music device; digiphysical product design; long-lasting; useful; valuable; sustainable;

Research Question

How can a home music player be redesigned in order to maximize the value (personal, practical, social) that it adds to the life of the active music listener?

I am investigating the research question with the help of Quadruple Bottom Line of sustainable design (QBL) by Stuart Walker. This method helps me question research insight critique my design decisions in order to maximize the resulting meaning that the artifact adds to the life of the future consumer.

As Walker S. mentions in his book, QBL of sustainability is a framework used to help “the emerging artefacts become contributing elements in the development of critique; as such, one of their roles is as arguments manifested in tangible form or demonstrative rhetoric.“

Walker, S. (2014). Designing sustainability: making radical changes in a material world. Routledge.

Reminder: Download Springer style Research Paper made for Nazli Cila’s lecture.

Reframing Process

Initial brief was:

Design a modern, portable and connected compact disc (CD) music player to encourage young music lovers continue embracing the essence of the physical music format.

After receiving feedback 1 from Pinar (Irene’s lecture), feedback 2 from colleagues (Irene’s lecture) and feedback 3 from Nazli, among the positives also three main issues were araised:

Unclear research question

Unclear target group

Inefficient/incomprehensible brief for specifying a Field Research plan (Nazli)

Reframing with the new brief:

Research and Design for a long-lasting music playback device for home that can add personal, social and practical meaning to the life of the modern music listener.

Target Group

Active music curators, music addicts & music wanderers who enjoy listening to physical or digital full albums, occasionally or actively collect CDs, value highly their music picks & have taste in minimal design.

Methodology

Brief, 3 feedback sessions, Reframe and new Brief (3 weeks).

Desktop Research (technologies, design, user needs, market research)

Field research (Market research and observation, 4 interviews, 1 survey with 11 respondents)

Preliminary Design (sketch ideation, 2D/3D digital design, render)

Presentation & Feedback session with Irene and 5 colleagues (Nazli not present unfortunately)

Research Analysis, Table with design decisions and Conclusions

Desktop Research

Technologies, Design and Facts - these are the core factors I incorporated in my desktop research.

Research on Technologies helped me learn that there are smart home technologies (Chromecast Audio, Sonos) that enable wireless multi-room music streaming at home with the click of a button on the smartphone or computer. These technologies collaborate with top music streaming software services (Spotify, Google Play Music, Deezer etc.) closing the gap between the products that the consumer buys. They are all now interconnected and seamless interact the one with each other. Key design decision for my design is to incorporate Chromecast Built-in in my product. We want the consumer to stay updated and relevant to the technologies they already use and not make any compromises. In other words, we want to maximize the practical value of in-house music streaming, maximize the social value by eliminating the fear of “missing out” on latest technologies, and maximize the personal value as we establish well the value of ownership and control of the consumer over the product (and they almost never feel that they are being controlled).

Below is a collection of comments from Facebook groups discussing the practical and personal values between physical music formats (CDs, Vinyls) in contrast to music streaming (Spotify, iTunes), smart-home devices and their services in music (Amazon’s Alexa).

Field Research

Researching, observing and hands-on testing of CD players and music streaming devices. The most dominant devices are mid-sized Bluetooth speakers, with powerful Digital-Analog Converters (DAC) and minimal controls. Read more about my experience at MediaMarkt interacting with the latest Music Players and observing people make choices here.

Interviews

4 interviews. 30 minutes duration. Flexible probes to make the most out of each participant’s opinions.

I collected the answers on paper notes and took 40 minuets after each participant to decode their answers and fill in a google form I had made. You can find the interview structure questions here and the individual replies here.

Online Survey

Additional questions were created in a new survey to support and evaluate the design decisions and make sure they are no assumptions. Previous research insights were used in the new survey. The surveys were shared to four online Facebook groups that have active music listeners: (a) Discogs, (316,132 followers) the largest physical music format community that enables people organize their collections, buy, sell new discs. (b) Your Last 3 Albums You Listened To (106 followers), (c) Soundcloud Music (85,100 followers), (d) The Basement Recordstore (1,217 followers). Discogs came in contact to me through Facebook saying that they are forwarding the survey to their colleagues. They were very kind and let me know that they are available for anything I want regarding the project as their business headquarters are in Amsterdam. Check the Survey here and the overview results here and individual replies here (88 pages). They are primarily mentioned and analysed in Nazli’s research paper, see top of post for download link.

Research Results

The results were analyzed by using a mix of the techniques of mind-mapping and affinity diagrams (see picture above). Sometimes I like to refer to this technique as creative analytical thinking, especially when it contains preliminary sketches that derive from research insights. All the insight, design decisions and value propositions are written and discussed in the following paragraphs. Overall, the survey verifies and supports previous design decisions and generates new insight and more design decisions for the next version of the product.

Verification of design decisions. The survey verifies that the system can implement elements from Discogs API in the smartphone application. The target group is interested in keeping track of their music collections, watch discs they would like to purchase, receive metadata about the artists, the albums and related stuff on demand.The survey verifies also that the system can implement Musixmatch API (see gif below). This feature will provide users with lyrics of the current playing song. We verify that the target group consists of young music curators: Young listeners with knowledge on music, they support their likings and their opinion has a place in discussions about music. Some of them are ambassadors of their playlists, they like recognition, talking and showcasing their collection of music be it physical or digital.We verify that digital music streaming, i.e. Spotify, Soundcloud, is the number one trend in listening to music. Physical music formats have still place in the homes of the music lovers as they add more personal and social value in their lives.There are music listeners that want music suggestions; the system can again use Spotify’s API to implement its useful algorithms and make music suggestions through the app.

Give them the ease to explore albums. The target group is looking for easy, predictable interfaces, practical design with simple understandable affordances that guarantee them easy access to their music, helps them explore new albums through the interface. The system must give the opportunity to constantly explore music, the freedom within well-defined limits (the UI), must give them the feeling of being in control of the exploration (as they recognize themselves as curators) for more personal meaning, help them be identified as “unique” music curators. They are interested (90%) in listening to the entirety of full albums, they want to enjoy their favorite albums effortlessly the moment that they need to, in the context of their homes.

Give them both tactile and smartphone controls. They want to control the device while doing activities at home. Activities can be location specific or spatial. Location specific activities, e.g. work on desk, cook in kitchen, nap at bed/couch, would require the user to control the music device remotely through an application or through voice control. Spatial activities in home, e.g. cleaning, walk around, dance, play with kids, would give the ability to the user to approach the device and control it directly from its tactile controls.

They want a small but powerful hifi to be an extension of their physical music collection. At least 30% of the respondents collect CDs and 50% collect vinyls. The music device we are designing has the potential to make a new trend: A modular music listening system that comprises of a central music receiver (with knobs and a screen), a plug-and-play CD reader module or/and a plug-and-play Vinyl record module. In a same manner users could attach a cassette reader too (future work). This modular system will help users synthesize their unique wall exhibits out of their music culture (personal, social and practical meaning).

Minimal design. The target group has a preference for minimal design as proven from the question 14. In order of preference, 60% of respondents would like to have Dieter Ram’s wall-hung record player, 45% the Glass exhibitable vinyl player, 27.5% the high quality HiFi system by Sony. In the contrary, only 18.2% chose the Sonos’ powerful portable speaker. So, we assume that they are not interested in portable, rechargeable music boxes but instead, they would value more a static music system to be the centerpiece of their homes. I analyzed the ideas behind the top selected designs by the respondents and interpreted what they mean in order to understand what drives respondent’s design preferences.

Design References

See Pinterest Board with 154 Pins

The main objectives of the design are subtleness, simplification, functionality and durability. Design references range from contemporary DIY projects (fig. 1) to Dieter Ram’s wall-hung TG60 tape recorder (fig. 6). These designs use concrete (fig. 1), glass (fig. 2, 3), or metal (fig. 3, 4, 5, 6) as a main material. We value highly the material of the artfiact, the feeling of the texture, the feeling to the touch. We want users to interact willingfully, thoughtlessly. The object must humbly exist within the home’s atmosphere, demand little to no attention, and be there when the user needs it. The outcome of the interaction has to be positive at all times. No bad feelings. No wrong actions. No unexpected feedback from the artifact.

For this reason, I used Dieter Ram’s 10 Principles For Good Design to lead my design.

Preliminary Design

More than 20 different sketches were produced and treated as an idea pool to generate one and only 3D model. Below are the dominating sketches and the final model. Tools: PTC Creo, Keyshot 6.

Logo Design

People want to have an identity, something that can recognize that they partake in the new movement Album2020 want to create. The design was made to represent the two sides and how alike they are. The physical on the left (CD or Vinyl) and digital on the right (Knob Control - electronics are well hidden - heh)

Future Work

I believe there is a lot of value still to be distilled from this project. My plan for future work includes redesign, making a prototype, evaluating with users, analyse and visualize the results.

First step is to develop myself a medium-fidelity 3D printed protoype, embed the electronics, design the remote app, and evaluate the product’s stance in a user’s house (e.g. let them give feedback in the form of a diary or through forms), Second step is to form a clear business and approach investors or companies for a quick development of this product.

Business Plan

Album2020 is a product that reimagines the connection between the owner of music and the music track itself. I want to seek for short-term investors and a team to develop the design, a high-fidelitty, fully working, pre-production prototype including both physical music player and the digital app.

To make this happen I am going to approach consumer electronics companies around Netherlands, starting from Fresh’n’Rebel, Rotterdam with my design proposal and a business plan. Their successful products are mobile speakers (Rockbox) and headphones (Caps) and Bluetooth earplugs. The ultimate goal is to offer me a job opportunity as a junior digital designer, have access to the product design team and the developers’ team. I have concluded that the modular version of my music player applies best to the Fresh‘n’Rebel’s value proposition of their products.

Fresh 'n Rebel (..) is for those who share a genuine love for fun and freedom (...) and offers stylish products that help you enjoy and share the joys of life with others wherever, whenever.

The business plan will include specific steps to reframe (align the product to F’N’R values and style), redesign, develop, test and evaluate the high-fidelity version of my digiphysical product at a medium-low budget in a time-span of 6 months maximum.

Alternative business plan

Form a team of passionate industrial designer, hardware developer, software developer and I will finally play the role of the digital designer and be the product owner. This shall be a sidejob if no investors are found. A kickstarter/indiegogo campaign would also work.

Crafting

I dissassembled an old DVD/MP3 player that would let me get to know better the digital electronics behind such devices. I have previous experience with electronic devices and my curiosity is what helps me understand if my design is feasible. Ideally i would like to create a prototype to hang it on the wall in the HvA MDD space and let users interact with it, observe them and write an evaluation on the interaction design of the product. Time pressure did not allow me do craft this prototype but another time I might have the opportunity to create a test probe out of it (for Research Through Design purposes!)

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References

1. KnobFeel. No Title. (2017). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/KnobFeel/videos.

2. Don Norman’s jnd.org / Affordance, Conventions and Design (Part 2). Available at: http://www.jnd.org/dn.mss/affordance_conv.html. (Accessed: 12th January 2018)

3. Walker, S. Designing Sustainability: Making radical changes in a material world.

4. • Chart: The LP Is Back! Or Is It? | Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/chart/7699/lp-sales-in-the-united-states/. (Accessed: 7th January 2018)

5. Back on record – the reasons behind vinyl’s unlikely comeback. Available at: http://theconversation.com/back-on-record-the-reasons-behind-vinyls-unlikely-comeback-39964. (Accessed: 5th January 2018)

6. Walker, S. Stuart walker design - quadruple bottom line of sustainability. Available at: https://www.stuartwalker.org.uk/designs-2/10-quadruple-bottom-line-of-sustainability. (Accessed: 5th January 2018)

7. Richards, B., Walker, S. & Βlair, L. Reframing progress in the digital age:moving forward sustainably. Int. J. Sustain. Econ. Soc. Cult. Context (2013).

8. stuart walker design - Design for Life: creating meaning in a distracted world. Available at: https://www.stuartwalker.org.uk/. (Accessed: 5th January 2018)

9. Walker, S. Sustainable by design : explorations in theory and practice. (Earthscan, 2006).

10. Lee, J. H. & Price, R. Understanding users of commercial music services through personas: Design Implications. Ismir 2015 476–482 (2015).

11. Fuller, J., Hubener, L., Kim, Y. & Lee, J. H. Elucidating user behavior in music services through persona and gender. 17th Int. Soc. Music Inf. Retr. Conf. 626–632 (2016).

12. Good design | About Vitsœ | Vitsœ. Available at: https://www.vitsoe.com/eu/about/good-design. (Accessed: 5th January 2018)

13. Customer Demographics - Age Ranges, Generational Names and Numbers | Marketing Artfully. Available at: https://marketingartfully.com/2014/10/08/customer-demographics-age-ranges-numbers/. (Accessed: 3rd January 2018)

14. LG Music Flow hands on review | TechRadar. Available at: http://www.techradar.com/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/audio-systems/lg-music-flow-1279563/review. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

15. The timeless beauty of minimal turntable design. Available at: https://thevinylfactory.com/features/timeless-beauty-minimal-turntable-design/. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

16. Google Cast: here’s every product that works with Google’s open streaming platform | TechRadar. Available at: http://www.techradar.com/news/television/these-are-all-the-products-that-work-with-google-cast-1291053. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

17. Audio Devices | Cast | Google Developers. Available at: https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/audio. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

18. Cast SDK | Google Developers. Available at: https://developers.google.com/cast/?hl=en_US. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

19. Chromecast built-in. Available at: https://www.google.com/chromecast/built-in/. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

20. Discogs Forum - Other sites like discogs. Available at: https://www.discogs.com/forum/thread/735251. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

21. Are there any other good sites like discogs? : vinyl. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/vinyl/comments/5x6ste/are_there_any_other_good_sites_like_discogs/. (Accessed: 2nd January 2018)

22. The 8 Best CD Players and CD Changers to Buy in 2017. Available at: https://www.lifewire.com/best-cd-players-and-changers-1846562. (Accessed: 21st November 2017)

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