Grant LeslieWeb & App Design · 2024
Petri
A music streaming and community platform designed to highlight local artists and foster meaningful connections between musicians and listeners.
UX Designer · UI Designer
5 Members
12 Weeks
UX Design
Context
Project overview
Problem
Mainstream music platforms prioritize popular artists, making it difficult for local and emerging musicians to gain visibility. Listeners who want to discover local music often rely on fragmented tools like social media, flyers, or word of mouth, leading to disconnected experiences for both artists and fans.
Process
We conducted surveys and interviews to understand how people discover new music and how local artists promote their work. Our research focused on listening habits, discovery methods, and the importance of social features in music platforms.
Solution
Petri is a music streaming and community platform designed to highlight local artists and foster meaningful connections between musicians and listeners. The platform combines genre based discovery, community discussion, and artist support tools into a single experience.
Research & discovery
Understanding how people discover music
We conducted surveys and interviews to explore how users currently discover new music and how local artists promote their work. Research focused on listening habits, discovery methods, and the importance of social features in music platforms.
"..most of the time I find new music through friends or social media."
Research evidence
What listeners and artists told us
Survey results and interviews revealed that users rely heavily on social media and word of mouth for discovery, while artists struggle to gain visibility and sustained engagement on existing platforms.
User persona
User Persona
Marshal
Music Enthusiast · Small Musician · Community Supporter
Age: 24 · Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Occupation: Small Musician and Waiter
Marshal lives in Asheville, NC, a hub for local art and music. He enjoys discovering and supporting small artists, playing live shows, and releasing his own music, but feels major platforms don't adequately represent independent creators.
Competition
Competition
How current platforms approach music discovery and promotion. We reviewed existing music and social platforms to understand how they support discovery, artist visibility, and community interaction across different use cases.
Key insights
Key insights
Music discovery is social, but existing platforms don't support connection
Research revealed that users rely heavily on social and word of mouth discovery, while small artists struggle to gain meaningful visibility and engagement on major platforms. Streaming alone does not create community or lasting connection.
Guiding principles
Design Direction
Shifting focus from algorithmic popularity to local connection
Based on these insights, we defined a design direction centered on local discovery, community interaction, and direct artist support. These principles guided feature prioritization and shaped the overall structure of the platform. A community first music experience built around discovery and interaction. Petri combines music streaming, genre based discovery, and community discussion into a single experience designed to strengthen connections between listeners and local artists.
Ideation & exploration
Translating research into early concepts
Using insights around social discovery, community, and artist visibility, we explored multiple layout and feature concepts through low fidelity sketches.
Visual identity
Visual Direction
Establishing a brand rooted in growth, texture, and community
The visual identity was inspired by organic growth and connection, reflecting how music evolves through shared experience and local communities. The visual direction draws from how music grows and evolves through culture, similar to mold. The name Petri reflects something organic, interconnected, and full of potential, mirroring the diverse textures and styles found in music.
Mid fidelity wireframes
Mid-fi wireframes
Building on the visual direction and research insights, we developed mid-fidelity wireframes to define core features, navigation flow, and information hierarchy. These screens validated structure and interaction patterns before applying final visual styling.
Refining the design
Design decisions
Refining concepts through iteration and feedback
Based on early feedback and internal critique, we refined the strongest concepts and removed unnecessary complexity. This step helped clarify feature priorities and informed the final interaction and visual design.
Design solution
Design Solution: key features
Discovery
Helping users explore music beyond mainstream recommendations.
Community
Creating shared spaces for listeners and artists to connect.
Artist Support
Giving artists visibility beyond streams and metrics.
Outcome
Designing systems that support both creators and listeners
This project reinforced the importance of research synthesis and designing community-focused systems that create value for both artists and audiences.
Final screens
Final: Petri Music Screens
High-fidelity app screens showing the core experience: discovery, community, and artist support across the main flows.
