The use of cutting-edge materials and manufacturing processes in the design and production of Elements_Efi has resulted in a product that is both durable and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact of its use.
The use of cutting-edge materials and manufacturing processes in the design and production of Elements_Efi has resulted in a product that is both durable and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact of its use.
The use of cutting-edge materials and manufacturing processes in the design and production of Elements_Efi has resulted in a product that is both durable and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact of its use.
The use of cutting-edge materials and manufacturing processes in the design and production of Elements_Efi has resulted in a product that is both durable and sustainable, reducing the environmental impact of its use.
Driven by my love for both music and design, I took on a personal capstone project for my M.S. in Technology Management degree to address a real-world challenge that many independent musicians face. From identifying industry gaps to designing the platform, this project reflects my approach and skills. It’s still in progress, but here’s a brief recap of my design journey.
Summer 2023
Just me
Market Research
Product Strategy
Business Plan
UI/UX Design
Unlocking success in the music industry starts with the right connections.
Independent & aspiring musicians often struggle to build a network that drives career growth and opens up new opportunities.
Two years ago, I found myself immersed in the world of music production. Without any formal music education or industry connections, I found myself struggling to find a community of like-minded people or mentors to guide me as I navigated this new part-time career. Along the way, I met other beginner producers and DJs who were facing similar challenges, and even full-time musicians shared how hard it was to secure consistent work or mentoring opportunities. These conversations sparked the idea for my capstone project, MuseFuse—a platform created to bridge these gaps and support both aspiring and established musicians.
Musicians often rely on traditional networking methods like mutual connections, costly VIP tickets, or cold emails to YouTubers and social media creators. These approaches are time-consuming and have low success rates, especially for lesser-known artists, limiting meaningful connections.
In the digital music industry, platforms like Spotify and SoundCloud excel at giving musicians exposure. However, these platforms fall short in helping musicians connect with one another. While social media sites offer some level of networking, they lack features specifically tailored to the unique needs of musicians seeking to build meaningful professional relationships.
To get a true understanding of the challenges musicians face, I dove into research and had in-depth conversations with musicians at different stages of their careers.
These discussions were revealing. For instance, I learned that even established, full-time musicians often struggled with the unpredictability of project-based work, making it difficult to secure consistent opportunities like teaching gigs or performances.
These insights led me to pinpoint three distinct user segments for MuseFuse, each with their own unique struggles and aspirations. I then translated these findings into user personas, ensuring that every design decision was rooted in the real experiences and needs of the musicians the platform aims to support.
Once I had a clear understanding of my users, the next step was to translate their needs into actionable feature requirements. This is where the Jobs to be Done (JTBD) framework became helpful.
I categorized the essential tasks my platform should accomplish into two groups: functional & emotional. The functional needs covered the practical aspects—what users needed the platform to do, such as finding collaborators or showcasing their music. The emotional needs, however, delved deeper into the experience—what users wanted to feel, like a sense of belonging or receiving validation from peers.
As I continued refining the platform, I focused on identifying the key features and pages that would truly align with the users' needs and the jobs they needed to get done. This process was all about cutting through the noise and making sure everything on the platform served a real purpose for the people using it.
For the branding process of MuseFuse, I aimed to create a visual identity that captures the essence of creativity, collaboration, and growth in the music industry.
Typography: I chose Lato for its clean and modern look
Colors: The primary color palette of blues and greys was selected to evoke trust, reliability, and innovation. These colors align with the platform’s mission of being a trusted resource for musicians while still feeling fresh and modern.
When designing MuseFuse's navigation bar, I focused on creating an intuitive and efficient user experience. Key actions like searching for collaborators, exploring events, and profile management were prioritized in the top bar for easy access.
Recognizing the distinct needs of different user segments, I included a dedicated section for music businesses and highlighted the "Upload" button to encourage user engagement.
If I had more time and resources, I would test these initial prototypes with potential users and continue to iterate based on their feedback. Conducting card sorting sessions would help determine the most logical structure and priorities for users, ensuring the design meets their needs.
However, these are the initial designs of the main pages I have so far below.
To ensure the platform meets the needs of its users and continues to evolve effectively, I'll be focusing on the following steps: