James King

BA (Hons) Visual Communication at AUB

[kingy9898]

Website

Here is the link to my website as part of the submission. I opted to create my presentation as a website as I believe it would best show my project as I can include my animated logo, and seamlessly link my Adobe XD app preview.

The website shows the app concept and design in a way similar to real app websites, aiming to inform and pursuade the user to download the app.

[kingy9898]

Animated Logo

I animated my logo in After Effects to be used in promotional material as well as on a presentaion or website. I plan on using this on my website as part of the hand in.

[kingy9898]

App Icon & App Store

I implemented my logo in an icon format in a variation of colours. I think this would look really good viewed on a phone, so I created a mockup of how it would look on the play store.

[kingy9898]

Final Logo and branding background

These are my final logo designs as well as a background used for my final presentation.

I'm very happy with how the new logo has turned out and I think it works a lot better than the original design.

[kingy9898]

Logo Development

Following criticism regarding the rock genre feel of the original logo, I started looking at ways to rectify this issue with variations and new logo designs.

I eventually ended up with a new cleaner and more minimal logo design (left side) which uses a soundwave icon.

I think this works a lot better than the original logo as it welcomes anyone of any age, gender, and genre preference.

[kingy9898]

Logo & Identity - Initial Designs

The initial designs for the Unison logo featured a script style typeface that resembles many music brand logos (e.g Fender). I chose the first design as I think it worked most effectively.

I also created a colour palette that I think would work best for the app brand and UI as a whole. The pictures included are "rock style" textures, graphic design and UI design examples that I could use as references.

I then created variations of my chosen logo to see if I could incorporate any visual elements such as sound waves or a hand gesture.

I really like this logo as I think its clean and fits with the app theme. My only concern however, is it feels very much a rock logo which could be problematic with my target audience of any genre.

[kingy9898]

Light Mode Preview

As suggested during testing, I experimented with a light mode theme for the app. I adapted this on two menus and the main home screen.

I think it was an interesting experiment to see how it would look, however I definitely think the app should only be in dark mode as that communicates the musical theme of the app better.

[kingy9898]

Tutorial - This would start after the signup process has completed.

The top row was the original design which featured a guassian blur to hide the parts that weren't yet relevant. On testing the app, I discovered it wasn't the most clearest tutorial experiences.

To combat this, I added a darken layer on top of the blur to make it more clear, and added circles around buttons that were being talked about. I also removed features and re added them as the tutorial progressed to make it as clear as possible.

I think the new version is a lot more clear and the turorial effectively communicates how the app works.

[kingy9898]

Main App Pages

This is the main home and app function screen. This is where users would be able to sort through bands and musicians. The buttons at the bottom allow the user to contact, save, or skip the band or musician. These buttons have been redesigned from the original design of this page to make it less intrusive and fit with the rest of the design.

If the contact button is pressed, It would open a window which allows the user to call or message the band. Pressing this would add the band to the messages and matched page of the app.

If the saved button is pressed, the app would give a little animation (bottom images) and then move on to the next band, saving the band in the saved section.

If the skip button is pressed, the app moves on to the next band.

I think this works really well and keeps the app simple and clear.

[kingy9898]

Menu & Profile

The top row is the Menu. Each button links to the next following pages. This is where users would be able to change the search filters, see their matches and messages, see their saved bands, and access any settings needed.

The bottom row is the Profile Menu. This is where users can view or edit their profile, access any account settings, and log out or switch acounts.

I think this is a very clean design and makes it obvious where everything in the app is.

[kingy9898]

Sign Up & Profile Creator

This is the process of signing up and creating an account. You can create either a band or a musician account which will determine what the app searches for: bands to find musicians or musicians to find bands. It also requires the three algorithmic search filters: Location, Experience, & Genres. Each profile will need at least two photos, and two videos or audio files. This is a key point that differentiates this app from other competitors.

I think this is a really simple, clear and effective sign up process that communicates how the app works as well as how accounts are created.

[kingy9898]

New UI design

I have created a new modern designed UI app that I think works a lot better than the original design. This design ditches the blueprint style and introduces colour and a more final and professional design. Not only does it look cleaner and more user friendly, it features all the information nicely and introduces a one handed user experience, keeping most buttons within thumb reach.

[kingy9898]

App Development

I have started development for the Unison UI design. I designed a black and white blueprint style design that I think could work really well. The only problem with this design is it feels like a wireframe and not fleshed out enough. I think this has a good idea with a blueprint being something new, with this app forming new bands and connections.

[kingy9898]

How people would be matched

Users would be matched by their location, experience and genre preferences. I decided this following my conversation with Emily from Absolute Music as these were the three main things that she thought were important.

The app would work like a dating app where it uses the above variables to match similar people and bands together.

Each profile would feature the following things: Name, Age, Location, Experience, Genre, and at least 2 photos and 2 videos or audio files.

People could be matched by both ends liking each others profile or it could be likes that they've recieved. It could be a blind match where people only get to hear audio, like the Voice.

[kingy9898]

Trav Cats

From my friend from work Graham's band

So, we were all friends and family who used the same pub (the Travellers Rest) We used to just pick up instruments and have impromptu sing a longs. One of the regulars then asked us if we would kick off a charity event he was organising. So we got together and practiced a few songs. It went down so well that we thought hey! Let’s give it a go. We then rehearsed lots got asked to do a private party then we were asked to do a festival. We built in confidence and approached pubs to get gigs. 15 years later we have such a following that pubs and festivals now contact us to play. Our line up, all bar one member has been the same throughout. Take a look on Facebook for pages such as “Musicians wanted & available Hampshire UK” Also Southampton Musician & promoters forum.

As for expenses Musicians normally supply their own instruments But replacement strings / drum skins etc would come out of band funds An average Speaker and PA set up required for gigs would be around £1500 upwards.

[kingy9898]

Ad Board at Absolute Music

I actually found taya through the ad board here at absolute. We found our first drummer through college and then when she fell through we already knew josh and he knew the material better than our old drummer did!

All the other projects I've worked on have come from working here really, we have so many musicians come through it's hard to avoid!

I do think the ad board is a bit outdated but it does work for the people we have in on a regular basis (mainly young teens here for lessons and people age 40+)

I think because Absolute offers so many different things all the different staff know all sorts of people. When people need to find someone for a specific project we have a lot of people come in and ask around the staff and we can normally put them in touch with the right person. That's only helpful if they know about us though and are brave enough to ask around, an app would streamline things massively

I'd say an app/website where you can attach a CV/portfolio and search for specific experience/genre would help loads

We tend to get more bands but certainly not a deficit of solo artists

Funnily enough just had these messages through on our facebook:

"Hi do you have any plans for a Facebook notice board for musicians looking for other musicians at all?"

"Thanks - I'm struggling to find musicians in my area Purbeck and I just can't seem to find a notice board so to speak apart from JMB and bandmix"

@emily.y.h.music

Reflection - Emily works at Absolute Music and found her bandmate through a physical paper ad board in the store. Thinks its outdated but it works. People are emailing the store asking for contacts to be in a band or other musicians. The app should be able to search for experience and genre, as well as feature a CV/portfolio of their work.

[kingy9898]

Name Ideas

BandFinder

Ensemble - Means playing together

Unison - Playing in same key

Harmony - Same time, different pitches

Tutti - All instruments play together

Rehearse