Sound River / App Design
UX/UI Case Study Conceptual
Introduction

There are few things more relaxing than a enjoying a cup of coffee while your favorite album spins on a record player. We live in a world where experience matters just much as the product itself, so why not create an app that only elevates that experience while also making it accessible. Cater to the needs of the music lover, one who loves exploring but also enjoys finding something unique and will go out of their way to find something specific. While also catering to the coffee lover, who like to see how their coffee gets made but struggles to justify a six dollar latte plus tip more than once a week. This app seeks to increase customer engagement for coffee and music lovers alike who seek connection and community while taking into consideration the limitations of our customer base.


The Client
Sound River Cafe is a cherished local coffee shop that not only serves high-quality and expertly crafted coffee drinks but also features a unique record store, offering a curated selection of vinyl records catering to coffee lovers and music enthusiasts alike. 


The Problem
Despite its unique concept, Sound River Cafe competes in a crowded marketplace filled with numerous coffee shops and cafes. This beloved local coffee faces hurdles in attracting a larger customer base and elevating its overall appeal.


The Solution

In this case study, we explore the development process from start to finish. Starting with the our research, design strategies, and identifying key features aimed at enhancing the overall customer experience. 

Join us as dive into bumps and hurdles, the innovation solutions developed, and the impact the Sound River Cafe App has had on providing access to the joy of music. Customers can enjoy nostalgia of vinyl records and the ambiance of a coffee shop without the burden of spending a lot of money all at once. This case study aims to showcase how by putting user at the center of our design, we can create a welcoming space for everyone​
Define the Problem
Strengths
Multiple revenue streams
Diverse customer base
Enhanced customer engagement
Weaknesses
Limited customer base
Limited space
Resource challenges
Increased costs versus specialized stores
Opportunities
Promoting local artists
Sustainability trends
Loyalty Programs
Threats
Competitors
Shift to Digital
Potential Damage
Economic downturn
Rising costs
Strengths
Loyalty programs
Strong brand recognition
Inviting atmosphere
Online presence
Weaknesses
Dependency on
brick & mortar
Negative perception
Big competition
Higher operation costs
Opportunities
Expansion of
community involvement
Emphasis on sustainability
Support local
Threats
Economic downturn
Decline in brick & mortar
Emerging competitiors
Interviews
User research is an important step in the process as it can provide key insights that inform the design process. For this project, I interviewed 8 people - 4 Vinyl Collectors & 4 Coffee Enthusiasts.
Demographics
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21 - 33 years old
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​Lives in the US
Characteristics
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Coffee Lover
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Brand Loyal
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Music Lovers
Behaviors​
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Uses a smartphone
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Drinks Coffee or collects vinyl
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Frequents local coffee shops
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Enjoys music
“Everything is so digital these days and going to a coffee shop helps you get that more face to face connection that many are missing these days.”
“Part of the beauty of going to coffee shop is to watch the barista make the drink.”
”Thats what will get me into a record store. Like we’ve got records and you can also get coffee and a sandwich. That will generally draw me in.”
“Record shopping feels right on a saturday or sunday where I can grab a coffee and a bagel.”
Affinity Mapping
Cafe Interviews
Create an appealing environment
Encourage exploration
Encourage Customer engagement
Improve the customer experience
Vinyl Interviews
Make record shopping an engaging experience
Encourage repeat customers
Enhance in-store experience
Cater to customer’s spontaneous buying tendencies
User Personas
Bio
Stevie is a retail worker living in Burlington, VT. She balances her job with her passion for music as an avid record collector. She enjoys the older sound of classic vinyl if the quality is good but also enjoys the newer stuff when she has the money to spend. She enjoys hanging out with her friends on her days off doing things like hanging out in coffee shops, going to trivia nights, and seeing live music. She has recently been trying to save money, but tries not to let that stop her from being social.
Goals
Financial Savings
Aims to build a diverse collection that reflects his taste while discovering new artists and genres
Expanding her Collection
Stevie wants to expand her record collection and is drawn to rare and specialty items . She is trying to create a collection that reflects her personality.
Social Engagement
Focused on saving money, setting financial goals to ensure his family’s needs are met while still indulging in his hobbies.
Stevie
Age: 26
Occupation: Retail Worker
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Location: Burlington, VT
Family: Single, Lives w/ Roommate
Frustrations
Financial Constraints
Financial limitations can sometimes restrict her ability to participate in social activities with her friends.
Time Management
Stevie might feel constrained by her work schedule, which could interfere with her ability to fully engage in social activiities.
Limited Access
to Rare Items
Stevie is frustrated by the difficulty in finding rare items and he high cost associated with them.
Bio
Dylan is a 31 year old IT specialist living in Burlington, VT. He enjoys the flexibility that his work offers him with the ability to work remote. Engaged and a proud parent to a 9 year old girl, Dylan cherishes his time at home but likes to change up the scene by working a couple days a week away from home at a local coffee shop. Recently, he has taken up record collecting as a new hobby. He likes to seek out unique and rare items but he and his partner have been focused on saving money so has to make thoughtful decisions and limit his spending.
Goals
Expand Record Collection
Aims to build a diverse collection that reflects his taste while adding unique items to his collection.
Financial Stability
Focused on saving money, setting financial goals to ensure his family’s needs are met while still indulging in his hobbies.
Enhance Remote Work
By occasionally working away from home at local coffee shops he aims to change up his environment to stay motivated and feel less isolated.
Dylan
Age: 31
Occupation: IT Specialist
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Location: Burlington, VT
Family: Engaged, 1 Child
Frustrations
Budget Constraints
Feels pressure to limit his spending due to him and his partner’s commitment to saving, which often restricts his ability to indulge in record collecting.
Limited Selection
Record collecting on a budget almost always has it’s challenges especially when trying to find quality records
Work-Life Balance
With a busy schedule, it can be challenging for Dylan to carve out quality time for himself and his family.
Research Insights
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​On the cafe side of things:

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There wasn’t a demand for mobile ordering as I had originally hypothesized.
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All four of our participants, found the experience of going to coffee shop and having their coffee made in front of them to be more enjoyable than picking up.
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There a was huge demand for community. Half of our interviewees went to coffee shops to change up their office scenery while working from home.
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Others loved the idea of catching up with a friend or using the coffee shop as way to jump start their day and work on a passion project.
On the vinyl side of things:
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There was a trend with folks going to vinyl shops while they traveled and while also out and about doing other things.
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There was also a trend with folks using records stores as a way of exploring, but using the internet as way to curate specific items.
For both Cafe & Vinyl:
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There was a huge emphasis on cost.
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We also saw both coffee lovers and vinyl lovers were both very curious and willing to explore if the mood struck them.
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We also found that one positive experience in a particular coffee shop or record store based on the selection, the people, and the ambiance would lead them back again.
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Problem Statement
“People who visit coffee shops and record stores in their community want to enjoy unique, quality products to enrich their experience and discover new flavors & sounds but they struggle to balance quality and price.”
Designing the Solution
The design of the Sound River Cafe App is focused around creating an engaging experience which caters mainly to our vinyl lovers while also rewarding our coffee drinkers. Our research indicated theres wasn’t a strong need for mobile ordering, so we we’ve tailored our design focus to enhance the vinyl experience and increase community engagement through events.
Vinyl-Centric

The app allows users to browse incoming vinyl like they are in the store and allows them the option to save or purchase for pick up on store or delivery. The save option allows for users to go back later to be able purchase, if available, at another time which could potentially bring back customers at another time while also taking into consideration the financial limitations of those customers who may not have the money now.
Rewards Program
The app features a rewards program that incentivizes both coffee and vinyl lovers through engagement. Buy a coffee and earn reward points for your next vinyl purchase or buy a vinyl and earn points towards your next coffee drink. The more you spend the more you earn.
Event Calendar
Another key feature involves our event calendar. Our research showed that many of our interviewers enjoyed doing other activities while shopping for records and visiting coffee shops such as getting food while shopping for records or meeting up with friends at a coffee shop
Branding
Hi-Fidelity Wireframes
Outcomes & Reflections
When I started this project, I fully expected I would be creating an app that would be more focused on mobile ordering. Of all the places that are so fast-paced these days it was nice to know there were a few places where people wanted to slow down. Through my research with both coffer enthusiasts and vinyl lovers, I was able to successfully identify and combine the needs of both groups and find common ground.
What I would do differently?
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Get feedback on user interview outline before working with interviewees to ensure questions align with research objectives and focus less on marketing direction.
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Perform usability testing after the prototyping stage: While I was able to gain insights using only paper prototypes. I believe there would have been more valuable data had the user been able to see how each page was intended to flow into the next.
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Save previous versions or take better notes. Looking back on this project, I believe this is an area where I could have improved and provided more of story in this case study from start to end.
Future Direction
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Build out the cafe menu: While our research showed that mobile ordering was not necessary, it was shared in the usability testing process that they expected to see something more related to the coffee shop side of things. Had there been more time, this page would have been built out more.
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Refine app interface: by continuing to gather user feedback through more testing to ensure all features are intuitive and user-friendly.
Through this process, I learned there is value in putting the user at the center. By taking into consideration the specific needs and desires of both types of users, we were able to create something that effectively resonates with its target audience.
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By creating an app that focused on creating community connection through events and financial accessibility through a rewards feature and the option to save records for future purchases we were able to cater our coffee drinkers and vinyl friends effectively. Resulting in improved and repeated customer engagement.
