INITIAL USER RESEARCH

For this project, various research methods were utilized. Analysis of Daydream Time Machine's Instagram page helped identify their potential users, Gen Z and Millennials attending concerts. Initial user interviews and empathy maps provided deeper insights, while a competitive audit explored branding strategies of larger and local indie artists. These research efforts informed the website design to effectively cater to the target audience's needs and preferences.

Cometitive Analysis

Additionally, I conducted a competitive audit to identify the main competitors in the market and to understand their target audience. I identified 4 primary competitors to research, 3 direct competitors (Whitney Band, SadGirl, Cuco) and 1 indirect competitors (Ticket Master). This research provided the following insights on gaps and opportunities in the market that the website could offer it's users:

• Implementing a progress bar on the merch website would assist users in maintaining a clear sense of progress while navigating through the checkout process, ensuring a smoother and more efficient user experience.

• Social and streaming links can help users conveniently locate the band on various platforms, enhancing their ability to connect and engage with the band's content.

• By incorporating a built-in music player, users will have seamless access to explore and discover new songs effortlessly.

Pain Points

• Linktr.ee: The band's current use of linktr.ee to direct users to all their platforms lacks a personal touch and can be difficult to locate through a typical internet search.

• Shows: The band's use of a third-party website to showcase their upcoming shows negatively impacts the user experience as it is not centralized on a single platform.

• Merch: Users who want to support the band have no way of buying merch online.

• Socials: Users that don't user social media don't have a way of finding out what the band is currently up to.

Persona Development

From my research, I identified 2 groups of users who would benefit from the app. Hayley Wilkinson represents our group of users who are tech-savvy, but frequently misses new song and album releases. The following user story was developed for Hayley: As a High School Student I want to visit a bands website so that I can see their latest tracks and tour dates.
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Julian Calabasas represents our older demographic that is busy and wants clear pricing to make an informed purchase. The following user story was developed for Julian: As a School Teacher I want to buy tickets on a bands website so that I can go to shows for my favorite local bands.

Information Architecture

The lack of a centralized location for the band's collateral is the primary pain point that I used to create the sitemap. Users like Julian are typically busy and don't often use social media, making it hard for them to view upcoming shows. Having an easy to use and clear sitemap will help users like Julian stay up-to-date on the band.

Digital Wireframes

The initial wireframe features components that address the main issues users are looking to solve from a band website. Having the latest album and singles right on the homepage helps users like Hayley who want to find the latest release quickly. The website's album section was designed to provide users with a preview of the band's albums. After collecting feedback from users, it became clear that they wanted links to streaming services as well as an easier way to view the band's other albums.

Summary

My first usability study for the low-fidelity prototype aimed to test a design to see if users are able to successfully complete tasks like purchasing merch and tickets. My primary goal was to gain insights into the challenges users encounter during these tasks and propose improvements for a more seamless user experience.

My methodology for this study included participant recruitment, developing user tasks, capture both qualitative and quantitative data, and analyze data to identify recurring usability issues, pain points, and pattern. During the study users were encouraged to think aloud to provide feedback during the study.

Overall, the insights lead me to make the following changes to the website: adding easily accessible links to streaming & social platforms, adding a related products section to the merch page, and allowing users to use Apple and Google pay.

affinity map & Insights

After conducting the usability study, I assorted all the feedback I received into an affinity map. I categorized the notes into 3 sections from the patterns I identified: confusion, copy issues, and feature requests. These findings led to the following insights:

• Based on the theme that: a majority of users thought there should be links to Streaming Services, an insight is: there should be links to Streaming platforms in the footer and by the relevant songs/albums.

• Based on the theme that: a majority of users thought the website needed social links, an insight is: there should be links to all social platforms in the footer of the website.

• Based on the theme that: 1 user wanted to see related items on the product page, an insight is: adding related items under the product page will help users browse items.

• Based on the theme that: user wants to see the band's biography on the website, an insight is: adding a band's background on the homepage will help users who are looking for more information.

• Based on the theme that: 1 user wanted to use Apple or Google pay for payment, an insight is: giving the option to pay with Google or Apple pay on the order form could help expedite the ordering process.