Why we’re rethinking Spotify’s podcast player
As Spotify ventures into the world of podcasts, it faces a new set of UX/UI challenges. From cluttered interfaces to a lack of distinction between episodes. Let’s dive into some of the issues — and a potential solution.
Any avid podcast fan has surely noted that Spotify is on a buying spree when it comes to podcasts. Spotify exclusives and in-house production are forcing listeners onto their platform, but is the music giant ready for all of the new podcast listeners?
Let’s do a review.
The Original
While Spotify’s podcast section consists of a number of screens and interactions for the user, we’ll use the Show Screen as an example of some of the issues — and solutions — that present themselves.
Can you spot some of the issues?
The following issues are identified for the screen:
- The picture is repeated for each episode and offers no useful information after the first time it’s presented. It’s stealing attention and adding to cognitive load.
- The sticky top-side menu consists of a three-layered hierarchy, adding to cognitive load, and wasting valuable space.
- A ≈35-pixel small green tick is the only distinction between played and non-played episodes.
One of the main interactions (find desired episode → press play) is obstructed by:
- Difficulty in intuitively filtering desired (e.g., not played yet) and non-desired (e.g., already played) episodes.
- An insignificant play button.
The largest issue is that the design forces the user to consciously filter played and non-played episodes, rather than intuitively knowing. This is caused by a classic design principle:
Components that look the same, users expect to act the same.
We can only assume that is why the components look the same, and why the small green tick is the only distinction: to communicate that they are episodes that can be played. But when the aim is to help the user quickly gauge what episodes are desired — that aim should take communicative priority. A straightforward solution would be to make non-played episodes similar to each other and dissimilar to played ones.
The Redesign
This initiative, and others, are implemented in this redesign — with a stock photo background!
Let’s see how this redesign addresses the issues:
Improvents on the screen:
- Clear distinction between played and non-played episodes
- Reduction of information
- Optimization of space without cluttering
- Header & sticky menuu
So let’s take a side by side look at the two designs:
Conclusion
Whilst not held as the perfect solution and still leaves some design decisions such as “how does a half-played episode look?” open — The clear distinction between played and non-played episodes, reduction of information, and space optimization are just some of the features that make the new design stand out.
There is great value in talking about, and rethinking the platforms that surround us. It’s by making the leap from encountering issues as a user, to acting like a designer, that we can make the world of digital design, just a little bit better. The redesign of Spotify’s podcast player is just one example of how a personal experience as a user can lead to new and hopefully usefull ideas. I’d encourage all users to think critically about the digital products they use and to voice, visualize and design their ideas. That is at least one way, we as users and designers can make a real difference in the digital landscape.
Bonus: This animation showcases some of the transformation:
