Muze

Muze

A project to practice incorporating a subscription option into a freemium app model.

Muze

  • A media streaming app has been using its free version to build their user base. Now, they want to encourage users to upgrade to their premium version.

  • Add calls to action for new and returning users to subscribe to the premium app experience.

  • User flow, app design, prototyping, user testing

  • Research: Mar 27 - Apr 5
    Designing: Apr 6 - Apr 8
    Validating: Apr 9 - Apr 16
    Designing: Apr 16 - Apr 18
    Validating; Apr 18 - Apr 27
    Designing: Apr 27 - Apr 30

Competitive Analysis

Spotify:

Music, Podcasts, Audiobooks

  • clear CTAs (link to premium on the main menu page)

  • no in-app upgrade

YouTube:

Video & Music Streaming

  • simple in-app checkout progress

  • takes multiple steps to find the page with info on premium

Pandora:

Music & Podcasts

  • easy-to-find upgrade CTA

  • quick & easy checkout

  • bright & cohesive color scheme

Do users like having multiple subscription tiers available?

Quantitative Research

In addition to finding potential testers for the prototype, the survey was also used to gather audiences’ opinions and habits when it comes to streaming platforms. Here are the relevant results

Motivations to Subscribe

Design

  • color palette was developed using a technique from Joseph Angelo Todaro

  • UI elements were pulled from Figma’s Simple Design System & edited to match the chosen font & palette

  • Poppins was chosen as it is a recognizable and clean font, while Russo One was chosen as the title font for its futuristic edge

User Flow

My goal in plotting the user flow was to keep it as simple as possible. As stated in my research findings, an overly-complicated process is a pain point for users

Low Fidelity Wireframes

Using the Existing Wireframes, I expanded on the design, adding wireframes for the different steps of the user flow.

High Fidelity Wireframes

After performing usability tests using the low-fidelity wireframes, the style guide was implemented into the high-fidelity designs. A major design takeaway I received was that there needed to be a stronger call to action for returning users, so a tooltip was included on the home page

having the Premium ad pop up during the sign-up process for new users is seen as invasive and ineffective, so it only appears after returning user login

Usability Testing

Instant visual gratification was highlighted as a must-have, so the premium page was given a slightly more prominent gradient

Yearly tab was removed because it was never turned into a clickable tab, and users were confused by it

Tooltip was added to new user home page to give users another call to action

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Conclusion

It doesn’t take much to have a successful subscription incorporation. It’s important when creating a CTA to make sure it’s noteworthy enough to draw attention but not overtly to the point where it’s obnoxious.

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