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Headphones Connect Redesign

Audio Companion App

Headphones Connect is a companion app for Sony audio headphones. This project was completed before Sony rebranded and redesigned the app as Sound Connect.

Personal Project

Personal Project

Sony

Sony

Remote - UK

Remote - UK

Incremental Improvement Approach

Incremental Improvement Approach

2024

Official Website

Sony Headphones Connect empowers users to personalise their Sony headphone experience, offering features like sound customisation, noise-cancelling adjustments, and adaptive audio settings. The app provides complete control over headphone performance, firmware updates, and audio presets, ensuring a tailored listening experience. The redesign focuses on enhancing the user interface, improving accessibility, and further Sony brand integration, making for a more intuitive, complete experience.

2024

Official Website

Sony Headphones Connect empowers users to personalise their Sony headphone experience, offering features like sound customisation, noise-cancelling adjustments, and adaptive audio settings. The app provides complete control over headphone performance, firmware updates, and audio presets, ensuring a tailored listening experience. The redesign focuses on enhancing the user interface, improving accessibility, and further Sony brand integration, making for a more intuitive, complete experience.

Problem Space

The Sony Headphones Connect app, while feature-rich, is hindered by a cluttered interface and limited accessibility, making it difficult for users to customise their listening experience with ease. These issues detract from the app’s potential to provide seamless control and alignment with Sony’s reputation for innovation.

Problem Space

The Sony Headphones Connect app, while feature-rich, is hindered by a cluttered interface and limited accessibility, making it difficult for users to customise their listening experience with ease. These issues detract from the app’s potential to provide seamless control and alignment with Sony’s reputation for innovation.

Secondary Research of Escrow Services

82% of users prefer personalised sound profiles over default headphone settings.

Sonarworks.com

82% of users prefer personalised sound profiles over default headphone settings.

Sonarworks.com

82% of users prefer personalised sound profiles over default headphone settings.

Sonarworks.com

Enhanced device control matters

“69% of customers say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that personalizes experiences, highlighting the importance of tailoring features to individual preferences.”

Deloitte Insights

Enhanced device control matters

“69% of customers say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that personalizes experiences, highlighting the importance of tailoring features to individual preferences.”

Deloitte Insights

Enhanced device control matters

“69% of customers say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that personalizes experiences, highlighting the importance of tailoring features to individual preferences.”

Deloitte Insights

Accessibility drives retention

“A survey by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) found that 26% of disabled and older users experienced difficulties accessing or using apps, and nearly half of these individuals (44%) went on to uninstall or delete the app.”

Research Institute for Disabled Consumers

Accessibility drives retention

“A survey by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) found that 26% of disabled and older users experienced difficulties accessing or using apps, and nearly half of these individuals (44%) went on to uninstall or delete the app.”

Research Institute for Disabled Consumers

Accessibility drives retention

“A survey by the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) found that 26% of disabled and older users experienced difficulties accessing or using apps, and nearly half of these individuals (44%) went on to uninstall or delete the app.”

Research Institute for Disabled Consumers

Personalisation boosts engagement

"A study by Localytics found that apps that are regularly updated see a 70% higher user satisfaction rate, demonstrating that timely improvements significantly boost user trust and engagement."

Localytics Blog

Personalisation boosts engagement

"A study by Localytics found that apps that are regularly updated see a 70% higher user satisfaction rate, demonstrating that timely improvements significantly boost user trust and engagement."

Localytics Blog

Personalisation boosts engagement

"A study by Localytics found that apps that are regularly updated see a 70% higher user satisfaction rate, demonstrating that timely improvements significantly boost user trust and engagement."

Localytics Blog

User Reviews

48 Reviews Analysed

User reviews from the App Store and Play Store revealed key insights from real user experiences, highlighting opportunities to refine the Sony Headphones Connect app for a more seamless and tailored experience. Here are some reviews with that highlighted consistent issues.

"Still too complicated and clunky to find options. Firmware upgrade process is awful: you need to disconnect to upgrade, disconnect,... there's nothing happening, connect, you need to disconnect to upgrade,... there's nothing happening, rinse and repeat. Amateurish stuff, Sony."

“Still too complicated and clunky to find options”
andy38-ash - App Store

"These applications exhibit considerable complexity, with certain settings exhibiting unpredictable changes after a short period. A more user-friendly design is required. My used worst experience with sony connect app"

“A more user-friendly design is required.”
Muhammad Saifullah - Play Store

"The words you use in this app aren't user friendly at all. You use acronyms I have to search up (just put what it means in brackets otherwise you're overly confusing). This app should be able to be used by everyone."

“Very poorly designed app”
Hadiyah Q - App Store

"Still too complicated and clunky to find options. Firmware upgrade process is awful: you need to disconnect to upgrade, disconnect,... there's nothing happening, connect, you need to disconnect to upgrade,... there's nothing happening, rinse and repeat. Amateurish stuff, Sony."

“Still too complicated and clunky to find options”
andy38-ash - App Store

"These applications exhibit considerable complexity, with certain settings exhibiting unpredictable changes after a short period. A more user-friendly design is required. My used worst experience with sony connect app"

“A more user-friendly design is required.”
Muhammad Saifullah - Play Store

"The words you use in this app aren't user friendly at all. You use acronyms I have to search up (just put what it means in brackets otherwise you're overly confusing). This app should be able to be used by everyone."

“Very poorly designed app”
Hadiyah Q - App Store

"Still too complicated and clunky to find options. Firmware upgrade process is awful: you need to disconnect to upgrade, disconnect,... there's nothing happening, connect, you need to disconnect to upgrade,... there's nothing happening, rinse and repeat. Amateurish stuff, Sony."

“Still too complicated and clunky to find options”
andy38-ash - App Store

"These applications exhibit considerable complexity, with certain settings exhibiting unpredictable changes after a short period. A more user-friendly design is required. My used worst experience with sony connect app"

“A more user-friendly design is required.”
Muhammad Saifullah - Play Store

"The words you use in this app aren't user friendly at all. You use acronyms I have to search up (just put what it means in brackets otherwise you're overly confusing). This app should be able to be used by everyone."

“Very poorly designed app”
Hadiyah Q - App Store

Designing for Broad Users

To gain insights into user needs and challenges, a comprehensive user base persona was developed. This persona encapsulates the common themes and pain points identified across the general user base.

To gain insights into user needs and challenges, a comprehensive user base persona was developed. This persona encapsulates the common themes and pain points identified across the general user base.

To gain insights into user needs and challenges, a comprehensive user base persona was developed. This persona encapsulates the common themes and pain points identified across the general user base.

Experience Mapping

The user journey outlines the typical experience of using the Sony Headphones Connect app, focusing on key stages, user actions, and emotions. It identifies goals, frustrations, and areas where design improvements can enhance usability and satisfaction.

The user journey outlines the typical experience of using the Sony Headphones Connect app, focusing on key stages, user actions, and emotions. It identifies goals, frustrations, and areas where design improvements can enhance usability and satisfaction.

The user journey outlines the typical experience of using the Sony Headphones Connect app, focusing on key stages, user actions, and emotions. It identifies goals, frustrations, and areas where design improvements can enhance usability and satisfaction.

How might we help users of Sony Headphones Connect effortlessly personalise and control their audio experience, while addressing inconsistent navigation?

Identified Opportunities

Identified Opportunities

The layout will be simplified to make the app easier to use, with a focus on key features like sound customisation and noise-cancelling controls. Options will be organised clearly, and important settings will be easy to find, so users spend less time searching

Identified Opportunities

The layout will be simplified to make the app easier to use, with a focus on key features like sound customisation and noise-cancelling controls. Options will be organised clearly, and important settings will be easy to find, so users spend less time searching

Identified Opportunities

The layout will be simplified to make the app easier to use, with a focus on key features like sound customisation and noise-cancelling controls. Options will be organised clearly, and important settings will be easy to find, so users spend less time searching

Feedback

Progress bars and status alerts will show real-time feedback for actions like sound adjustments, firmware updates, and noise cancellation. Users will be able to see their actions and know when changes are applied, reducing confusion and making the app easier to use.

Feedback

Progress bars and status alerts will show real-time feedback for actions like sound adjustments, firmware updates, and noise cancellation. Users will be able to see their actions and know when changes are applied, reducing confusion and making the app easier to use.

Feedback

Progress bars and status alerts will show real-time feedback for actions like sound adjustments, firmware updates, and noise cancellation. Users will be able to see their actions and know when changes are applied, reducing confusion and making the app easier to use.

Refined Design

Address underlying issues and take a more thoughtful approach to usability. Improvements will focus on fixing existing problems while adding logical new features, such as better clarity on modes and states, clearer feedback.

Refined Design

Address underlying issues and take a more thoughtful approach to usability. Improvements will focus on fixing existing problems while adding logical new features, such as better clarity on modes and states, clearer feedback.

Refined Design

Address underlying issues and take a more thoughtful approach to usability. Improvements will focus on fixing existing problems while adding logical new features, such as better clarity on modes and states, clearer feedback.

Task Map

Task Map: Setting and selecting audio profiles

An audio profile involves personalising sound settings, tailored to match user preferences for different genres, environments or moods.

An audio profile involves personalising sound settings, tailored to match user preferences for different genres, environments or moods.

An audio profile involves personalising sound settings, tailored to match user preferences for different genres, environments or moods.

Wireframes

User Testing

5 Testing Participants
20+ actionable suggestions received

User testing lead to suggested changes to the initial designs, which in turn effectively addressed issues that were not originally considered.

Before
Features Hidden

Users found it difficult to locate features as they were buried within the interface and required extensive scrolling.

After
New Toggles and Modals

A grid layout with quick action toggles was implemented, allowing users to easily access and toggle key features without unnecessary scrolling or navigation.

Before
Segmented Functionality

Related features were separated, causing confusion and making users feel like certain functionalities were hidden or difficult to find.

After
Dedicated Modals

Intricate features were grouped into dedicated modals, creating distinct spaces for them and logically correlating related functions. This improved accessibility and allowed for the inclusion of more features in a streamlined manner.

High Fidelity Prototype

Customise your music to match your preferences by choosing your ideal sound settings.
Home

High Fidelity Prototype

Serves as the central hub for accessing quick toggles for frequently used functions. Advanced features, usage logs, and settings are also available from this interface. The user interface adapts aesthetically to match the headphones’ model and color, along with support for both light and dark modes.

Quick Access
Usage Log
Equaliser
Playback Control

Offers customisation of headphone functionality, including button assignments, device power settings, and available shortcuts.

Quick Access
Usage Log
Equaliser
Playback Control

Offers customisation of headphone functionality, including button assignments, device power settings, and available shortcuts.

Quick Access

Offers customisation of headphone functionality, including button assignments, device power settings, and available shortcuts.

Usage Log

Tracks headphone usage patterns, including activities performed while using the device, time of day, and total duration of use.

Equaliser

Provides adjustable sliders and presets to align audio output with the genre, ensuring headphones deliver optimal sound quality.

Playback Control

Enables seamless music management while headphone settings are adjusted, delivering a harmonious listening experience.

Quick Access

Offers customisation of headphone functionality, including button assignments, device power settings, and available shortcuts.

Usage Log

Tracks headphone usage patterns, including activities performed while using the device, time of day, and total duration of use.

Equaliser

Provides adjustable sliders and presets to align audio output with the genre, ensuring headphones deliver optimal sound quality.

Playback Control

Enables seamless music management while headphone settings are adjusted, delivering a harmonious listening experience.

Two Device Connect

Users found it difficult to locate features as they were buried within the interface and required extensive scrolling.

Voice Assistant

A grid layout with quick action toggles was implemented, allowing users to easily access and toggle key features without unnecessary scrolling or navigation.

Notifications

A grid layout with quick action toggles was implemented, allowing users to easily access and toggle key features without unnecessary scrolling or navigation.

Design System

140+ Individual Components

To be able to iterate on the existing prototype, a design system was created, including components with variants, colours, progress sliders and device mockups.

To be able to iterate on the existing prototype, a design system was created, including components with variants, colours, progress sliders and device mockups.

To be able to iterate on the existing prototype, a design system was created, including components with variants, colours, progress sliders and device mockups.

Connect Profiles Explored

Post Project Feature

Looking beyond the current redesign, community-driven features were explored, including the ability for users to share and download personalised audio profiles. This fosters a sense of community while enhancing the app’s personalisation capabilities.

Users can select, edit, share, delete downloaded profiles and hide preset profiles.

Project Thoughts

This project has been a rewarding experience, introducing me to a domain I had little prior knowledge of. It broadened my understanding of the development cycle and the scalability required for a product with an extensive existing client base, including large corporations.

This project has been a rewarding experience, introducing me to a domain I had little prior knowledge of. It broadened my understanding of the development cycle and the scalability required for a product with an extensive existing client base, including large corporations.

This project has been a rewarding experience, introducing me to a domain I had little prior knowledge of. It broadened my understanding of the development cycle and the scalability required for a product with an extensive existing client base, including large corporations.

Working within a strict regulatory framework provided new challenges, shaping my problem-solving approach. The project also honed my skills in building a platform from scratch while contributing to a design system supporting diverse products across the organisation.

Working within a strict regulatory framework provided new challenges, shaping my problem-solving approach. The project also honed my skills in building a platform from scratch while contributing to a design system supporting diverse products across the organisation.

Working within a strict regulatory framework provided new challenges, shaping my problem-solving approach. The project also honed my skills in building a platform from scratch while contributing to a design system supporting diverse products across the organisation.

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