BeatsbyBanny

Meet Banny, a NJ based drummer who plays concerts throughout the tri-state area.

The Challenge

Banny's challenges include:

1 - Keeping fans up to date on his tour schedule
2 - Directing fans to a virtual tip jar for increased income
3 - Having a portfolio to showcase his work.

Discovery

Working with Banny was an absolute pleasure.

To start the process, we met at a Panera Bread, and enjoyed a small snack before we talked shop.
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Once I've created a couple of ways of understanding Banny's unique situation, I then like to see what my clients aesthetics are. Together we collaborate to think of different experiences we can provide for the user and their needs.

I also like to use this part of the session to teach my clients about user-centered design because i'm already showing them great designs for inspiration.

Inspiration

After moodboarding with Banny, we decided to run with his favorite aesthetic: Muji Minimalism
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The aesthetic also works functionally because of its high contrast, which will be good for Users while they are in a dark music venue....

Which leads me to my focal question:

lil cap

"How can I empathize for a user in a music venue?"

User Study

Understanding what is means to be a concert attendee who desires to tip a musician was thankfully an easy goal to achieve.

First I collected some secondary data, which showed me what payment forms I should include on the website.

I then went to a concert with my client, and took notes on how people used their phones and contributed to the artists.

What is the experience of the users when they visit Banny's website?

Empathy

Above all else, I strive to be empathetic to the user... especially when they are in a loud, dark, and distracting music venue.

The last thing they want to do is fumble around a clunky website that distracts them from the concert. But they also want to feel like they are supporting the artist.

Finding a site navigation that was simple, and accommodates the venue setting was a good implementation because it had the least amount of steps for the user.

Implementation

To achieve a website that acts as a portfolio as well as a virtual tip jar means clarity was my primary objective, while aesthetics were not far behind.
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My thought process was:
- Have a tip jar that is max 2 clicks away
- Have a very minimal landing page, to keep the user in the lane.

(Landing page) > Hamburger > Tip = The Two-step 💃🏽

Secondary research paired with Primary research allows me to create relatable experiences.

Research

After working a few projects I've learned that the design process is iterative.

Even after I had the foundations of the website, I still had to fill in the holes with constant research.

In one of my rounds of research, I discovered the average ages for certain payment applications. This information helped me design intelligently, rather than put a payment system in that his audience doesn't use.

Conclusion

Above all else, I strive to be empathetic to the user. Especially when they are in a loud, dark, and distracting music venue. The last thing they want to do is fumble around a clunky website that distracts them from the concert.
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Using a design that considered the experience of the user including the lighting, the sound, and the heuristics of the user helped them tip faster, and stay engaged with Banny irl.