Untitled Record Project
Untitled Record Project
Lorem Ipsum
Skills
Design Thinking
Design Sketching
Surface Modeling
Visualization
Animation
Software
Procreate
Illustrator / Photoshop
Fusion360
Keyshot
Figma / Framer
Duration
15 Weeks
doing this is too easy…
(let me explain)
lets go back 30 years.
1986
Music stayed put, media forgot you; you chose, waited, then consumed. Technology was episodic, used deliberately, started intentionally, and stopped when finished completely.
1996
Music stayed put, media forgot you; you chose, waited, then consumed. Technology was episodic, used deliberately, started intentionally, and stopped when finished completely.
2006
Music stayed put, media forgot you; you chose, waited, then consumed. Technology was episodic, used deliberately, started intentionally, and stopped when finished completely.
2026
Music stayed put, media forgot you; you chose, waited, then consumed. Technology was episodic, used deliberately, started intentionally, and stopped when finished completely.
The Tech Ownership Gap
Since 2016, streaming usage has soared. With that said, the amount of content the consumer OWNS has dropped drastically. When you move to streaming, you sacrifice control, for convenience. But with market oversaturation, you're giving up BOTH control AND convenience.
~3 billion global users | free + paid
of subscribers say there are too many streaming services to choose from.
Personas
David J
Intermediate Collector
David J is an intermediate collector who enjoys collecting records and owning physical media, but he’s put off by storage demands and cleanup involved. Right now, managing and putting everything away feels more like a chore than part of the experience overall.
Direct Stakeholder
20 yo
~100 Records
Ali G
Loving Wife & Mother
Ali G is Chris’s wife. While she doesn’t love records as much as he does, she appreciates the quality time they bring to their family and is supportive. That said, she’s often frustrated by how much space the records take up in their living room.
Indirect Stakeholder
28 yo
~20 Records
Discover
User Journey: The Record Playing Experience
Stage
Actions
Steps
Thoughts
People
Emotions
Purchasing
Storing
Preparing
Playing
Fliping
Cleanup
Drive to the record store
Browse the record store
Pay for the records
Avoid keeping records in extreme temperatures in your vehicle
Find an adequately sized storage solution
Make sure the records are safe from outside variables
Ensure records are vertical to avoid warping
Maintain a low moisture and keep records away from heat
Find which record you would like to play
Remove the record from its jacket
Hold the outside edges very carefully to avoid touching the grooves
Carefully move the record over to the turntable, and place on the platter
Carefully lift lid and place record
Define speed of the record
Define if which size record you'll be playing
(If necessary) Move the needle to the starting position of the record
Ensure record has stopped moving
Lift lid
Make sure the needle has been cleared
Grab the record by the outside edges
Flip the record
Carefully remove the record from the turntable
Carefully place the record back into the sleeve
Place the sleeve back into your preferred storage solution
“I associate records with memories strongly.”
“I knew exactly when I bought each one.”
“I have two cats, and there’s no door currently on the cabinet they’re in"
And then I store them on end between bookends of some sort. So they’re always stored vertical. I never store them flat.”
“Records are so interactive… you have to flip them over and engage with everything.”
“I never touch the grooves when putting an album on.”
“It’s a rich, warm sound that digital can’t match.”
“Having it on fills the room; headphones don’t do that.”
“Putting them away or flipping the album… those are the two that bother me the most.”
“Putting them away is a pain…"
Inconvienent
Neutral
Expected within the process, minimal problems.
Great!
Great!
The most important, tone-setting part of the whole experience.
Tedious
Records are very fragile and need to be handled with excess care.
Frustrating
All combined workflow issues: handling, cleaning, storing, and accessing.
Very tedious, somewhat user-dependent.
This phase marks a moment in users' lives.
Pugh Matrix
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Concept 4
Concept 5
Turntable
Aesthetics
2
3
5
3
1
Analog Experience
2
4
3
1
5
Space Agnostic
2
5
3
4
1
Control
1
4
3
2
5
Total
7
16
14
10
12
Pugh Matrix
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Concept 4
Concept 5
Speaker
Aesthetics
3
4
5
4
1
Analog Experience
1
2
4
3
5
Space Agnostic
2
5
4
3
1
Control
1
3
4
3
5
Total
7
14
17
13
12
Pugh Matrix
Concept 1
Concept 2
Concept 3
Concept 4
Concept 5
Storage
Aesthetics
3
2
4
5
1
Analog Experience
1
2
4
3
5
Space Agnostic
3
2
5
4
1
Control
1
2
5
4
3
Total
8
8
18
16
10
Final Totals
22
38
49
39
34
Concept 1: "Low Profile"
Step 1:
Find a place for your record player. A low-profile option can fit in tighter spaces and only requires one cord.
Step 2:
Begin pairing your first two speakers to your player by holding the corresponding pair buttons.
Step 3:
Pair additional speakers for surround sound using the secondary speaker pairing button, and place them around the room or home.
Step 4:
Take the record out of the top-loaded modular storage bin.
Step 5:
Adjust the volume, EQ, or other settings on the host speaker to personalize your listening experience.
Step 6:
Begin playing the record. When finished, put it away.
Concept 3: "Modern Mesh"
Step 1:
Choose a spot in your home where the record can serve as an intimate centerpiece (e.g., living room or bedroom)
Step 2:
Plug in the first two speakers using the provided cords.
Step 3:
Pair the secondary speakers with the main speaker button and place them around the room.
Step 4:
Open the mesh magnetic door and browse your records using the movable racks inside the modular storage unit.
Step 5:
Use the turntable’s dials and buttons to adjust EQ, volume, and other settings to personalize your experience.
Step 6:
Pull out the “standby tray” and place your record sleeve inside for easy handling and cleanup.
Concept 3: "Modern"
Step 1:
Find an open secondary space for your record player, such as a shelf in an office.
Step 2:
Begin pairing your first two speakers with the player by holding their corresponding pair buttons.
Step 3:
Pair additional speakers using the secondary pairing button and place them around the room or home.
Step 4:
Slide open the modular “barn door,” remove your desired record, and place the sleeve on the “standby display shelf.”
Step 5:
Use the main dial on the turntable to adjust all settings.
