Category:
Mobile Design
Client:
Case Study
Duration:
2 weeks 09/24
// BACKSTORY
I’ve always loved making monthly playlists to keep track of my favorite songs, and over time, I realized they help me relive memories from different moments in my life. Studying sensory memory in psychology made me realize how music can trigger those emotions and moments from the past. Now, I’m thinking of a feature that lets people do the same—filter their music by date and bring back memories they didn’t even know they were creating, all through Spotify.
// PROBLEM STATEMENT
Many Spotify users create playlists over time, often unconsciously linking music to significant life moments and emotions. However, there is currently no easy way for users to revisit these past experiences by filtering their playlists by date. This gap prevents users from fully engaging with the personal memories and emotions their music holds. How might we design a feature that allows users to filter their music by date, helping them relive memories and enhance their emotional connection to their playlists?
HOW MIGHT WE HELP SPOTIFY USERS
RECONNECT WITH THEIR PAST MEMORIES
BY ENABLING THEM TO FIND
THEIR LIST OF SONGS BY DATE,
ALLOWING THEM TO RELIVE MOMENTS
THROUGH LISTENING HISTORY?
// SECONDARY RESEARCH
MEMORY AND MUSIC
Research from the Journal of Experimental Psychology shows that 90% of participants could recall a personal memory tied to a particular song when asked, demonstrating the strong link between music and memory (Miller et al., 2020)
NOSTALGIA
Studies by the American Psychology Association (APA) show that nostalgia increases positive emotions by 65% and has been linked to improved mood, reduced stress, and a greater sense of belonging (APA, 2019).
A Spotify user analysis (Spotify Insights, 2022) found that nostalgia-driven playlists are played 85% more often by users aged 25-45 compared to other playlists, suggesting a significant user interest in content that allows them to revisit the past.
// IMPLEMENTATION
Google Photos reported that its ‘Rediscover This Day’ feature had a 75% user engagement rate within the first three months of launch (Google Insights, 2021). This feature allows users to revisit memories tied to specific dates, showing how time-based content can effectively engage users.
Facebook Memories reports a 90% increase in daily active users on days when ‘Memories’ are prominently featured, indicating that users are drawn to features that help them reconnect with past experiences (Facebook Research, 2020).
WHAT I LEARNED:
I learned the importance of designing for real emotional needs, not just functionality, as users connect deeply with music tied to memories.
Grounding the feature in principles of sensory memory and nostalgia reinforced the value of research in creating meaningful user experiences.
Testing and feedback highlighted the need to adapt assumptions, showing me how iterative design leads to more user-aligned solutions.
This project taught me to prioritize designs that foster positive emotional connections, enhancing user engagement through empathy.
Designing this feature taught me the value of creating deeply personal and intuitive experiences. I learned how to balance functionality and emotion. When I attended the Tapia 2024 Conference, I learned that while functionality is important, emotional connection leaves the strongest impact. This understanding inspired me to prioritize designs that deliver immediate emotional benefits, creating more meaningful and lasting user experiences. It also drives my passion for studying Psychology, where I can combine my knowledge of human cognition with design to create impactful, user-centered solutions.
