Overview

Problem

Ideation

Iterations

Impact

Reflections

Go to top

AI concept

Conversational User Interfaces (CUI)

Motion Design

Cura, Spotify's empathetic AI that curates your emotions

What would AI look like, when it can understand your emotions through the voice you are interacting with Cura is an empathetic AI designed for Spotify.

My Role

1. End-to-end design process 2. AI Brand Identity Development 3. Entire Motion Design

Timeline

4 weeks

team

2 designers Alex & Jean

Tools

Figma Trapcode AfterEffects

AI concept

Conversational User Interfaces (CUI)

Motion Design

Cura, Spotify's empathetic AI that curates your emotions

What would AI look like, when it can understand your emotions through the voice you are interacting with Cura is an empathetic AI designed for Spotify.

My Role

1. End-to-end design process 2. AI Brand Identity Development 3. Entire Motion Design

Timeline

4 weeks

team

2 designers Alex & Jean

Tools

Figma Trapcode AfterEffects

Overview
overview
overview

Understand your emotions.
Enjoy better music.

Understand your emotions.
Enjoy better music.

Understand your emotions.
Enjoy better music.

Feature 1

AI that understands your highs and lows

Cura senses mood shifts like stress spikes through your smartwatch, and understand your emotions to help your music curations.

Feature 2

Choose what to track. You're in control

Choose which emotions Cura should track and get a playlist that's just right for you.

Feature 3

Revisit your emotions. Understand them better

Cura tracks your emotional journey and turns it into a personalized playlist. Your own musical antidote for every mood!

Feature 4

Voice-based interactions

Cura understands your intentions and interacts with you natrually.

Feature 1

AI that understands your highs and lows

Cura senses mood shifts like stress spikes through your smartwatch, and understand your emotions to help your music curations.

Feature 2

Choose what to track. You're in control

Choose which emotions Cura should track and get a playlist that's just right for you.

Feature 3

Revisit your emotions. Understand them better

Cura tracks your emotional journey and turns it into a personalized playlist. Your own musical antidote for every mood!

Feature 4

Voice-based interactions

Cura understands your intentions and interacts with you natrually.

Feature 1

AI that understands your highs and lows

Cura senses mood shifts like stress spikes through your smartwatch, and understand your emotions to help your music curations.

Feature 2

Choose what to track. You're in control

Choose which emotions Cura should track and get a playlist that's just right for you.

Feature 3

Revisit your emotions. Understand them better

Cura tracks your emotional journey and turns it into a personalized playlist. Your own musical antidote for every mood!

Feature 4

Voice-based interactions

Cura understands your intentions and interacts with you natrually.

Feature 1

AI that understands your highs and lows

Cura senses mood shifts like stress spikes through your smartwatch, and understand your emotions to help your music curations.

Feature 2

Choose what to track. You're in control

Choose which emotions Cura should track and get a playlist that's just right for you.

Feature 3

Revisit your emotions. Understand them better

Cura tracks your emotional journey and turns it into a personalized playlist. Your own musical antidote for every mood!

Feature 4

Voice-based interactions

Cura understands your intentions and interacts with you natrually.

Feature 1

AI that understands your highs and lows

Cura senses mood shifts like stress spikes through your smartwatch, and understand your emotions to help your music curations.

Feature 2

Choose what to track. You're in control

Choose which emotions Cura should track and get a playlist that's just right for you.

Feature 3

Revisit your emotions. Understand them better

Cura tracks your emotional journey and turns it into a personalized playlist. Your own musical antidote for every mood!

Feature 4

Voice-based interactions

Cura understands your intentions and interacts with you natrually.

01/ Problem
Background

Voice Recognition to Empathetic AI

AI is becoming a big part of our lives. It was shocking to see that it reached a point where it can understand human emotions. Inspired by Hume AI, we imagined a conversational AI integrated into Spotify.

Process

We focused on rapid prototyping based on user feedback

1

Initial Research

Desk Research Exploratory Interviews User Surveys

1

Initial Research

Desk Research Exploratory Interviews User Surveys

2

Problem Identification

Affinity Mapping Data Analysis Concept Development

2

Problem Identification

Affinity Mapping Data Analysis Concept Development

3

Iteration 1

User Scenario (Human- AI Interaction) User Testing #1

3

Iteration 1

User Scenario (Human- AI Interaction) User Testing #1

4

Iteration 2

Design Refinement Usability Test #2 (Key Product Features)

4

Iteration 2

Design Refinement Usability Test #2 (Key Product Features)

5

Delivery

Final Refinement Video Creation UI/UX Design

5

Delivery

Final Refinement Video Creation UI/UX Design

6

Reflection

Design Week Public Showcase

6

Reflection

Design Week Public Showcase

02/ Research
User Interviews

What are the user needs?

In order to learn about the current listening experience of Spotify and identify user needs, we interviewed 2 active users of the Spotify. The main questions focused on:
 - How users handle negative emotions. 
 - How users perceive AI voice assistants.

Key Findings

AI was perceived to be useful, only when given agency

1

Music is their primary coping mechanism

Users supported that music is their primary coping mechanism. It amplified their moods.

1

Music is their primary coping mechanism

2

Prefer AI-generated playlists

2

Prefer AI-generated playlists

3

Need more subtle & less intrusive support

3

Need more subtle & less intrusive support

Survey

Based on the interviews, we conducted additional survey with 30+ participants. Through this, we identified key design opportunities.

Design Opportunities

Users want AI that provides support, not an interruption

1

AI that intervenes effectively

People had varied responses about when they would want their AI to step in. However, majority of them preferred safe space, alone.

1

AI that intervenes effectively

2

AI for emotional sense-making

2

AI for emotional sense-making

3

AI that explains how & why

3

AI that explains how & why

03/ Concept Development
Problem Statement

How can Spotify’s AI support users through emotional highs and lows while preserving their sense of agency?

How can Spotify’s AI support users
through emotional highs and lows while preserving their sense of agency?

How can Spotify’s AI support users through emotional highs and lows while preserving their sense of agency?

Interaction Flow

Drawing out Human-AI interaction flow

We redefined the core interaction flow of our AI

User Scenario

Exploring key features in context

Based on our first round of research, we explored key touchpoints based in five user scenarios. We then gathered user feedback on how users prefer the AI to react in different situations.

AI Brand Identity

Gentle, Caring and Personalized AI

Based on the collected insights, we created an AI persona representing the needs of target users. Users wanted AI to be non-intrusive, caring and more supportive in their music listening experiences.

Lo-fi prototype

Voice User Interfaces (VUI) States

For key interactions, I sketched and iterated AI motion designs to represent VUI states.

04/ Iterations
Usability Testing

We conducted user testing with mid-fi prototypes

Based on the prototype, we conducted user testing with five participants to walk through the overall flow of the new feature.

Solution 1- Design Consistency

Refining visual and interaction patterns for design consistency

Since our goal was to integrate with the Spotify app, we aligned our interaction style to match its native experience.

Solution 2 - Simplicity

Simplifying interfaces by prioritizing the key user action

The initial placement of multiple buttons led to user confusion, so we focused on streamlining the user flow for greater clarity.

Final prototype

We conducted user testing with hi-fi prototypes

For key interactions, I created 6 AI motions representing vui states.

Final prototype

Mobile App Screens

For key interactions, I created 6 AI motions representing vui states.

04/ Impact
Public Showcase

School of Design Showcase

At Carnegie Mellon University, Cura was showcased and presented to the public. Many audiences loved our idea and gave valuable feedback on our designs!

05/ Takeaways

1

Fail fast, Learn fast

One of the key goals of this project was rapid prototyping and quick iterations based on user research and testings. We learned the value of failing fast in the beginning to set the right direction.

1

Fail fast, Learn fast

2

Overcoming the Uncanny Valley

2

Overcoming the Uncanny Valley