Encouraging in-person and digital interactions through a love for podcasts.
UX Researcher
UX/UI Designer
Aleynna Quinones
Alexa Sciacca
Elizabeth Leifheit
Amine Mena
Sept - November 2023
Figma
GetFloorPlan
This project aims to find and address a problem in the Spoken Word On-Demand Audio space, with a specific focus on improving the overall experience for adult podcast listeners.
We discovered that adult podcast listeners seek human connection and fresh perspectives. They desire a way to share their favorite podcasts and newfound knowledge beyond their phones, and connect with like-minded individuals who share similar interests.
Its goal is to improve community mental health by facilitating in-person interactions through encouraging users to meet face-to-face in the café, hosting live podcast events, and providing equipment to record their own podcasts.
As a team, we decided to hone in on a specific area of the podcast space: adult podcast listeners and their listening experience.
How their listening experience affects their overall mental health.
Conduct secondary research and 1-on-1 interviews to gather insights, challenges, and pain-points for our potential users.
After a taxing day at work, adult podcast listeners are seeking a hassle-free and relaxed way to engage with fellow listeners beyond their phone screens, in hopes of diverting their minds from work stress.
Podcast listeners search for a way to connect with others through podcasts.
Adults need a way to disconnect from real life that continues to stimulate them.
Podcast listening is a chance to build community.
“...podcasts are a social experience... most listeners say they recommend podcasts to someone else, [and] discuss the content they hear with others...” Pew Research
Adults need an engaging way to discuss podcast content with friends.
“I like to discuss with people but sometimes people don’t care.” Pam, 53 yr old
We created user personas, Matt and Kat, to help us better understand and empathize with our audience.
the motivated professional
44 years old
Boston, MA
WFH Engineer
Matt listens to motivational podcasts during his free time to refocus his energy. He engages with podcast communities online, sharing his favorite episodes and seeking recommendations from like-minded listeners.
the curious sharer
32 years old
Boston, MA
Business Analyst
A naturally curious individual with a passion for learning. Kat is always eager to share any new findings she learns with the people in her life, but sometimes they aren’t interested or don't care.
Now, with an understanding of the challenges adult podcast listeners face, we asked:
“I think the combination of a having a place that serves food but also hosts social activities is the perfect combination of the things I loves the most.”
Emily, 26 yrs old
“I think the Connection Café is a good idea... to have even a tertiary encounter where two people exchange an inside-joke or catchphrase with one another would be really fun.”
Gareth, 39 yrs old
“I really liked the Connection Café and I feel like it’s the idea that would be most useful to me. I could definitely see myself visiting one”
Logan, 26 yrs old
Connection Café is a community initiative designed to connect people who share an interest in podcasts. Its goal is to improve community mental health by facilitating in-person interactions in today’s technology-focused world.
A versatile space where digital interaction meets in-person interaction.
Check in to the café using the QR code on the wall where they can get in contact with other visitors at the café (more on this below)
Record their own podcasts in soundproof booths with rented equipment and watch live podcast shows on weekend evenings
Grab food and drink at the counter and check out the daily top 5 podcasts posted next to the menu
Users can select their top 5 podcasts to appear on their profile for other users to view.
After choosing their top 5 podcasts, the app uses the list to match the user with others in the café that share similar interests.
Upon selecting to learn more, users access their match's profile featuring a brief bio, favorite podcast genres, and their top 5 podcasts. Users can then decide if they want to meet their match at a table at the café or if they'd prefer to message them first.
Due to the timeline of this project, we were unable to conduct more user testing after our final mockup. It would have been helpful to know what could be improved upon not only in the app, but with the overall business model as well.
If we had been given more time with this project, creating low and even mid-fidelity mockups prior to the final high-fidelity mockup would have been helpful in refining our final design. I believe this was also a crucial step that we missed out on in the design process.
Although we live in a social media driven world, people don’t necessarily feel the desire to foster more digital interactions and relationships. People appreciate and yearn for in-person interaction. I believe utilizing that fact, along with the technology we are so lucky to have access to, can help to provide many more solutions for people outside of the podcast space.
