YouTube Music
YouTube Music
Case Studies
Case Studies
My Role
UX Designer
Type
SaaS
Tools
Figma Make
Timeline
June-July2026
My Role
UX Designer
Type
SaaS
Tools
Figma Make
Timeline
June-July2026
•
Iterate Design
•
Web Responsive
Why do users leave YouTube Music when it already offers millions of songs and essential playlist features?
Why do users leave YouTube Music when it already offers millions of songs and essential playlist features?
why do many users still prefer other streaming apps?
Observation
Observation
Why do people subscribe to YouTube Premium but still choose Spotify or Apple Music when listening to music?
Why do people subscribe to YouTube Premium but still choose Spotify or Apple Music when listening to music?
Why do people subscribe to YouTube Premium but still choose Spotify or Apple Music when listening to music?
As a YouTube Premium user, I noticed that many people, including my friends, rarely used YouTube Music, even though it came included with their subscription. Instead, they opened Spotify or Apple Music whenever they wanted to listen to music.
As a YouTube Premium user, I noticed that many people, including my friends, rarely used YouTube Music, even though it came included with their subscription. Instead, they opened Spotify or Apple Music whenever they wanted to listen to music.
BEFORE
BEFORE
AFTER
AFTER
People don't always know what they want to listen to BUT they know how they want to feel.
People don't always know what they want to listen to BUT they know how they want to feel.
Problems
Problems
Users spend too much time creating playlists. 🧐🎼
Users spend too much time creating playlists. 🧐🎼
Music selection is driven by context, mood, and social moments, but current recommendation systems are driven primarily by listening history.
Music selection is driven by context, mood, and social moments, but current recommendation systems are driven primarily by listening history.
Key Insights
Key Insights
Users don't struggle to find music, BUT they struggle to describe the experience they want. 😰🎧
Users don't struggle to find music, BUT they struggle to describe the experience they want. 😰🎧
How might we help users express the experience they're looking for instead of requiring them to remember specific songs?
How might we help users express the experience they're looking for instead of requiring them to remember specific songs?
Design Decision
Design Decision
Shift playlist creation from song-based decisions to intent-based experiences.
Shift playlist creation from song-based decisions to intent-based experiences.
Shift playlist creation from song-based decisions to intent-based experiences.
Instead of asking:
Which song?
Which artist?
Which album?
Let users describe their intent:
Road trip
Rainy day
Late-night drive
Summer beach
Focus mode, etc.
Instead of asking:
Which song?
Which artist?
Which album?
Let users describe their intent:
Road trip
Rainy day
Late-night drive
Summer beach
Focus mode, etc.
AI Playlist Assistant
AI Playlist Assistant
Why I made this decision
Why I made this decision
Solutions
Solutions
Design decisions make less cognitive load
Design decisions make less cognitive load
Create a playlist from intent.
Instead of manually adding songs, AI playlist assistants ask the user what vibe they want, what the current mood is, and what type of music they prefer.
Playlist from Current Song
Sometimes users have already found one perfect song instead of manually searching for more and losing the one playing. The suggestion and sample buttons can help them manage the next music easily.
Simplified Playlist Management
Keep editing lightweight.
Not overwhelming.
Eliminate necessary features.
Create a playlist from intent.
Instead of manually adding songs, AI playlist assistants ask the user what vibe they want, what the current mood is, and what type of music they prefer.
Playlist from Current Song
Sometimes users have already found one perfect song instead of manually searching for more and losing the one playing. The suggestion and sample buttons can help them manage the next music easily.
Simplified Playlist Management
Keep editing lightweight.
Not overwhelming.
Eliminate necessary features.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
6 participants with 2 tasks.
6 participants with 2 tasks.
Task
Task
Success Rate
Success Rate
Insight
Insight
Create an AI playlist
Create an AI playlist
5/6 (83%)
5/6 (83%)
Participants quickly understood the workflow and appreciated generating playlists based on mood or context.
Participants quickly understood the workflow and appreciated generating playlists based on mood or context.
Create and manage a playlist from the current song
Create and manage a playlist from the current song
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
New YouTube Music users struggled to locate or understand while take much time to read every single features on the list.
New YouTube Music users struggled to locate or understand while take much time to read every single features on the list.
Design Definement
Design Definement
Reduce unnecessary and overlapping features
Reduce unnecessary and overlapping features
Based on usability findings, I focused on improving discoverability instead of redesigning an already familiar interaction for existing YouTube Music users.
Based on usability findings, I focused on improving discoverability instead of redesigning an already familiar interaction for existing YouTube Music users.
What I learned
What I learned
This project taught me that adding features isn't always the answer. Sometimes the better experience comes from reducing the number of decisions users have to make. By helping users discover and organize music with less effort, the design shifts the focus back to what matters most: enjoying the music. 🎵🥰
This project taught me that adding features isn't always the answer. Sometimes the better experience comes from reducing the number of decisions users have to make. By helping users discover and organize music with less effort, the design shifts the focus back to what matters most: enjoying the music. 🎵🥰
THANK YOU!
THANK YOU!
Thanks for taking the time to explore this project.
I’m always open to feedback and would love to hear your thoughts.
“If you’re interested, feel free to dive into the next project.” 😍🤩
Thanks for taking the time to explore this project.
I’m always open to feedback and would love to hear your thoughts.
“If you’re interested, feel free to dive into the next project.” 😍🤩
Thank You for
visiting my site.
Socials
Have any Question? Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or Email me: yimpanhchakporreaksmey@gmail.com
Copyrights © 2026 Yim All Rights Reserved
Thank You for
visiting my site.
Socials
Have any Question? Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or Email me: yimpanhchakporreaksmey@gmail.com
Copyrights © 2026 Yim All Rights Reserved
Thank You for
visiting my site.
Socials
Have any Question? Feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or Email me: yimpanhchakporreaksmey@gmail.com
Copyrights © 2026 Yim All Rights Reserved