Design in Tune: Exploring UX and UI in Music Apps
“A designer who doesn’t understand human psychologies is going to be no more successful than an architect who doesn’t understand physics.” – Joe Leech
This quote captures why design decisions matter so much in the apps and websites we use every day. Spotify and Apple Music are two of the largest music streaming platforms, both successful yet taking different approaches to user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). Examining both shows how design psychology influences our interactions and connections with apps and websites.
UX Insights
UX determines how intuitive and efficient digital interactions are. Spotify’s full-screen song page is a standout example. It makes me feel engrossed, calm, and curious because my need for clarity, efficiency, and choice is met. When content isn’t faded out, icons like “like,” “add to playlist,” and “share” are positioned at the bottom, making it easy to scroll into lyrics or artist information without breaking the flow.
Apple Music’s strongest UX element is its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Switching between devices is effortless, reinforcing trust and efficiency. However, its full-screen song page feels less engaging. It makes me feel uninterested, dismayed, and disconnected because my need for clarity, efficiency, and harmony was not met. The page feels visually messy, and the placement of features interrupts rather than enhances the listening experience.
UI Insights
Spotify’s branding with a dark background and green highlights feels modern and reduces eye strain, especially at night. Buttons like shuffle and repeat glow green when active, making the experience clear and reassuring. Its UI choices create a focused and immersive atmosphere that remains consistent across devices. It makes me feel relaxed, focused, and satisfied because my need for comfort, consistency, and order is met.
Apple Music instead uses a bright, white interface where album artwork dominates. This gives the layout a gallery-like feel that emphasizes structure over exploration. While its typography is clean and minimalist, the white background can feel harsh, especially in dark environments, which is when I usually listen. It makes me feel exhausted, distracted, and unfocused because my need for comfort, contact, and visual clarity is not met.
Emotional Connection to Music Apps
Music is deeply emotional—and one of my favorite things. As an avid music listener, Spotify has become more than a service to me because it adapts so well to my habits and interests. Daily playlists like Discover Weekly make me feel understood, surprised, and joyful because my need for familiarity, discovery, and connection is met. Spotify feels like a website that “gets me” and refreshes content that aligns with my taste or curiosities.
Apple Music feels more structured and category-centered. While its clean design meets clarity and consistency, it does not encourage exploration like Spotify. My limited use of Apple Music has often left me feeling overwhelmed, unsure, and detached because my need for discovery, creativity, and connection was not met. This difference shows how UI and UX design can directly impact whether users feel emotionally invested in a platform.
Conclusion
Comparing Spotify and Apple Music highlights how UX and UI go beyond surface visuals—they determine how users behave. Spotify leans into discovery and surprise, while Apple Music emphasizes order and structure. Neither approval is inherently better, but they appeal to different psychologies and needs.
For designers, this comparison reveals the power of aligning design with human psychology. A well-crafted interface makes users feel calm and understood, while a poorly designed one leaves them overwhelmed or bored. In the digital era, design doesn’t just deliver songs; it shapes how people experience, connect, and understand music itself.
Hi, I’m Allison!
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