Role
Mobile Product Designer
Project Type
Music Player
Duration
6 Months
01.
Project Overview
Music Player
To enhance the in-store experience and empower Peloton retail employees, we designed a curated iPad music player app that allows staff to control music based on genre, mood, and time of day. Built with design inspiration from the Peloton instructor app, the interface prioritizes ease of use and brand consistency. The app also supports zone-based audio control in larger store layouts, enabling different areas of the store to feature unique playlists simultaneously.
02.
the problem
Peloton's Problem
Peloton stores lacked a purposeful music experience—one that matched the brand’s high-energy ethos and could be adapted throughout the day. Employees had no control over the in-store music environment, resulting in missed opportunities to shape customer perception, energize the space, and drive emotional connection through sound.
03a.
Design Process
Discover
To ensure the product aligned with real-world store workflows, we conducted a combination of contextual inquiry and usability testing with Peloton store associates and managers across multiple locations. Observations and feedback sessions uncovered a clear need for quick, minimal-tap interactions that wouldn’t interrupt daily responsibilities. Participants consistently favored mood- or energy-based filtering over traditional genre lists, aligning with how they wanted to shape the store’s vibe throughout the day.
03b.
Design Process
Define
Through research, we identified user needs centered around quick interactions and minimal disruption to daily tasks. From a business standpoint, a recurring goal emerged—create a largely hands-off solution that allowed employees to set the tone for the space and stay focused on customer engagement during peak hours. These insights revealed clear UX opportunities: streamline playlist discovery, reduce friction in playback control, and support contextual automation to help music adapt to different times of day and store zones.
03c.
Design Process
Design
With a clear understanding of user needs and business goals, I began with low-fidelity wireframes to rapidly explore the layout for the iPad experience. These early sketches helped us validate core functionality, such as mood-based playlist selection, without getting distracted.
04.
Validate
Usability
To ensure the prototype met the real-world demands of the retail environment, I conducted in-store interviews and hands-on testing sessions with Peloton employees. These sessions provided invaluable insight into what worked well—such as the simplicity of the mood-based filters and the clarity of the zone controls—and where improvements were needed.
05.
Future Impact
Lessons Learned
The success of the retail store iPad app underscored the power of intuitive design in shaping brand experience and operational efficiency. After seeing strong adoption and positive feedback from store teams, I proposed extending the concept to Peloton’s headquarters. This new initiative required a fresh approach—reimagining the UI to suit a different user group and environment. I introduced a completely new visual language, leveraging color theory to support mood-based navigation while aligning with Peloton’s evolving brand system. The HQ version also featured a more robust search experience and multi-floor audio control, demonstrating how a focused, scalable design solution can evolve to meet broader organizational needs.
