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Design Project / Vinyl
A Social Platform Built Around Music, Not Metrics
Scope
Social Platform
Overview
Vinyl is a music driven social platform designed to make discovery feel more personal and intentional. Instead of centering likes, views, and follower counts, Vinyl focuses on real interaction through commenting, sharing, and saving. The experience helps users connect through shared taste instead of popularity.
Music
Role
Product & UX Design
Platform
Mobile App
Timeline
2023 – Sunsetted
Music discovery feels too performative.
Problem Statement
Most music and social platforms push users toward likes, views, followers, and public engagement. Instead of helping people connect through shared taste, these metrics can make music feel like another space for performance. Vinyl responds by creating a more intentional social experience centered on discovery, interaction, and what people actually listen to.
Vision
A space where music feels personal again.
Vinyl was designed to make music sharing feel less like posting for attention and more like showing a part of yourself. The goal is to create an experience where users can explore taste, discover new sounds, and connect through music in a way that feels natural, expressive, and personal.
Target Users
Designed for listeners who care about music.
Vinyl is designed for people who see music as more than background sound. These users enjoy discovering new artists, saving albums and playlists, and using music as part of their identity. They want a cleaner, more personal way to explore music and connect with others through shared taste.
Balancing expression with usability.
Constraints
Vinyl needed to feel visually distinctive without becoming overwhelming. The challenge was creating an interface that feels personal and expressive while still keeping discovery, interaction, and navigation simple.
Design Decisions
Account Structure & Identity
A key part of the platform was differentiating account types without adding visual clutter. Instead of relying on usernames or tags alone, the profile header communicates identity at a glance, such as public figure, brand, or personal account.
All profiles maintain a consistent layout, while subtle differences in labels, color, and featured content help distinguish their purpose. This keeps the interface clean while still providing clarity.
Instead of passive following, users request connections through a menu, shifting the experience toward a more intentional, mutual relationship.
Engagement Without Likes
Vinyl removes the like system entirely. Instead of quick approval, the platform is built around actions that require intent, including commenting, sharing, and saving.
These actions directly influence how content is surfaced and how users are connected. This allows the platform to understand behavior more accurately and simulate music taste, helping users discover others with similar preferences.
Music becomes the core signal of connection, rather than popularity.
Design Decisions
Save as Intent
Saving content is expanded into multiple actions. When saving a post, users can:
- Add the song to a playlist
- Save the post to a favorites folder
- Download the content​
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Each option reflects a different level of intent, giving the system deeper insight into user behavior.
The final design translates Vinyl’s core idea into a mobile platform where users can discover music, save what matters to them, and connect through shared taste.
© 2026 Angel Vargas Campos
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