Stationdose offers two ways to listen: either to static, curated playlists or to time- and location-influenced dynamic playlists.
I conceived of and created Stationdose with the help of a friend. Together we built the platform from scratch including the app, the website and a CMS tool.
Conceiving
Wireframing
Visual Design
Prototyping
Copywriting
Hand-Lettering
Product Management
Music Curation
Front-End Development
Back-End Development
Being a voracious music listener and a big fan of radio, I felt there wasn't a sufficient bridge between terrestrial radio and digital radio. Terrestrial, in most markets, is too commercial. Digital algorithms end up giving users too much of the same. With Stationdose I wanted to combine the curated, localized aspect of radio with the ease and ad-free listening of digital.
The pain points proved many. In order to make the app function the way I wanted, I needed custom data for each track. With thousand-plus track libraries, it became time-consuming to assign data alone.
Managing libraries of multiple thousands of songs was cumbersome.
Making updates to an iOS app was also challenging and costly. The next iteration will be web-based with a CMS built to accommodate bigger, dynamically customizable data sets.
Based on a user's time and location, Stationdose would offer a playlist energy level. A rainy Monday morning playlist would be filled with mellow tracks, while a sunny Friday evening's playlist would be rockin'! A user could also select whether they'd like more mainstream or underground music. Two taps for a playlist that matches the moment.
Playlist screens were simple. Play, refresh, and share were the only actions required.
A different weather icon displays depending on a user's local weather conditions.
Users could select from 10 different stations. Names follow the 'location' theme.
Logo and style concept sketches show a Native American petroglyph-inspired theme.
Stationdose was my first foray into the world of product design. It was a challenging, fun, and ultimately enlightening journey. If and/or when I decide to pick up the project again, I'll rebuild it for the web. iOS apps are time-consuming to maintain and update.
In addition, I'd simplify it. I'd offer a single station and a single static playlist that rotates. I'd also simplify the playlist editing screen; the crux of the experience, for me. While I felt it was most important to convey the fact that local conditions define the playlist energy level, the layout could have been much more simple.
© Michael Pasternak, 2021
