A brief overview of Harmany:
Problem Statement and Research
My team and I were given the Problem Statement “Elevate customer connections through mood-based music: designs and solutions.”
Our interpretation was to invent a product that best determines mood through many elements while simultaneously considering privacy measures and practicality. To do this, we researched different technologies and their accuracy in detecting mood as well as rating the effort of implementation, detailed in the Detailed Documentation.
Explore our Design Documentation here:
Impact
Harmany's innovative integration of mood detection technology across various platforms, including cars, homes, mobile devices, and TVs, has had a significant impact on user experiences and interactions. By leveraging technologies such as AI, NLP, facial recognition, and physiological signals, Harmany has transformed the listening experience to be more personalized and tailored.
Enhanced User Engagement: Users now enjoy a more personalized listening experience tailored to their emotions, leading to increased engagement and satisfaction.
Improved Emotional Well-being: Harmany's mood shift feature can allow the user the agency to improve their mood - recommendations contribute to users' emotional well-being by providing them with music that resonates with them and enhances their overall mood.
The Process
Ideation
After extensive research on mood detection methods (including face recognition, natural language processing, passive smartphone data, etc.), performance rating, and full market analysis, Harmany was born.
Harmany offers a holistic solution that enhances the user’s listening experience through various integrations of mood detection technology. Harmany seamlessly integrates with users' cars, homes, mobile devices, and TVs. By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and providing diverse scenarios for emotion detection, we aim to elevate customer connections through mood-based music, making each journey and home experience more personalized and enjoyable. The mobile app features both a Light Mode and Dark Mode.
Impact and Reflections
Wireframing, Work Flows, and Prototyping
We began by sketching rough concepts and translating our ideas into wireframes. This served as the foundation for our prototypes, allowing us to quickly iterate and refine our designs, including the main Music Library and Mood Assessment Pages. We then progressed to creating low-fidelity prototypes using Figma, focusing on the core functions and user flow of Harmany. Based on feedback from our coaches and team, we iterated on our prototypes, gradually increasing fidelity and adding visual polish. High-fidelity prototypes were then developed, incorporating detailed visual elements, interactions, and animations to create a realistic and immersive user experience.
You can find our project design here:
Reflections
Interning with Harman International and participating in this Innovation Project has been an immersive journey that allowed me to dive into the entire project design process, from ideation and research to prototyping and visual design. I learned how to generate creative ideas and solve problems effectively, thanks to collaborative brainstorming sessions with my teammates. This was especially strong as the Project Manager, as I took time to foster an environment where every idea is valued.
The project emphasized the importance of thorough research in making informed design decisions. This also instilled in me an appreciation for the role of research in guiding innovative, user-centric decision making and delivering impactful solutions.
I also gained hands-on experience in translating abstract ideas into concrete designs. This iterative approach not only honed my technical skills in using design tools but also instilled in me a mindset of continuous improvement and adaptability. Each iteration of our prototypes served as a stepping stone towards greater refinement and clarity. Prototyping further expanded on the culture of collaboration and open communication within our team, as we collectively iterated on designs, exchanged feedback, and shared insights. This collaborative spirit not only enriched the quality of our prototypes but also enhanced our overall productivity and creativity throughout the design process.