Apple Music on Google Nest Hub | Redesign

case study available on https://wiktorwdowiak.com/

01 PROBLEM: Despite there being an Apple Music app on Nest Hub,

the Apple Music app lacked the distinct Apple “vibe” and brand coherence. It also lacked several essential features that one could expect from a music streaming service, impacting usability and engagement - especially since the competitors had these features.

The design felt out of place.

02 SOLUTION: Apple Music Redesign

is a simple, lightweight interface tailored to the Google Nest Hub's hardware limitations. It reinforces Apple’s brand identity through minimalistic design, balancing functionality and elegance for an intuitive, clutter-free user experience.

03 RESEARCH

Target Audience

After running a round of user interviews and an online survey, I discovered that the target audience was:

User Needs & Pain Points

Users expected a more cohesive and immersive Apple Music experience, with features like lyrics display and easy access to playlists. The current design felt cluttered and difficult to navigate on a smaller screen, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.

Platform Constraints

Google Nest Hub’s limited processing power and smaller screen required a simplified, resource-light interface. The design needed to prioritize essential functions without overwhelming the device, balancing visual appeal with usability.

04 ANALYSIS

Competitor Analysis

My objective was to understand how competing music apps perform on the Google Nest Hub and identify opportunities for differentiation

This shows that competitors like Spotify offered a branded & UI with many features, while optimized for the Google Nest Hub’s hardware. With that I knew that the redesign can evoke the premium Apple “vibe” and not overload the device or user.

Personas

I crafted two personas reflecting the needs of Google Nest Hub users. Insights revealed a preference for quick, intuitive navigation and a clean, non-intrusive interface, which guided their development.

Journey Mapping

My main objective at this stage was to visualize the steps users take to achieve their goals in the current Apple Music app and identify pain points. After gathering all of the information I created a map that represented a user’s journey.

Information Architecture

I wanted to restructure the app to reduce cognitive load and ensure effortless navigation. That’s why I created the Information Architecture.

With that I had a sitemap focusing on the key sections - Home, Library, Details and Now Playing. The hierarchy made content accessible with little interaction.

I was ready to move on to designing.

05 DESIGN PROCESS

User Flows

Early sketches & user flows explored layout ideas for each core screen while keeping Google Nest Hub’s limitations in mind. Here’s an example user flow I’ve done:

Mid-fidelity Wireframing

Wireframes helped me establish a design language. I made sure for the sizing to be optimized for the small screen size Google Nest Hub has.

06 RESULTS: After some iteration,

the redesigned Apple Music app preserved Apple’s elegance while optimizing for the Nest Hub’s hardware. It balances simplicity with functionality, enabling smooth interactions without straining the device or user.