For the Record
Translating the Experiences of New Music Discovery and Exploration Both In-Store and On Streaming Platforms to an e-Commerce Context
Responsive Website Redesign (Concept)
Solo | 3 Weeks
Project Overview
Banquet Records is a record store in Kingston upon Thames, hosting 200+ live events a year, including shows and signings by global artists and upcoming acts alike. Their current website, however, does not highlight these events; poor information architecture and navigation options also limit users’ ability to discover everything the have on offer.
This was a solo project, so I was responsible for all stages of the research and design process.
Methods and Deliverables:
Business Analysis | Heuristic Evaluation | Accessibility Audit | Competitor Analysis | Combined User Interviews and Usability Tests | Affinity Maps | Testing Teardowns | User Modeling | Sketches | User Flow | Card Sort | Survey | Sitemap | Mid-Fidelity Desktop Prototype | Content Strategy | Style Guide | High-Fidelity Desktop and Mobile Prototypes | Component Library | Roadmap
Tools:
AccessiBe | Stark | WebAim | Zoom | Dovetail | Figma | Figjam | Optimal Workshop | Pen and Paper
Outcomes:
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I restructured their website, focusing on their unique selling proposition (USP) - affordable live events. Interviews revealed that music lovers prefer live shows over occasional record shopping, and since Banquet Records mandates the purchase of a CD or LP with event tickets, this shift met both business and customer needs.
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The site's minimal filtering and confusing structure deterred exploration. Test participants indicated they would only use the site if they knew exactly what they wanted. To address this, I introduced more filters and a new Discovery feature suggesting events, products, and artists based on user preferences.
100% of users said they would return to the site to use the new Discovery feature, a standout quote being “I would use this instead of Spotify as I get recommendations and can support artists directly.”
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I gave the interface a cleaner, more modern look, incorporated more people-centric imagery, and tackled various accessibility issues, including poor contrast, small text, and auto-rotating carousels.
