Approach

PRODUCT: 

There is a ‘base player’ (analogous to a record player) on which users can place one ‘playlist card’ (analogous to a single record). Each playlist card is connected to a specific digital playlist on Spotify that the user can choose and customize.

The playlist cards can be shared among any users that already have the base player as each card has a uniquely identifiable RFID tag that any player can read. This aspect allows this product to be used as a means of physical interaction with others: you can customize a playlist for someone on a playlist card (similar to how people “burned a CD” for their friends and family) and give it as a physical gift to others (or share it).
The base player will have a RFID tag reader that can read the digital data transmitted by the RFID tags embedded into the playlist cards. Each RFID tag transmits a unique ID signal, so we can identify which tag (or playlist) is currently placed on the player. Using Spotify’s API, we can then allow the specific playlist to be played on a user-specified speaker.   

AMBIENCE:

The product itself is not inherently ambient in that users can either choose to actively utilize it to listen to music or they can play it as background music. We focused on creating a seamless design and experience for the user so that they could use it as an ambient device in the background in situations where they want to. For instance, to simplify the music streaming interface filled with numerous elements (album cover, user information, track information, etc.) that is common in applications like Spotify, we only wanted to have three simple buttons on the interface for on/off, pause/play, and skip.

The physical base player was also designed to have a calming look and blend in with whatever environment it is placed in. We used simple materials and colors (plywood, frosted acrylic and black acrylic) and a rectangular prism shape reminiscent of a record player.