Conceptual Design: 

If we had more time we would consider the following enhancements:

Increase the interactive potential with Spotify: Make a more seamless connection with Spotify that allows you to log in once and not have to refresh the oauth token every hour. With this approach we could allow users to set up their own color patterns related to genres that they could then share with their friends.

Consider adding more dynamic light display. Instead using a static color to display mood/genre, the device could be improved by  incorporating other elements such as danceability or BPM, which could be used to flash the lights at a certain rate.

Add additional feedback loops to allow friends to communicate more effectively. This could be ways to add additional interactivity through other points of interaction with the device, or other light patterns that may showcase or signal other moods. One specific option is to create a "together" mode that allows connected individuals to team up for a visual listening session through the device where lights move to the beat of a song that a friend is currently playing.

Iterate on the form: Is a picture frame the right form factor? We would experiment with alternatives to see what is more effective. It would be great to include a smart element to the picture display to allow users to swipe through different friends and see what they are listening to visually.