Curation Studio
Reimagining listener engagement through transparent AI and tiered value differentiation in Amazon Music App.
(2025 Design Challenge)
Frustrated by Feed
What if your music app knew what you wanted to hear before you did? AI music recommendations operate like a black box, offering songs without revealing why. Users unknowingly get stuck in loops, with no control over the factors shaping their playlists—whether genre, tempo, or past likes—making discovery feel passive rather than intentional. These were some comments collected from initial interviews.
How we identified user challenges?
207
users responded to the survey, and 8 participants were interviewed for deeper insights.
Why?
Users struggled to discover music that fit their mood, context, or cultural taste using existing filters.
How?
We designed a multi-layered filtering system—Curation Studio—that allows users to refine playlists with precision.
Who?
8 participants interviewed: Music lovers with varying listening habits who regularly use Spotify, Apple Music, or Amazon Music.
Reclaiming music experience
Curation Studio is a multi-layered filtering feature that empowers users to refine music recommendations by applying multiple specific criteria simultaneously. This system works alongside Amazon Music’s AI recommendation engine, giving listeners unprecedented control over their music experience.
Personalized Control
Take charge of your listening experience by precisely designing what you want to hear
Enhanced Discovery
Discover the perfect music, even when you can't recall a specific artist or song
The users loved…
Insight to Iteration
Insight 1
5/6 users struggle with discoverability and understanding of key filtering and playlist management features.
Insight 2
6/6 users found the "No Result" pop-up frustrating and easy to miss.
Insight 3
4/6 users struggle to understand changes in the final generated playlist and feel disconnected from the selection process.
Filter any playlist.
Fine-tune your vibe.
Start listening instantly.
Curation Studio puts you in control—take existing playlists and personalize them using filters like mood, language, audio quality, or artist preference. Whether you want to explore new sounds or stay in your comfort zone, it’s your mix, your way—no algorithmic guesswork, just instant customization.
