Foreword
This is a personal redesign project for an app called "Love ASMR".
One day I was watching Pewdiepie playing a horror game, he edited some ASMR clip right after he got jumpscare and need to take a breathe, and I was wondering why the girl talk so softly? That's how I met ASMR, Thanks Pewdiepie, it's kind of fix my insomnia problem.
When I searched for ASMR app, Love ASMR is the first thing pop out on the search screen, I become a fan since then, this app provides very basically but enough function for an ASMR beginner like me, but the developer seems stop maintain the app since 2016, at another insomnia night, I decided to redesign it.
If you haven't heard about ASMR
ASMR is short for Autonomous sensory meridian response, "…term used for an experience characterized by a static-like or tingling sensation on the skin that typically begins on the scalp and moves down the back of the neck and upper spine.”, that what Wiki says.
I think the best way to experience it is by watching an ASMR video, I recommend Goodnight Moon, her video style is whispering and story-telling, she is a wonderful artist and brings great attention to detail to makeup and environment.
This is the app we are going to redesign!
Pain Point
Lack of Sleep Timer
For a long Time, I wish the developer of Love ASMR can add "Sleep Timer" feature, because the video often get 1 hour+ long, but I will fell asleep before the video end, I want a feature thats can stop video playing after given time to prevent app draining unnecessary battery, and most importantly, protect my ear because listen to ASMR require a headset for best experience.
Setting Our Goal
1. Redesign Player page, add a Sleep Timer function.
2. Update UI, the original app seems a bit outdated, this app supported Android only, I want to revamp it by Apple design guideline, for practice purpose.
One additional condition is the original app's video source is from Youtube, I think it's for cost reduction purpose, I want to respect this restriction to keep the realism condition in mind
My Design Process
Research
Product Characteristics
1. Often being used in a dark environment.
2. Require a headset, for the best experience.
3. Video sometime get 1+ hours long, contain multiple triggers.
2. Require a headset, for the best experience.
3. Video sometime get 1+ hours long, contain multiple triggers.
Trigger mean the sound make people experience ASMR, like ear-cleaning, whispering, tapping.
User Reviews
I used the App Annie free version to look up user review in 90 days. Not much help here due to most of the review is talking about connection problem, I think it's because of lack of maintenance, but at least 1 review mention Sleep Timer.
User review from App Annie
Fortunately Love ASMR has its own forum, people can talk about ASMR and how they feel for this app, requesting new artist...etc, developer used to answer these question directly.
And I also found some users are requesting Sleep Timer.
Similar Product
Is there anything similar product I can refer to? So I start searching, I am not only used "ASMR app" as keyword, I also searched product for "Podcast" "Sound" "Music", to expand my scope, and sometimes, the best solution for your problem might not come from the same discipline!
These are products I liked:
1. Tingles
2. TED
3. Tide
4. Headspace
5. StreetVoice
6. Spotify
Tingle
Tingle
This is a rare and definitely one of the best ASMR apps on Android now, it's provided the Sleep Timer I want, with a bunch of great features. The best part is it has a comprehensive reward system benefit the artist and their audience.
1. Good video player
2. Reward system for both artist and audience
3. Everything a heavy ASMR listener want is in this app, but most of them require a subscription cost you 9.99 per month.
TED
TED app used to have a great feature, you enter the spare time you have, like you have 10 mins, then select a topic, the app will automatically search content and fill-up a playlist depend on how much time you have.
Spotify / StreetVoice / Castbox
Music & podcast product are very similar to ASMR product, audience both have following artists, content preference.
Ideation
Sketch
Mindmap
Functional Map
Wireframe
Design
Style Guideline
UI Design
