DJ Edward
An interactive turntable scratching app that improves artists’ experience by altering the touchscreen interaction design to fit user behaviour.
Problem
Comparing to touchscreen finger drumming, touchscreen turntable scratching is highly overlooked in the electronic and hip hop music scene. While there are several good looking options in the market, what make artists less desired toward scratching on a mobile smart device?
Roles
UX Research
Interaction Design
Prototyping
Duration
2 Weeks (2024)
Tools
Figma
After Effects
Empathize
What do artists think of scratching on hardwares and on a
touchscreen?
Research 1
In-person Interview
Online Surveys
Target Users
5 artists
Aspects to look for
Experience with hardwares
Experience with touchscreens
Wishlist of features
Insights
"DJ scratching requires high speed reflex but touchscreen can’t really provide the immediate respond when I want to get more technical."
"I use Baby Scratch. Would love to see a modern contender, though. The circular motion is hard on a touch screen. Also, didn’t use the fader feature."
"I would welcome an app that can load a wave, or record and displays the wave in the style of DJ console software like Traktor."
Challenge
Majority of people either see scratching apps as toys or needed a hardware accompany to meet their interaction need. How might we identify the interaction flaws?
Define
What specific features I might improve?
Research 2
Competitive Analysis
User walkthrough
Products
Djay, Edjing Mix
MixFader, Wiggle
Aspects to look for
Where and how pain points occur
Insight
The problem is that most apps choose to directly reproduce the interface of hardwares to a touch screen (crossfader and circular wheel). However, it is hard to maintain the tactile and physical feedback when a touchscreen has limited resistance.
Ideate
Human Factor:
How to design for reflex when touchscreens have limited tactile feedback?
When a DJ is scratching vinyl, their hands mainly do two things:
1. Control audio track freely
No centred point to support circular motion
Design decision: Replace the circular wheel with a linear strip. We may also just change the way data is reading to vertical only. But a linear strip can reduce confusion and save more screen space.
2. Control audio volume
No end point to stop fingers immediately
Design decision: Replace the fader with a mute button. I've learnt that volume adjustment can be sacrifice with an on/off switch by observing one of the most popular portable turntable (Numark PT01.)
First Sketch
Prototype
Planing Information Architecture for easy file management with limited space
Wireframe and Prototype
Final Design and Solution
Scratch with intuition
Interaction design that fit human behaviour and music expression. (left: mute button. right: scratching strip)
Easy file management
Consider the spontaneous nature of artists' inspiration and live performance, audio loading, recording, and editing can be accessed with one click.
Audio loading (instrumental track)
Audio recording (scratch sample)
Audio editing
Thank you for your time!
Contact: brandonli.tw@gmail.com