Apple Music on Google Nest Hub
The redesign of Apple Music for Google Nest Hub focused on creating a lightweight, visually cohesive experience that reflects Apple’s brand identity. The goal was to address missing essential features, simplify navigation, and ensure compatibility with the hardware constraints of Google’s smart display.
Role
UI/UX Designer
UX Researcher
Responsibilities
UI Design,
UX Design,
User Research
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Trello
Duration
2 weeks
01
PROBLEM
Despite there being an Apple Music app on Nest Hub,
the Apple Music app lacked the distinct Apple “vibe” and brand coherence. It also lacked several essential features that one could expect from a music streaming service, impacting usability and engagement - especially since the competitors had these features.
The design felt out of place.
02
SOLUTION
Apple Music Redesign
is a simple, lightweight interface tailored to the Google Nest Hub's hardware limitations. It reinforces Apple’s brand identity through minimalistic design, balancing functionality and elegance for an intuitive, clutter-free user experience.
03
RESEARCH
Target Audience
After running a round of user interviews and an online survey, I discovered that the target audience was:
The users of Apple Music who also own a Google Nest Hub and want a seamless, hands-free music experience.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Tech-savvy individuals who appreciate brand consistency and intuitive design in their devices.
Wiktor Wdowiak
User Needs & Pain Points
Users expected a more cohesive and immersive Apple Music experience, with features like lyrics display and easy access to playlists. The current design felt cluttered and difficult to navigate on a smaller screen, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.
Platform Constraints
Google Nest Hub’s limited processing power and smaller screen required a simplified, resource-light interface. The design needed to prioritize essential functions without overwhelming the device, balancing visual appeal with usability.
04
ANALYSIS
Competitor Analysis
My objective was to understand how competing music apps perform on the Google Nest Hub and identify opportunities for differentiation
Spotify and other similar apps offer minimal, functional UIs optimized for the smart display.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Core features like browsing music or controlling playback are present although not always streamlined.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Competing apps have a strong sense of identity through visual branding, making Apple Music less differentiative.
Wiktor Wdowiak
This shows that competitors like Spotify offered a branded & UI with many features, while optimized for the Google Nest Hub’s hardware. With that I knew that the redesign can evoke the premium Apple “vibe” and not overload the device or user.
Personas
I crafted two personas reflecting the needs of Google Nest Hub users. Insights revealed a preference for quick, intuitive navigation and a clean, non-intrusive interface, which guided their development.
“I need my music app to work seamlessly with just a few taps. I don’t want to hunt around for controls.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Maya is a tech-savvy music enthusiast who enjoys a premium audio experience at home. She often uses her Google Nest Hub to play music as she multitasks—cooking, working, or socializing at home. Her busy schedule and high standards for usability make her want a music app that’s quick to respond and visually organized.
Maya Braun
Casual Listener
Age: 34
Family: Husband, 2 young children
Occupation: Marketing Manager
Location: Suburban home
Access music quickly with minimal navigation.
Control playback, playlists, and albums easily through an intuitive touch interface
See album art, song details, and playback progress clearly from across the room
Cluttered or unclear interfaces that require multiple taps.
Lack of options for quick controls like “Repeat” or “Shuffle” on the main screen.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
“I just want to press play and relax—no need for too many options. The simpler, the better.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Michael Kim
Music Enthusiast
Age: 27
Family: Single, lives alone
Occupation: Sales Consultant
Location: Urban apartment
Michael is a casual music listener who uses his Google Nest Hub as background entertainment while relaxing or hosting friends. He wants easy access to basic playback functions and prefers a simple, uncluttered interface where he can tap and play without complications; he prefers something that “just works.”
Easily play, pause and skip songs with large, accessible touch controls.
Browse and select playlists or songs with minimal steps.
Avoid complex features and focus on simplicity and easy.
Overly complicated menus that disrupt the listening experience.
Small buttons or hard-to-access controls that make it difficult to to interact with the app.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
Journey Mapping
My main objective at this stage was to visualize the steps users take to achieve their goals in the current Apple Music app and identify pain points. After gathering all of the information I created a map that represented a user’s journey.
Information Architecture
I wanted to restructure the app to reduce cognitive load and ensure effortless navigation. That’s why I created the Information Architecture.
Home
Recently Played
Top Picks for You
Library
Now Playing
Details
Play
Shuffle Play
Individual Play
Back
Now Playing
Library
Playlists
Albums
Mixes
Individual Albums
Home
Now Playing
Now Playing
Play/Pause
Previous
Next
Repeat
Shuffle
Lyrics
Star
Recommended
Home
Splash Screen
With that I had a sitemap focusing on the key sections - Home, Library, Details and Now Playing. The hierarchy made content accessible with little interaction.
I was ready to move on to designing.
05
DESIGN PROCESS
User Flows
Early sketches & user flows explored layout ideas for each core screen while keeping Google Nest Hub’s limitations in mind. Here’s an example user flow I’ve done:
Step 1
The user is on the Now Playing screen, showing basic song info (cover, album, title, artist) as well as brand new media controls (like/dislike, play/pause, previous/next, shuffle, repeat, lyrics) and recommended at the bottom.
Step 2
The users clicks on the Lyrics button and is presented with the lyrics.
User Flow:
Turning on Lyrics
Mid-fidelity Wireframing
Wireframes helped me establish a design language. I made sure for the sizing to be optimized for the small screen size Google Nest Hub has.
06
RESULTS
After some iteration,
the redesigned Apple Music app preserved Apple’s elegance while optimizing for the Nest Hub’s hardware. It balances simplicity with functionality, enabling smooth interactions without straining the device or user.
Apple Music on Google Nest Hub
The redesign of Apple Music for Google Nest Hub focused on creating a lightweight, visually cohesive experience that reflects Apple’s brand identity. The goal was to address missing essential features, simplify navigation, and ensure compatibility with the hardware constraints of Google’s smart display.
Role
UI/UX Designer
UX Researcher
Responsibilities
UI Design,
UX Design,
User Research
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Trello
Duration
2 weeks
01
PROBLEM
Despite there being an Apple Music app on Nest Hub,
the Apple Music app lacked the distinct Apple “vibe” and brand coherence. It also lacked several essential features that one could expect from a music streaming service, impacting usability and engagement - especially since the competitors had these features.
The design felt out of place.
02
SOLUTION
Apple Music Redesign
is a simple, lightweight interface tailored to the Google Nest Hub's hardware limitations. It reinforces Apple’s brand identity through minimalistic design, balancing functionality and elegance for an intuitive, clutter-free user experience.
03
RESEARCH
Target Audience
After running a round of user interviews and an online survey, I discovered that the target audience was:
The users of Apple Music who also own a Google Nest Hub and want a seamless, hands-free music experience.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Tech-savvy individuals who appreciate brand consistency and intuitive design in their devices.
Wiktor Wdowiak
User Needs & Pain Points
Users expected a more cohesive and immersive Apple Music experience, with features like lyrics display and easy access to playlists. The current design felt cluttered and difficult to navigate on a smaller screen, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.
Platform Constraints
Google Nest Hub’s limited processing power and smaller screen required a simplified, resource-light interface. The design needed to prioritize essential functions without overwhelming the device, balancing visual appeal with usability.
04
ANALYSIS
Competitor Analysis
My objective was to understand how competing music apps perform on the Google Nest Hub and identify opportunities for differentiation
Spotify and other similar apps offer minimal, functional UIs optimized for the smart display.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Core features like browsing music or controlling playback are present although not always streamlined.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Competing apps have a strong sense of identity through visual branding, making Apple Music less differentiative.
Wiktor Wdowiak
This shows that competitors like Spotify offered a branded & UI with many features, while optimized for the Google Nest Hub’s hardware. With that I knew that the redesign can evoke the premium Apple “vibe” and not overload the device or user.
Personas
I crafted two personas reflecting the needs of Google Nest Hub users. Insights revealed a preference for quick, intuitive navigation and a clean, non-intrusive interface, which guided their development.
“I need my music app to work seamlessly with just a few taps. I don’t want to hunt around for controls.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Maya is a tech-savvy music enthusiast who enjoys a premium audio experience at home. She often uses her Google Nest Hub to play music as she multitasks—cooking, working, or socializing at home. Her busy schedule and high standards for usability make her want a music app that’s quick to respond and visually organized.
Maya Braun
Casual Listener
Age: 34
Family: Husband, 2 young children
Occupation: Marketing Manager
Location: Suburban home
Access music quickly with minimal navigation.
Control playback, playlists, and albums easily through an intuitive touch interface
See album art, song details, and playback progress clearly from across the room
Cluttered or unclear interfaces that require multiple taps.
Lack of options for quick controls like “Repeat” or “Shuffle” on the main screen.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
“I just want to press play and relax—no need for too many options. The simpler, the better.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Michael Kim
Music Enthusiast
Age: 27
Family: Single, lives alone
Occupation: Sales Consultant
Location: Urban apartment
Michael is a casual music listener who uses his Google Nest Hub as background entertainment while relaxing or hosting friends. He wants easy access to basic playback functions and prefers a simple, uncluttered interface where he can tap and play without complications; he prefers something that “just works.”
Easily play, pause and skip songs with large, accessible touch controls.
Browse and select playlists or songs with minimal steps.
Avoid complex features and focus on simplicity and easy.
Overly complicated menus that disrupt the listening experience.
Small buttons or hard-to-access controls that make it difficult to to interact with the app.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
Journey Mapping
My main objective at this stage was to visualize the steps users take to achieve their goals in the current Apple Music app and identify pain points. After gathering all of the information I created a map that represented a user’s journey.
Information Architecture
I wanted to restructure the app to reduce cognitive load and ensure effortless navigation. That’s why I created the Information Architecture.
Home
Recently Played
Top Picks for You
Library
Now Playing
Details
Play
Shuffle Play
Individual Play
Back
Now Playing
Library
Playlists
Albums
Mixes
Individual Albums
Home
Now Playing
Now Playing
Play/Pause
Previous
Next
Repeat
Shuffle
Lyrics
Star
Recommended
Home
Splash Screen
With that I had a sitemap focusing on the key sections - Home, Library, Details and Now Playing. The hierarchy made content accessible with little interaction.
I was ready to move on to designing.
05
DESIGN PROCESS
User Flows
Early sketches & user flows explored layout ideas for each core screen while keeping Google Nest Hub’s limitations in mind. Here’s an example user flow I’ve done:
Step 1
The user is on the Now Playing screen, showing basic song info (cover, album, title, artist) as well as brand new media controls (like/dislike, play/pause, previous/next, shuffle, repeat, lyrics) and recommended at the bottom.
Step 2
The users clicks on the Lyrics button and is presented with the lyrics.
User Flow:
Turning on Lyrics
Mid-fidelity Wireframing
Wireframes helped me establish a design language. I made sure for the sizing to be optimized for the small screen size Google Nest Hub has.
06
RESULTS
After some iteration,
the redesigned Apple Music app preserved Apple’s elegance while optimizing for the Nest Hub’s hardware. It balances simplicity with functionality, enabling smooth interactions without straining the device or user.
Apple Music on Google Nest Hub
The redesign of Apple Music for Google Nest Hub focused on creating a lightweight, visually cohesive experience that reflects Apple’s brand identity. The goal was to address missing essential features, simplify navigation, and ensure compatibility with the hardware constraints of Google’s smart display.
Role
UI/UX Designer
UX Researcher
Responsibilities
UI Design,
UX Design,
User Research
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Trello
Duration
2 weeks
01
PROBLEM
Despite there being an Apple Music app on Nest Hub,
the Apple Music app lacked the distinct Apple “vibe” and brand coherence. It also lacked several essential features that one could expect from a music streaming service, impacting usability and engagement - especially since the competitors had these features.
02
SOLUTION
Apple Music Redesign
is a simple, lightweight interface tailored to the Google Nest Hub's hardware limitations. It reinforces Apple’s brand identity through minimalistic design, balancing functionality and elegance for an intuitive, clutter-free user experience.
03
RESEARCH
Target Audience
After running a round of user interviews and an online survey, I discovered that the target audience was:
The users of Apple Music who also own a Google Nest Hub and want a seamless, hands-free music experience.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Tech-savvy individuals who appreciate brand consistency and intuitive design in their devices.
Wiktor Wdowiak
User Needs & Pain Points
Users expected a more cohesive and immersive Apple Music experience, with features like lyrics display and easy access to playlists. The current design felt cluttered and difficult to navigate on a smaller screen, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.
Platform Constraints
Google Nest Hub’s limited processing power and smaller screen required a simplified, resource-light interface. The design needed to prioritize essential functions without overwhelming the device, balancing visual appeal with usability.
04
ANALYSIS
Competitor Analysis
My objective was to understand how competing music apps perform on the Google Nest Hub and identify opportunities for differentiation
Spotify and other similar apps offer minimal, functional UIs optimized for the smart display.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Core features like browsing music or controlling playback are present although not always streamlined.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Competing apps have a strong sense of identity through visual branding, making Apple Music less differentiative.
Wiktor Wdowiak
This shows that competitors like Spotify offered a branded & UI with many features, while optimized for the Google Nest Hub’s hardware. With that I knew that the redesign can evoke the premium Apple “vibe” and not overload the device or user.
Personas
I crafted two personas reflecting the needs of Google Nest Hub users. Insights revealed a preference for quick, intuitive navigation and a clean, non-intrusive interface, which guided their development.
“I need my music app to work seamlessly with just a few taps. I don’t want to hunt around for controls.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Maya is a tech-savvy music enthusiast who enjoys a premium audio experience at home. She often uses her Google Nest Hub to play music as she multitasks—cooking, working, or socializing at home. Her busy schedule and high standards for usability make her want a music app that’s quick to respond and visually organized.
Maya Braun
Casual Listener
Age: 34
Family: Husband, 2 young children
Occupation: Marketing Manager
Location: Suburban home
Access music quickly with minimal navigation.
Control playback, playlists, and albums easily through an intuitive touch interface
See album art, song details, and playback progress clearly from across the room
Cluttered or unclear interfaces that require multiple taps.
Lack of options for quick controls like “Repeat” or “Shuffle” on the main screen.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
“I just want to press play and relax—no need for too many options. The simpler, the better.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Michael Kim
Music Enthusiast
Age: 27
Family: Single, lives alone
Occupation: Sales Consultant
Location: Urban apartment
Michael is a casual music listener who uses his Google Nest Hub as background entertainment while relaxing or hosting friends. He wants easy access to basic playback functions and prefers a simple, uncluttered interface where he can tap and play without complications; he prefers something that “just works.”
Easily play, pause and skip songs with large, accessible touch controls.
Browse and select playlists or songs with minimal steps.
Avoid complex features and focus on simplicity and easy.
Overly complicated menus that disrupt the listening experience.
Small buttons or hard-to-access controls that make it difficult to to interact with the app.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
Journey Mapping
My main objective at this stage was to visualize the steps users take to achieve their goals in the current Apple Music app and identify pain points. After gathering all of the information I created a map that represented a user’s journey.
Information Architecture
I wanted to restructure the app to reduce cognitive load and ensure effortless navigation. That’s why I created the Information Architecture.
Home
Recently Played
Top Picks for You
Library
Now Playing
Details
Play
Shuffle Play
Individual Play
Back
Now Playing
Library
Playlists
Albums
Mixes
Individual Albums
Home
Now Playing
Now Playing
Play/Pause
Previous
Next
Repeat
Shuffle
Lyrics
Star
Recommended
Home
Splash Screen
With that I had a sitemap focusing on the key sections - Home, Library, Details and Now Playing. The hierarchy made content accessible with little interaction.
I was ready to move on to designing.
05
DESIGN PROCESS
User Flows
Early sketches & user flows explored layout ideas for each core screen while keeping Google Nest Hub’s limitations in mind. Here’s an example user flow I’ve done:
Step 1
The user is on the Now Playing screen, showing basic song info (cover, album, title, artist) as well as brand new media controls (like/dislike, play/pause, previous/next, shuffle, repeat, lyrics) and recommended at the bottom.
Step 2
The users clicks on the Lyrics button and is presented with the lyrics.
User Flow:
Turning on Lyrics
Mid-fidelity Wireframing
Wireframes helped me establish a design language. I made sure for the sizing to be optimized for the small screen size Google Nest Hub has.
06
RESULTS
After some iteration,
the redesigned Apple Music app preserved Apple’s elegance while optimizing for the Nest Hub’s hardware. It balances simplicity with functionality, enabling smooth interactions without straining the device or user.
Apple Music on Google Nest Hub
The redesign of Apple Music for Google Nest Hub focused on creating a lightweight, visually cohesive experience that reflects Apple’s brand identity. The goal was to address missing essential features, simplify navigation, and ensure compatibility with the hardware constraints of Google’s smart display.
Role
UI/UX Designer
UX Researcher
Responsibilities
UI Design,
UX Design,
User Research
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Trello
Duration
2 weeks
01
PROBLEM
Despite there being an Apple Music app on Nest Hub,
the Apple Music app lacked the distinct Apple “vibe” and brand coherence. It also lacked several essential features that one could expect from a music streaming service, impacting usability and engagement - especially since the competitors had these features.
02
SOLUTION
Apple Music Redesign
is a simple, lightweight interface tailored to the Google Nest Hub's hardware limitations. It reinforces Apple’s brand identity through minimalistic design, balancing functionality and elegance for an intuitive, clutter-free user experience.
03
RESEARCH
Target Audience
After running a round of user interviews and an online survey, I discovered that the target audience was:
The users of Apple Music who also own a Google Nest Hub and want a seamless, hands-free music experience.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Tech-savvy individuals who appreciate brand consistency and intuitive design in their devices.
Wiktor Wdowiak
User Needs & Pain Points
Users expected a more cohesive and immersive Apple Music experience, with features like lyrics display and easy access to playlists. The current design felt cluttered and difficult to navigate on a smaller screen, leading to frustration and decreased engagement.
Platform Constraints
Google Nest Hub’s limited processing power and smaller screen required a simplified, resource-light interface. The design needed to prioritize essential functions without overwhelming the device, balancing visual appeal with usability.
04
ANALYSIS
Competitor Analysis
My objective was to understand how competing music apps perform on the Google Nest Hub and identify opportunities for differentiation
Spotify and other similar apps offer minimal, functional UIs optimized for the smart display.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Core features like browsing music or controlling playback are present although not always streamlined.
Wiktor Wdowiak
Competing apps have a strong sense of identity through visual branding, making Apple Music less differentiative.
Wiktor Wdowiak
This shows that competitors like Spotify offered a branded & UI with many features, while optimized for the Google Nest Hub’s hardware. With that I knew that the redesign can evoke the premium Apple “vibe” and not overload the device or user.
Personas
I crafted two personas reflecting the needs of Google Nest Hub users. Insights revealed a preference for quick, intuitive navigation and a clean, non-intrusive interface, which guided their development.
“I need my music app to work seamlessly with just a few taps. I don’t want to hunt around for controls.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Maya is a tech-savvy music enthusiast who enjoys a premium audio experience at home. She often uses her Google Nest Hub to play music as she multitasks—cooking, working, or socializing at home. Her busy schedule and high standards for usability make her want a music app that’s quick to respond and visually organized.
Maya Braun
Casual Listener
Age: 34
Family: Husband, 2 young children
Occupation: Marketing Manager
Location: Suburban home
Access music quickly with minimal navigation.
Control playback, playlists, and albums easily through an intuitive touch interface
See album art, song details, and playback progress clearly from across the room
Cluttered or unclear interfaces that require multiple taps.
Lack of options for quick controls like “Repeat” or “Shuffle” on the main screen.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
“I just want to press play and relax—no need for too many options. The simpler, the better.”
About
Goals
Frustrations
Michael Kim
Music Enthusiast
Age: 27
Family: Single, lives alone
Occupation: Sales Consultant
Location: Urban apartment
Michael is a casual music listener who uses his Google Nest Hub as background entertainment while relaxing or hosting friends. He wants easy access to basic playback functions and prefers a simple, uncluttered interface where he can tap and play without complications; he prefers something that “just works.”
Easily play, pause and skip songs with large, accessible touch controls.
Browse and select playlists or songs with minimal steps.
Avoid complex features and focus on simplicity and easy.
Overly complicated menus that disrupt the listening experience.
Small buttons or hard-to-access controls that make it difficult to to interact with the app.
Difficulty managing screens with extra, unnecessary steps.
Journey Mapping
My main objective at this stage was to visualize the steps users take to achieve their goals in the current Apple Music app and identify pain points. After gathering all of the information I created a map that represented a user’s journey.
Information Architecture
I wanted to restructure the app to reduce cognitive load and ensure effortless navigation. That’s why I created the Information Architecture.
Home
Recently Played
Top Picks for You
Library
Now Playing
Details
Play
Shuffle Play
Individual Play
Back
Now Playing
Library
Playlists
Albums
Mixes
Individual Albums
Home
Now Playing
Now Playing
Play/Pause
Previous
Next
Repeat
Shuffle
Lyrics
Star
Recommended
Home
Splash Screen
With that I had a sitemap focusing on the key sections - Home, Library, Details and Now Playing. The hierarchy made content accessible with little interaction.
I was ready to move on to designing.
05
DESIGN PROCESS
User Flows
Early sketches & user flows explored layout ideas for each core screen while keeping Google Nest Hub’s limitations in mind. Here’s an example user flow I’ve done:
Step 1
The user is on the Now Playing screen, showing basic song info (cover, album, title, artist) as well as brand new media controls (like/dislike, play/pause, previous/next, shuffle, repeat, lyrics) and recommended at the bottom.
Step 2
The users clicks on the Lyrics button and is presented with the lyrics.
User Flow:
Turning on Lyrics
Mid-fidelity Wireframing
Wireframes helped me establish a design language. I made sure for the sizing to be optimized for the small screen size Google Nest Hub has.
06
RESULTS
After some iteration,
the redesigned Apple Music app preserved Apple’s elegance while optimizing for the Nest Hub’s hardware. It balances simplicity with functionality, enabling smooth interactions without straining the device or user.
DISCLAIMER: The Apple logo and Apple Music logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. This project is an independent concept and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Apple Inc.