CRITIK
Delightful
experience for a
music review site
INDUSTRY
Entertainment
MY ROLE
Visual design, Motion design, Art direction, UI design, Interaction design.
OVERVIEW
Critik allows users to access reviews of their best music and the artistes behind them. In this project, I sought to improve the experience of accessing music review while ensuring that users have fun while at it. I did this by adding a bit more personality to the music review site. I was also looking to, with this project, hone my motion design skills for UI prototyping while exploring new design styles.
The name “critik” was created as a homophone of the word “critique” which refers to a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
The name “critik” was created as a homophone of the word “critique” which refers to a detailed analysis and assessment of something, especially a literary, philosophical, or political theory.
Laying the
foundations
foundations
Critik is a form of a blog website, It was important to come up with the direction for the design before we proceed to determining the best style that best exemplify the design direction.
I had to first understand the key elements that make a typical blog website.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS OF BLOG SITES
Blog sites are generally content, media & text, heavy.
Due to large number of post options for user, blog sites tend to categorize and recommend posts for user. This is to help prevent unnecessary decision fatigue
Knowing fully well that blog sites are content heavy, it is important to place the content at the center of the design. Hence, I went for a minimal look that places the site focus on what makes it a blog site removing the need for any unnecessary element in the UI.
Since users come to Critik to read about the writers’ opinion about their music and artistes, the site should reflect that it communicates a strong message. I ensured to put this into consideration during the design. I selected a bold condensed typeface and a rationalist sans serif typeface that allows for several layout variation and size contrast for emphasis in cases where they are needed.
To add delight to the user experience, I added a couple of sleek interactions to the UI.
Since users come to Critik to read about the writers’ opinion about their music and artistes, the site should reflect that it communicates a strong message. I ensured to put this into consideration during the design. I selected a bold condensed typeface and a rationalist sans serif typeface that allows for several layout variation and size contrast for emphasis in cases where they are needed.
To add delight to the user experience, I added a couple of sleek interactions to the UI.
CRITIK STYLE
Bold, Minimal and rich in interactivity
A rich and welcoming
homepage
homepage
The critik homepage immediately introduces the user to the contents of the site. The contents are well classified into sections to reduce the visual clutter as well as prevent content overload for the user.
The homepage also prioritizes the subscribe option for converting users for email marketing.
The homepage also prioritizes the subscribe option for converting users for email marketing.
The critik homepage immediately introduces the user to the contents of the site. The contents are well classified into sections to reduce the visual clutter as well as prevent content overload for the user.
The homepage also prioritizes the subscribe option for converting users for email marketing.
The homepage also prioritizes the subscribe option for converting users for email marketing.
Well classified
reviews
reviews
Genres are a very distinct classification of music. With that in mind, reviews on Critik also follow that classification. Users can access reviews on Critik based on genres.
Genres are a very distinct classification of music. With that in mind, reviews on Critik also follow that classification. Users can access reviews on Critik based on genres.
A pleasantly engaging
reading experience
reading experience
The articles page makes the reading experience very comfortable. The article content is in focus. There is also a preview section for the music currently being reviewed.
The articles page makes the reading experience very comfortable. The article content is in focus. There is also a preview section for the music currently being reviewed.
Music recognitions and recommendations
It is only right that Critik provides charts and ratings based on their judgement of good music. This section of the site provides, the user, access to various musical charts. They are classified into trending and new charts.
It is only right that Critik provides charts and ratings based on their judgement of good music. This section of the site provides, the user, access to various musical charts. They are classified into trending and new charts.
