EarBuds
EarBuds, an Austin-based technology startup, is making music truly social. The mobile app provides an authentic social platform, which connects and enriches music-lovers through a visionary shared listening experience.
Imagine being able to listen to Cam Newton’s personal playlist with him, in real-time — as he’s warming up before a game. Or letting LeBron be your remote DJ for a Saturday night dance party. EarBuds enables these shared listening experiences. Idol was hired to create a soul for this innovative product.
Creating harmony and consistency
Our work consisted of creating the brand strategy, voice & tone, overarching brand visual identity system, logo, and product UI exploration. It all culminated in a robust brand guidelines document to govern the visual elements we developed.
We love the work you did for EarBuds. It has played a tremendous role in building momentum for the brand.
MobileX
Creative Direction, Brand Refinement, UX + UI Design, Development
EarBuds
EarBuds, an Austin-based technology startup, is making music truly social. The mobile app provides an authentic social platform, which connects and enriches music-lovers through a visionary shared listening experience.
Imagine being able to listen to Cam Newton’s personal playlist with him, in real-time — as he’s warming up before a game. Or letting LeBron be your remote DJ for a Saturday night dance party. EarBuds enables these shared listening experiences. Idol was hired to create a soul for this innovative product.
Challenge
Develop a robust and scalable brand identity system that can visually express the benefits of the EarBuds product.
Approach + Solution
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital innovation, the creation of a unique brand identity and user interface (UI) design for a social music sharing app presented an exhilarating challenge. The client envisioned an app that not only revolutionized the way users discover and share music but also fostered a community of music lovers and creators. Our goal was to craft an identity that resonated with the vibrant energy of music enthusiasts and a UI that facilitated seamless interaction, all while standing out in a crowded digital space.
Our creative journey commenced with a deep dive into the heart of music communities. Through workshops and interviews with potential users, we uncovered the core values and experiences that music lovers cherish. These insights became the bedrock of our design strategy, guiding us to an identity system that celebrated diversity, connection, and the joy of music discovery — while remaining playful and inclusive. The brand identity we developed was a symphony of bright bold colors, dynamic, emotionall-driven imagery, and a logo that combined a multitude of thematic elements – such as a thumbprint, and ear, and a lowecase letter 'e'.
Parallel to crafting the brand identity, our UI design team embarked on a meticulous process to ensure the app was not only visually appealing but also intuitively navigable. We explore unique customizations, such as a dynamic color palette that changed the UI hues, based on the primary colors of the album art. The design also embraced simplicity and accessibility, enabling users to share, discover, and connect with music and fellow enthusiasts effortlessly. Key features were highlighted through the use of vibrant color contrasts and motion design, ensuring a playful yet functional user experience.
Collaboration was central to our process. Regular feedback sessions with the client and target user groups allowed us to iterate and evolve our designs rapidly. This collaborative spirit extended to working closely with developers to ensure the feasibility of our design concepts, bridging the gap between visionary design and practical implementation.
The culmination of our efforts was a brand identity system and product UI design that not only aligned with our client's vision but also set a new standard for social music sharing apps. The project was a testament to the power of collaborative creativity, strategic design thinking, and a deep understanding of the user's journey in crafting digital experiences that resonate and engage.
Results
The work we created helped this early stage team go from 0 to 1. Their internal design team was able to leverage the foundational toolkits we provided and expand and adapt them for many years and iterations.
Client
Jason Fox