˗ˏˋ ALEARS | MetalLyf ´ˎ˗

Overview

A Community-Driven Music Experience for Metalheads

Metallyf is a concept for a mobile app that redefines metal music streaming by blending immersive audio with a social community platform. The goal was to go beyond passive listening and design a space where fans could share, discover, and discuss their favorite bands—all in one place. Inspired by Reddit’s community model and driven by Neumorphism design, Metallyf delivers a modern, tactile interface for users who want to connect deeply with the music and the people behind it.

Goals

Integrate discussion forums and music into a unified experience

Enable users to create and collaborate on genre-specific or band-specific playlists

Establish a bold yet usable design language that feels fresh and tactile

Build a space where niche music fans feel represented and empowered

Challenges

Balancing bold aesthetics with usability in a Neumorphic UI

Creating a community model that encourages meaningful participation

Designing for both casual listeners and active contributors

My Goal

To create a product that doesn’t just stream music, but becomes a digital home for metal lovers—a space where audio, conversation, and community naturally flow together.

Discover

Understanding the Scene

In the early discovery phase, I studied existing streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as community hubs like Reddit and Last.fm. I interviewed metal fans to understand their behaviors and frustrations, focusing especially on the need for shared experience and sub-genre representation.

Problem Statement

Metal fans lack a unified space that combines music streaming with meaningful social interaction. Current platforms separate community and music, leading to fragmented experiences that fail to reflect the culture’s strong sense of identity and belonging.

Questions

Some questions that popped up were...

How can we foster connection around shared music interests within the app?
What forum features will metalheads actually use and value?
How do we design a space that supports both discovering music and discussing it?

Define

Centering the Right Persona

Persona Development

Meet Mia, a barista and part-time music blogger who thrives on live gigs, niche forums, and sharing playlists with friends. She represents the socially engaged, genre-loyal user who seeks more than algorithms—she wants human recommendations and real conversations.

Mia’s frustrations include:

Switching between apps for music, forums, and band updates
Lack of centralized spaces for metal-centric discussion
Not being able to attach music directly to community posts

Defining the Focus

After consolidating interviews and user flows, the focus narrowed to creating an app that, encourages genre-specific sub-communities, enables easy music sharing within discussions and combines streaming, social interaction, and customization seamlessly

User Insights

Fans are more likely to engage if they can listen and chat in the same space
Trust and identity are tied to being part of smaller, genre-defined groups
Visual hierarchy and intuitive filtering matter deeply in chaotic spaces like forums

Develop

Mapping Out the User Flow

After gathering insights and identifying core user goals, I began mapping the user flow and content strategy. This stage prioritized clarity, accessibility, and alignment between design decisions and user needs.

User Flow Journey

The primary flow centers around Mia posting a concert review in the community forum. It includes decision points for uploading media, selecting sub-genres, and engaging with other posts—all crafted to reduce friction and enhance participation.

Site Structure

I mapped out a modular, content-rich structure with clear zones for browsing, posting, and listening. The sitemap was guided by Mia’s scenario and the need to keep navigation lightweight but powerful.

Early Concepts

To translate insights into design, I began sketching wireframes that emphasized content-first layout, strong iconography, and minimal distractions. Each view reflects the community-driven ethos of the app.

Prototype

Early Wireframes & Testing

Once I had a clear idea of the user flow and structure, I began creating low-fidelity wireframes to test the core layout and interaction patterns. These early versions helped identify pain points and ensured the app’s key features were easy to navigate.

Wireframes

The initial prototype prioritized discoverability and user contribution. From homepage mood filters to trending discussions, the layout invites exploration. The bottom navigation ensures easy access to all main features—streaming, community, and profile.

Visual language

Metallyf embraces a modern Neumorphism aesthetic—soft shadows, subtle gradients, and pill-shaped UI elements. This creates an almost physical interaction feel, without overwhelming the user. The dark theme reflects the mood of the genre while maintaining contrast and accessibility.

Final Design

The final design balances style with structure. From curated playlists to threaded discussions, each feature feels native to the culture it serves. Visual consistency across icons, navigation, and content cards ensures that the experience is intuitive even for first-time users.

DELIVER

From Concept to Completion

The final phase focused on translating ideas into polished UI components. Each element was tested for usability, accessibility, and aesthetic consistency—creating a seamless experience that reflects both user values and the metal genre’s tone.

Reflections & Take-aways

Metallyf taught me how deeply UI and culture can intertwine. Designing for a passionate subculture required empathy, specificity, and a willingness to break from generic design patterns. It also pushed me to think systemically—every screen had to scale with the content and community behind it.

MetalLyfe

The Process