Restoring user trust

Auditing the legacy app

The project directive was strict: deliver a complete technical rewrite that preserves all existing functionality while modernizing the codebase. To ensure zero feature regression, I conducted a comprehensive visual audit, cataloging every screen, error state, and interaction flow of the legacy application.

I translated this audit into a robust set of user stories that served as our "source of truth." These stories defined the functional requirements for complex features like vamp creation, track mixing, and tempo adjustment. This documentation was critical for validating our design direction, ensuring that every new interface decision supported the professional workflows performers relied on.

Removing barriers to entry

The previous design relied on confusing UI patterns, such as a static arrow pointing to a generic plus button, which left new users unsure of how to begin. To streamline access and reduce data liability, we removed user accounts entirely in favor of a direct 'Show Code' system. I redesigned the interface to prioritize clear, labeled actions—allowing users to instantly download their show, access policy links, or demo the app with sample songs—significantly reducing the number of screens required to get started.

Richer, clutter-free sampling

Previously, sample songs were permanently injected into a user's library, creating unnecessary clutter. I introduced a dedicated samples page accessible directly from the 'Get Started' screen, allowing users to explore the app's capabilities without polluting their personal repertoire. I upgraded the UI from narrow list items to immersive song cards featuring visualized audio waveforms, making the content feel richer and more engaging, while also providing quick access to the company's essential start guide.

A unified repertoire hub

The shows dashboard is the performer's home base. I moved away from dense lists to spacious, information-rich cards that display key details—like song count and duration—at a glance. To handle growing libraries, I introduced a dedicated search bar for instant access. I also streamlined the acquisition flow with a clear 'Add Show' button, triggering the code entry bottom sheet so users can expand their repertoire without leaving the dashboard.

A visual command center

I transformed the show dashboard into a rich, visual hub. A high-fidelity cover image and key metadata now ground the experience, while song lists have been upgraded to detailed cards featuring audio waveforms. This allows users to visually identify tracks instantly and see the "shape" of the music before they even press play.

We also refactored member management to align with strict privacy standards. By removing personal user data requirements, we created a seamless, account-free invite system that maintains security without the friction of traditional sign-up flows.

Finally, the activity log was reimagined from a dense text list into a structured, searchable UI. The new design uses intuitive icons to visualize specific changes—like vamps or cuts—at a glance, turning a static list of edits into a powerful version control tool.

The reimagined rehearsal studio

To declutter the interface, I bifurcated the core experience into two distinct hubs: 'Rehearse' and 'Score.' In the focused 'Rehearse' view, I replaced the static playback bar with a dynamic audio waveform, giving performers a visual map of the song's dynamics to anticipate crescendos and decrescendos. I also redesigned the measure indicator into a single, rhythmic card that highlights the current beat line-by-line, helping users stay in sync without needing to count manually.

In a fast-paced rehearsal, reading small text is challenging, so we replaced error-prone manual inputs with accessible bottom sheets for Tempo and Transposition. These provide ample space for sliders and validation, while the interface itself now communicates status through color and shape. A shift to the brand's teal color instantly signals a modified tempo, while a dynamic piano graphic provides a concrete visual reference for key changes, removing the need to mentally calculate semi-tones.

Finally, I overhauled the looping experience to be both visual and semantic. Users can now set loops by dragging a yellow container directly over the audio waveform or by selecting specific song sections (e.g., 'Up where they walk') by name. This flexibility allows performers to practice difficult passages intuitively, rather than memorizing measure numbers.

A unified table of contents

In the legacy app, the 'Score' view was an isolated environment that shifted abruptly from the app's standard dark mode to a blinding white editing UI. Worse, this view was gated behind permissions, meaning only editors could see the song's structure. I integrated this view directly into the main player as a dedicated tab, maintaining visual consistency with the dark-mode interface. This change democratized the song structure; now, all users benefit from a visual table of contents, allowing performers to see the song's progression and jump to specific sections effortlessly, regardless of their permission level.

We also resolved critical logic and usability flaws. The legacy app used confusing metaphors—like a 'sun' icon to indicate status changes—and allowed impossible states, such as placing multiple 'Attacca' (immediate transition) markers anywhere in the stack. I replaced these with standard, clear UI elements and a logical, single-toggle Attacca switch at the bottom of the list. We also introduced powerful filters, making it easy to sort through markers, vamps, and cuts without getting lost in the data.

The redesign synthesizes these features into a single, intuitive interface that adapts to the user. While everyone has access to the navigation timeline, only those with edit permissions see the 'Add' button for inserting elements like markers, vamps, or repeats. This approach ensures that the app feels complete for a performer using it as a guide, yet powerful for a music director making changes, all within the same unified surface.