my role
UX, Visual Design, Motion Design, Hardware Interaction Design, Video
Team
2 Designers
1 PM
10+ Engineers
Time
4 Weeks, 2022
Tool
Figma, After Effects, Adobe Premiere
Status
Launched
challenge
We needed to design a dedicated dashboard that would seamlessly connect the Pulse 5 speaker’s customizable LED light show with the app, creating a smooth and engaging user experience.
business goals
Launch in 4 Weeks
Deliver the dashboard within 4 weeks to meet the Pulse 5 launch schedule.
Design Seamless Light Show
Create an intuitive experience that connects app controls to real-time speaker feedback.
Strengthen Brand Identity
Express JBL’s vibrant, energetic brand consistently across digital touchpoints.
Impact
1.8M
iF Design
4.7
Average ratings out of 5
Research Highlights
Aligning with PM
Before jumping into design, I worked with the PM to unpack our business goals, timeline, and limitations.
Had just 4 weeks for design, iteration, and handoff
→ Sprint Planning
No budget for end-user testing
→ Start with internal insights
Build on existing app systems
→ Respect JBL brand standards
Digging Into the Product
To get a real feel for the Pulse 5, I teamed up with the hardware team and tested the speaker myself. Two big questions quickly emerged:
How to help users understand the promoted feature—light show?
How to translate light control features (speed, effects) into an intuitive app experience?
Spotting Issues in the App Ecosystem
Next, I audited the existing JBL Portable app and compared it to other JBL apps. It didn’t take long to spot the gaps:
The visual design is unappealing and cluttered compared to Headphone App
Component inconsistency
Insight 01
Introduce the light show concept and design intuitive interactions that complement the speaker
Insight 02
Design vibrant and engaging graphics to complement the light effects and reinforce brand consistency
Design Seamless Lightshow
Visualizing Light Show Themes
To help users quickly understand each light show theme, I added clear icons and dynamic backgrounds to make the experience more intuitive and engaging for younger audiences.
Simplifying Theme Editing
To make it easier for users to edit their light shows, I explored different layouts that allow quick previews and toggling of patterns, while creating a more cohesive visual experience.
Clarifying Light Controls
To help users easily distinguish between the main and bottom lights, I evolved the design from abstract icons to connected visuals that improved clarity at a glance.
It's unclear which part the second light refers to
Referencing the main body clarifies the second light's location
a Clear Way to Show Speed
To help users adjust light speed intuitively, I explored icons and text-based options. In the end, the “Tortoise and Hare” metaphor won everyone over—simple, familiar, and easy to understand at a glance.
Final design
Introduce the light show concept with intuitive and engaging visuals to enhance immersion in the listening experience
Strengthen Brand Identity
Redesigning Icons
To reflect the immersive sound experience, We redefined icon standards—adding gradients and dynamic shapes for a more vibrant, lively feel.
Standardizing Components
I identified inconsistencies across JBL apps and standardized key components, organizing documentation to ensure a more cohesive and scalable brand experience.
Impact & Retrospective
In this project, I led UX, visual, and motion design, collaborating closely with multiple teams to create an immersive hardware-software experience. Here are a few moments I'm especially proud of:
Reached 1.8M active users. The new portable app was adopted by millions of users worldwide and received a lot of love across social media.
4.7 Apple Store rating. After applying the new design to other dashboards, we lifted our App Store rating from below 4 to 4.7—with 35.5K user reviews backing us up.
iF Design Award 2022. It was an incredible honor to win an iF Design Award with the amazing Harman team. Together, we brought home 39 iF Awards and 44 Red Dot Awards in 2022.
shout out to the best design team
I feel so lucky to have spent nine months with the most amazing team. We weren’t just coworkers; we grew together, shared everything, and made memories I’ll always keep close.
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