The Sound Room
Overview
The Sound Room is a mobile-first social application conceptualized to bridge the gap between creative isolation and community collaboration. As the lead on this end-to-end case study, I directed the full product lifecycle—from initial market discovery and user research to high-fidelity iOS prototyping and stakeholder presentation.
Challenge
Our market analysis identified a clear gap: there was no dedicated platform that effectively combined collaborative tools with a strong, safe community for musicians to break through creative blocks. Additionally, initial user research revealed significant concerns regarding online safety in creative digital spaces.
Holistic Process & Implementation
Ideation & Research: Conducted extensive interviews and surveys to define the target audience's specific needs and pain points.
User Journey Mapping: Developed detailed scenarios, such as 'Momma Pappy,' a 40-year-old stay-at-home mom, to ensure the app met the needs of diverse age groups while maintaining strict parental controls and safety.
Iterative Design: Progressed from paper sketches and wireframes to complex mid-fidelity annotations mapping out features and functions.
Technical Execution: Finalized a high-fidelity iOS concept featuring a Dynamic Island integration for live 'Open Mic' sessions, ensuring the design was grounded in native mobile patterns.
Key Features Introduced
Collaborative Tools: Features enabling musicians to seamlessly work together on shared projects.
Learning Arcade: A series of engaging, gamified experiences designed to help users overcome creative ruts.
Rehearsal & Performance Spaces: Digital environments optimized for practicing, refining music, and hosting live virtual performances.
Feedback Mechanisms: Integrated tools for providing and receiving constructive, actionable feedback on musical work.
Deliverables
Results & Strategic Impact
Usability testing with 10 participants validated the core concept while providing critical data for strategic pivots:
Validated Concept: The 'Learning Arcade' and 'practice before producing' concepts received particularly high praise for intuitive flow.
Data-Driven Pivot: Testing revealed low user interest in traditional live-streaming, allowing us to re-evaluate resources toward more desired community functions.
Strategic Insights: Identified a key opportunity to merge 'Lobby' and 'Discovery' sections to further streamline the mobile user experience.
The Soul
This project represents my core philosophy of System & Soul. By applying rigorous architectural thinking to the emotional world of music, I created an ecosystem that empowers creators without compromising on visual excellence or technical logic.
©2026 Garrett Martin. All rights reserved