Apple Podcast App Poor User Design

Problem

Apple Podcasts is the default podcast listening app for iPhone users, yet it is outperformed and left behind in favor of 3rd party competitors. It has been neglected in comparison to other excellent Apple iOS apps in terms of user experience.

With an increasing number of Apple users and podcast listeners, it is important to update Apple Podcasts with features and layout to both appease both power users and casual users. Power users need an incentive to return to the native Apple app above all, and casual users need a pleasant listening experience.

(This project begin with the iOS 13 version. However, with the latest iOS 14 update, it only added an Up Next feature and is basically the same application as in the previous iOS.)

Why does this matter to Apple?

Podcasting is a form of media consumption that has been rising in popularity and the selection to listen from appears endless. Currently, 37% of the population in the United States, age 12 and over, are regularly consuming podcasts, up from 32% in 2019 (The Infinite Dial 2020 by Edison Research).That's over 100 million Americans. Podcasts are a big deal.
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With that in mind, platform exclusivity of media has also become paramount . Subscription streaming such as Hulu, Netflix, and Apple TV+ all provide exclusive movie and TV content. The same principle applies to podcasting, as Spotify holds the majority of the market share which hugely popular shows including "The Joe Rogan Experience" and "The Michelle Obama Podcast."
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As the leader of technology and innovation, Apple can aim to monetize and host their own exclusive podcasts and carve out their own market share in the podcasting space. However, the current iteration of the Apple Podcast app should be revisited to improve how users experience podcast listening.

Design Process

Design Goals

1

Deliver an efficient and pleasant user interface with updated visual and operational elements

2

Propose changes that make users more comfortable while accessing podcasts.

3

Utilize Apple's Human Interface Guidelines for design direction to keep feeling of Apple product

Research

For my research, I performed user interviews and surveys along with secondary online research from users via blogs and reddit. I conducted a preliminary survey with 15 users to determine the general feeling of Apple Podcasts and other competitors and what brings the user to use their respective app of choice.
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In reading users' online feedback, many of their experiences involved frustration with Apple Podcasts, to the degree that they migrated over to 3rd party apps. The main two competitors were Overcast and Pocketcasts. Spotify, while not an exclusive app for podcast listening, was another app which was mentioned for it's easy usability. I downloaded these apps and tested them out to understand and gain insights into the features, functions, and flows of the design systems of the competitors.
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In addition to studying the competing apps, l studied Apple's Human Interface Guidelines to understand the design system of Apple's iOS, as well as other native iOS that I found well designed such as Messages, Notes, Calendar, etc. This investigation helped me to see how much the Podcasts app was neglected and outdated compared to other excellent Apple apps.
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Lastly, I interviewed 5 regular podcast listeners varying from casual listeners to power users. I performed usability testing with the same 5 users.

Apps used in Competitive Analysis

Synthesizing Research Insights

Navigation Inefficiency
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Many users found it difficult to find episodes for their shows, as the app made users go through many screens to find one. There is confusion around the app's "My Episodes" feature when you go to a show's "Overview" page. It appears to present the most recent or possibly unplayed, recommended episodes. However, when it is cleared, it stays empty and forces users to browse two discrete lists, "Previously played episodes" or "All episodes." There is no option for a "unplayed episodes" list.

Usability issues
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Certain UI decisions in the original app made it difficult for users to efficiently and productively engage with their podcasts. As a result, many users lacked access to essential features because users weren't getting the information they needed to access those features. Users did not know they could scroll on the "Now playing" page, denying them quick access to an episode's summary and a sleep timer function.

Lacking features
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Especially amongst pro users, reliance on advanced features to allow for a more customized and improved listening experience was crucial. Features such as OPML support allow users to transfer their entire library subscriptions, while advanced listening features can include trim silence. Regarding the trim silence feature, one user said "The faster I can listen to podcasts, the more time I have to listen to more shows." Within our busy lifestyles, efficiency in podcast consumption is highly desired.

Ideations

The goal was to not reinvent the wheel but recreate the app in order to improve the user experience while keeping the iOS design principles iOS.
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For usability, I added scroll bars on the "Now Playing" screen to signify the affordance to scroll. Also, the ability to switch between icon and list view.

For navigation, I decided to simplify it down with easy filters to navigate between different episodes lists. Users can also access "Settings" from the "Now Playing" screen, rather than having to menu to a show's "Overview" page.
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To satisfy both the power users and curious casual users, I added features such as Trim Silence, Voice Boost, OPML Support, Custom Skip Intervals and Skip Intro/Outro.

Task Flows

Based on my research, there was friction in the user actions. To easily illustrate them and spot any dead ends or gaps, I created task flows of the original app's interaction and a redesigned task flow with improved fluidity and clarity.

Wireframes

Old Design.

Users didn't know you were allowed to scroll. The scroll bar, low contast, appears and quickly fades. This signifier is extremely weak especially for mobile users who aren't used to scrolling on a Now Playing screen. Typically, now playing screens for music or podcast listening are static and do not scroll. Also, on the Podcasts app, there is no "fold" like you would see on a desktop web page to say "there is content below the fold" – making it natural to scroll. Having a disappearing scroll bar on a fold-less mobile Now Playing screen is a huge usability issue. Users who miss that signifier would miss crucial information and features such as the "Episodes Notes" and "Sleep Timer."

Library page displays shows that are updated but not the episodes themselves which forces you to click on the show for the My Episodes list to show you the latest episode. However, the My Episodes concept is a bit confusing. My Episodes shows users a list of new or unplayed episodes but occasionally, after it is all played through, it remains empty and does not refresh with new/unplayed/recommended episodes. It feels like it lacks some purpose by not refreshing with at least unplayed episodes after it is cleared.

With that in mind, there are two other problems that arise. Firstly, when the My Episodes list is active and but the user wants to look at a list with all the episodes, they need to scroll all the way down past the My Episodes. There, you will find two links for Previously Played and See All Episodes. How would users know to scroll down to find when they just want to see a complete episode list? Secondly, there are two lists links, Previously Played and See All Episodes. Why would Apple NOT provide a Unplayed Episodes option after the My Episodes is cleared? Users want to find episodes they haven't listened to before yet there is no direct way to find that.

The podcast overview page also lacks a basic description of the show which users appreciate.

From the Now Playing Screen's 3 dot menu, there is no access to Settings. This requires the user to go to the respective show's Overview page to access Settings. Also, Custom Settings, which controls automatic downloads and deletion of new and played episodes respectively, is tucked away underneath the same hierarchy as controlling the playback order of episodes. The Settings is difficult to access and the settings itself have a lack of hierarchy. These powerful settings are extremely helpful but are hard to access for the users. The control is there, not the accessibility.

Conventions

While I was studying the other native Apple apps such as Messages, Notes, Calendar and referring to the Human Interface Guidelines, I noticed many common design conventions that Apple would use as their guideline for good UX but were oddly lacking in the Podcasts app itself.

Search Bars

Search bars are another missing convention from the current "Podcasts" app. In other native iOS apple apps, you can do pull down gesture when you are the top of the screen to pull down a search bar, like in the "Notes" or "Messages" app. Even the "Contacts" app has a permanent search bar there, no drag down required.

Borrowing that idea from those apps, the solution is to add permanent search bars allows the user to search for episodes or shows within all screen thus making navigation easier and one step faster. By having a static search bar and not a hidden pull down one still allows users to refresh the screen for updates with the extended pull down gesture.
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The search tab alone seems out of place especially when search bars can be used. However, I believe it can still be useful to users albeit redundant.

Scroll Bars

In the original Podcasts app, a fairly low contrast scroll bar appears on the right which signifies the affordance of scrolling down to see Episode Notes and a Sleep Timer function. However, it fades away when you're not scrolling which results in many users not noticing it and flat out, don't know you can scroll to see those functions. This is a huge usability issue.

In macOS, it has an option to hide or show scroll bars. While this might be less of a problem on web pages because users know from experience that you're able to scroll and the concept of the "fold." The same design principles should be applied to mobile screens that don't have a fold. For a Now Playing screen of a mobile music/podcast app, traditionally, it stays static and doesn't scroll. I attempt to address this issue in the redesign.
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Final Designs

Alluded to in the design goals, I wanted to redesign the layouts while still giving the feeling of an Apple-made product because users enjoyed the simple and clean design of the original app. Using Apple's Human Interface Guidelines to direct me, I created high-fidelity wireframes.

A new way to search.

Introducing static search bars on all the screens to make finding any episode as easy as possible.

As well as the new Filter Bar to quickly access and filter through a show's library. Sort by the Unplayed episodes, All Episodes and Downloaded episodes, however, it defaults to the Unplayed episodes so you can find new, unheard episodes instantly without extra hassle.

Newest episodes, only one tap away.

The new reworked Library now displays the latest episodes one tap away. Instead of inadequately showing what shows have updated, now you have access to those episodes only one tap away.

A different look at lists. Icon View.

Enjoy a different look at your show collection with Icon View and List View. The shows page has a new button to flip between the two viewing options to suit your visual and organizational preferences.

For the pros.

To satisfy the power users, Podcasts delivers a whole new range of tools and features. OPML support to allow you to easily transfer of your podcasts subscriptions between different apps without having you to manually subscribe as well as allowing you to back up your subscription. The other features include: Trim Silence, Voice Boost, adjustable skip intervals and skip intro/outro features – all to provide a pleasant and efficient listening experience.

Never miss a scroll again.

Previously, the scroll bar would appear then fades after a short while. Many of you missed this and lost the signifier to scroll down thus missing crucial information. Huge usability mistake.

The scroll bar has now been added to indicate to users that there is more content below.

Once you become accostumed to scrolling, you may choose to keep the scroll bars for the functionally and accessibility or hidden them for the minimal look – now adjustable in Settings.

Expanding a Settings experience.

Changed the hierarchy and sectioning for clearer navigating and customization. No setting is buried within each other. All sections have been separated into Show, Playback order, Playback, Download, and Show Scroll Bars. You can now access your settings from the Now Playing page.
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The Playback section introduces more features for an improved listening experience: fine tuning the skip intervals to your liking and being able to skip intros and outros. Combined with the Trim Silence function, incredible tools for efficient podcast listening.

Iterations

Iteration 1

Iteration 2

For Iteration 1, I found that other apps had most of the features accesible via buttons on the main screen.

While it is convenient to have access to them without the need to scroll or go through menus, users felt like it was too cluttered.

By adding the features below, and keeping the elements to three, it provides ample room for all the targets.

Iteration 1

Iteration 2

I rearranged Apple's layout for listing individual episodes. By doing so, Iteration 1 has more room for 1-2 lines of additional text. However, users felt the design was too cluttered.

Ultimately, I concluded that those 1-2 additional lines did not provide enough information. Users who want to read the episode's full description will press on "Details" regardless.

Project Learnings

Apple's Human Interface Guidelines is a powerful resources for designers
The Human Interface Guidelines by Apple is a treasure. As an aspiring UI/UX designer, it's exciting to have a resource straight from Apple that provides excellent UI/UX advice, which can be applied not only to Apple apps but all of design. It is unexpectedly approachable and easy to follow. Straightforward and comprehensive but not overly verbose.
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Previewing your designs on real devices
I designed this project on Figma and frequently used their Figma Mirror app on the iPhone, which allows you to preview the designs on an actual phone. In addition, while editing my designs on the computer screen, it felt well-spaced and easily tappable. But when I previewed my designs on my iPhone, numerous layout problems became clear. For future projects, I'm going to implement this feature into my workflow to simulate a more immersive and realistic experience.

Talking to users about their experiences is crucial
By far, the most important step of my research and testing was engaging with users for their insights as well as validating my design assumptions. For example, during this project, I consulted with other designers for feedback on my designs. I showed users both my original designs and edited designs that incorporated feedback from designersI realized that above all, real user testing and engagement was crucial for this product, and others, to succeed.
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My user interviews were quite succinct and agile. Whenever I needed some immediate feedback or help with narrowing down solutions, I reached out to those users to validate any assumptions without going too in-depth. This approach was surprisingly effective.