About Vertigo mobile app

About Vertigo mobile app

About Vertigo mobile app

Vertigo is a social app that allows users to connect with their close friends, create an environment (chat rooms), and listen to music from anywhere in the world.

I was part of an ambitious initiative to rethink the user experience of Vertigo and create global improvements to the product that would improve onboarding, music library access, and all product navigation.

Vertigo is a social app that allows users to connect with their close friends, create an environment (chat rooms), and listen to music from anywhere in the world.

I was part of an ambitious initiative to rethink the user experience of Vertigo and create global improvements to the product that would improve onboarding, music library access, and all product navigation.

UX Design, Product Lead

UX Design, Product Lead

UX Design, Product Lead

Develop Design Systems

Implement Design Processes

Support Engineering Team

Develop Design Systems
Implement Design Processes Support Engineering Team

Project challenges

Project challenges

Project challenges

The main challenge of this product was the poor onboarding user flow, which made it extremely difficult for users to create an account, link their music provider (Apple Music, Spotify), and connect with friends.

A feeble global navigation architecture. The previous navigation flow made it difficult for users to explore the product and understand the app's value. The product also had poor-performing user engagement. Users needed more clarity to find their friends and listen to music together.

The main challenge of this product was the poor onboarding user flow, which made it extremely difficult for users to create an account, link their music provider (Apple Music, Spotify), and connect with friends.

A feeble global navigation architecture. The previous navigation flow made it difficult for users to explore the product and understand the app's value. The product also had poor-performing user engagement. Users needed more clarity to find their friends and listen to music together.

UX Audit

After joining the Vertigo team, I conducted a full UX audit of the product to help me understand user experience in depth. This exercise gave me an aerial view of the entire product and allowed me to find all pain points from a user's perspective. Collectively, we then dove into prioritizing feature upgrades based on user impact feedback research and engineering tech possibilities.

Focused Improvements:

Login/Signup, Connecting music providers (Spotify, AppleMusic)

Main Navigation

UGC/Chat Rooms

After joining the Vertigo team, I conducted a full UX audit of the product to help me understand user experience in depth. This exercise gave me an aerial view of the entire product and allowed me to find all pain points from a user's perspective. Collectively, we then dove into prioritizing feature upgrades based on user impact feedback research and engineering tech possibilities.

Focused Improvements:

Login/Signup, Connecting music providers (Spotify, AppleMusic)

Main Navigation

UGC/Chat Rooms

Rethink User Journey

To solve login issues and increase user acquisition, I created a series of studies to optimize the steps to create an account. We introduced signup via text and allowed users to browse the app without linking to music providers.

This changed the previous pattern, which locked users without a music account from seeing the app. Allowing users to browse through the app before linking to a music provider generated trust and engagement increased instantly.

To solve login issues and increase user acquisition, I created a series of studies to optimize the steps to create an account. We introduced signup via text and allowed users to browse the app without linking to music providers.

This changed the previous pattern, which locked users without a music account from seeing the app. Allowing users to browse through the app before linking to a music provider generated trust and engagement increased instantly.

After defining the direction of the user journey, I designed the needed views that would allow users to follow our new pattern easily. This change in the app increased engagement by 30% in a month after making the design updates.

After defining the direction of the user journey, I designed the needed views that would allow users to follow our new pattern easily. This change in the app increased engagement by 30% in a month after making the design updates.

Global Nav

I proposed changes aimed at enhancing user engagement and creating user-generated content (UGC) by streamlining the app's main navigation. The primary focus is on simplifying the user experience, making it less confusing, and improving navigation efficiency, particularly in the top three areas of the application.

  1. Discovery:

    The "Discovery" section has been revamped to make it more accessible and user-friendly. This area serves as a hub for users to connect with friends and engage in group listening experiences. 

  2. Lounges:

    The "Lounges" feature has been optimized for better visibility and accessibility. This area is designed for users to discover and join active rooms with a substantial number of public listeners. The improved navigation ensures that users can effortlessly find and participate in listening communities, fostering a sense of shared musical enjoyment.

  3. UGC Space:

    The "UGC" space, dedicated to user-generated content, was improved to make it more intuitive and user-centric. This space empowers users to create their own listening environments, allowing them to curate music and share it with others. 

I proposed changes aimed at enhancing user engagement and creating user-generated content (UGC) by streamlining the app's main navigation. The primary focus is on simplifying the user experience, making it less confusing, and improving navigation efficiency, particularly in the top three areas of the application.

  1. Discovery:

    The "Discovery" section has been revamped to make it more accessible and user-friendly. This area serves as a hub for users to connect with friends and engage in group listening experiences. 

  2. Lounges:

    The "Lounges" feature has been optimized for better visibility and accessibility. This area is designed for users to discover and join active rooms with a substantial number of public listeners. The improved navigation ensures that users can effortlessly find and participate in listening communities, fostering a sense of shared musical enjoyment.

  3. UGC Space:

    The "UGC" space, dedicated to user-generated content, was improved to make it more intuitive and user-centric. This space empowers users to create their own listening environments, allowing them to curate music and share it with others. 

Main Navigation

Over nearly two years, I dedicated my efforts to developing and enhancing this app, leading to significant improvements across the entire ecosystem. Throughout this period, the focus was on achieving a comprehensive transformation in terms of functionality and increasing user engagement.


Key Achievements and Impactful Changes:

  1. Ecosystem Enhancement:

    This project resulted in substantial improvements that positively impacted the entire ecosystem. These enhancements were geared towards elevating the overall user experience and functionality of the product.

  2. Design System Empowerment:

    A highlight of the project was the creation of a robust design system. This design system empowered engineers, facilitating their work and allowing for a seamless integration of design elements into the development process. The objective was to enhance collaboration and efficiency within the engineering team.

  3. Streamlined Design Processes:

    Introducing refined design processes was a pivotal aspect of my role. These processes were designed to promote collective and transparent collaboration across the entire team, ensuring that every feature development was a collaborative effort. 

  4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
    The project involved close collaboration with key stakeholders, including the CEO, VP, head of product, lead engineers, and segments of the marketing team. This cross-functional engagement ensured alignment with organizational goals and a holistic approach to feature development. Working closely with diverse team members enriched the project with varied perspectives and expertise.


Over nearly two years, I dedicated my efforts to developing and enhancing this app, leading to significant improvements across the entire ecosystem. Throughout this period, the focus was on achieving a comprehensive transformation in terms of functionality and increasing user engagement.


Key Achievements and Impactful Changes:

  1. Ecosystem Enhancement:

    This project resulted in substantial improvements that positively impacted the entire ecosystem. These enhancements were geared towards elevating the overall user experience and functionality of the product.

  2. Design System Empowerment:

    A highlight of the project was the creation of a robust design system. This design system empowered engineers, facilitating their work and allowing for a seamless integration of design elements into the development process. The objective was to enhance collaboration and efficiency within the engineering team.

  3. Streamlined Design Processes:

    Introducing refined design processes was a pivotal aspect of my role. These processes were designed to promote collective and transparent collaboration across the entire team, ensuring that every feature development was a collaborative effort. 

  4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
    The project involved close collaboration with key stakeholders, including the CEO, VP, head of product, lead engineers, and segments of the marketing team. This cross-functional engagement ensured alignment with organizational goals and a holistic approach to feature development. Working closely with diverse team members enriched the project with varied perspectives and expertise.