Vinyl Buddy
“Playing vinyl is a way to actively listen to music rather than passively being on in the background.”
Background
Vinyl record collectors pour significant time, money, and passion into their collections, elevating the act of listening to an album into a rich, immersive experience. For many, it’s more than just music—it’s a ritual. They tune out the distractions of the world, savor the album artwork, and dive into the stories told within the liner notes. However, as their collections grow, managing and fully appreciating them can become a daunting challenge.
Across various collector communities, countless enthusiasts seek advice on how to better organize, care for, and engage with their collections, striving to deepen their connection to the music they love.
Vinyl Buddy is thoughtfully designed with these collectors in mind, offering tools and features to help them navigate and enhance every aspect of their vinyl journey.
Role: Researcher and Prototype Designer
Date: November, 2024
Methods: Concept Mapping, User Evaluation, Personal Inventory, Think-Aloud Protocol, Prototyping, Usability Testing
Tools: Google Suite, Figma, Figjam
Problem and Purpose
“If I don’t keep track of my albums, I will forget what I shouldn’t look for at a store.”
Vinyl record collectors often take immense pride in their collections, viewing them as both a source of personal joy and a long-term investment. However, as a collection expands to include 100, 200, or even more albums, a recurring challenge emerges: the inadvertent purchase of duplicate records. In my conversations with collectors, 80% admit to this misstep at some point. This seemingly minor error can lead to feelings of regret, embarrassment, and hesitation when considering future acquisitions—dampening the excitement that defines the hobby.
Beyond the issue of duplicates, a subtler challenge arises as collectors decide which album to play. The human tendency to gravitate toward familiar or recently acquired records often leaves older albums untouched, relegating them to gather dust. Over time, this neglect can foster a lingering sense of guilt—an uncomfortable reminder of the money spent on music that remains unheard.
The act of maintaining a vinyl collection presents its own complexities. Proper care is essential for preserving the sound quality and longevity of these records. From ideal storage conditions to effective cleaning routines, the methods vary widely among enthusiasts, yet the underlying truth remains: without a structured approach, maintenance can quickly become overwhelming. Collectors may find themselves trapped in a cycle of over-cleaning or outright neglect, either of which diminishes the value and enjoyment of their collection.
These challenges, though common, underscore the deeply personal nature of vinyl collecting. Each record tells a story, but to preserve those stories, collectors must navigate the delicate balance between growth, care, and appreciation. Solving these issues not only enhances the collector’s experience but also ensures that their cherished albums continue to bring joy for years to come.
Iteration and Evaluation
Through interviews with vinyl record collectors, ranging from those with expansive libraries of over 2,000 records to those with modest collections of just 11, several key desires emerged for features they would like to see integrated into Vinyl Buddy. Collectors expressed a strong interest in tools that would allow them to easily customize how they sort and organize their collections. They also emphasized the need for support in maintaining their collections, making seamless updates, and tracking changes. Additionally, they hoped for the ability to create and store playlists for special occasions or daily listening routines. Finally, a straightforward, user-friendly method for adding new albums to their collections was a common request. These insights point to the diverse needs of collectors and the potential for Vinyl Buddy to enhance their experience.
Sorting
Vinyl Buddy addresses a common challenge for record collectors: organizing and sorting their collections. Collectors often experiment with various methods to display and arrange their physical records, such as sorting by genre, album title, personal favorites, or even catalog numbers. Despite this variety, the most popular approach remains alphabetical organization by artist. Vinyl Buddy enhances this process by offering a range of flexible, customizable options to organize collections virtually, providing collectors with a streamlined and intuitive way to manage their albums.
Managing the Collection
Vinyl Buddy also assists users in managing the upkeep of their collections. Over time, records sitting on shelves inevitably gather dust, while repeated handling and sliding them in and out of their covers can wear down sleeves, leaving behind paper debris that settles into the grooves. Even the simple act of touching records transfers oils from the skin, which can accumulate and degrade sound quality. To preserve their condition, records require periodic cleaning. While Vinyl Buddy doesn’t clean records for you, it provides an invaluable tool for tracking which albums have been cleaned and when, ensuring that collectors can maintain their collections with ease and precision.
Playlists
Check out the video to get some better insight into how Vinyl Buddy works.
When viewing one’s collection, the app defaults to organizing alphabetically by artist, like the majority of collectors organize their physical collections.
One’s collection can also be organized by album title, value of the album, the last time the album was listened to, and the last time the album was cleaned.
This video shows how the collection can be sorted.
Users can update their collections when they have listened to an album and when they have cleaned an album. This is very useful to collectors so that they do not have to mentally keep track of all this information.
This video shows the process of updating a record when it has been cleaned.
Many vinyl collectors take pride in showcasing their collections, particularly during social gatherings like holiday parties, birthdays, or other special occasions. These events often call for a curated playlist to create the perfect atmosphere. However, for collectors with extensive libraries—sometimes exceeding 2,000 albums—remembering which records resonate with their guests can become a challenge.
Vinyl Buddy simplifies this process by allowing users to create and save personalized playlists tailored to specific events or individual preferences. Collectors can tag albums with notes about guest favorites or categorize records by mood, genre, or occasion. This makes it easier to quickly select the perfect albums for any gathering. Over time, Vinyl Buddy can help users refine their playlists, ensuring that every occasion is complemented by the ideal soundtrack, effortlessly blending hospitality with their passion for vinyl.
This video shows how to view playlists and create new ones.
Adding an Album to the Collection
A key feature of Vinyl Buddy is its seamless ability to add and remove albums from a user’s virtual collection, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of a vinyl enthusiast’s library. For collectors, the joy of the hobby often lies in the hunt—exploring record stores, browsing online marketplaces, or rummaging through garage sales in search of rare finds and hidden gems. Each new addition represents a story, a discovery, or a cherished memory. As a collection grows, so must the tools that help manage it.
Vinyl Buddy makes this process intuitive and efficient, allowing users to quickly log new acquisitions with detailed metadata, such as artist, album title, year, genre, and condition. Whether it’s a rare vintage pressing or the latest reissue, the app ensures that every record is accounted for. Similarly, as collectors refine their libraries—perhaps parting with duplicates or albums that no longer align with their tastes—Vinyl Buddy offers a straightforward way to remove records from the collection.
Beyond just tracking, the app supports the collector’s journey by enabling growth and adaptability. Whether the collection comprises a handful of records or spans thousands, Vinyl Buddy scales effortlessly, providing a robust platform that evolves alongside the user’s passion for vinyl.
This video shows how to add a new albums to the expanding collection. There are simple to follow navigation buttons and a screen that celebrates your additions.
Next Steps
The next step for Vinyl Buddy is to expand its sorting capabilities, providing collectors with even greater flexibility and control over how they organize their collections. In addition to the existing options, I envision introducing features that allow users to sort by genre, album condition (helpful for identifying records or covers that may need replacements), and storage methods (such as those using specific liners or protective covers). Furthermore, a customizable sorting option would empower users to create their own unique organizational systems, tailored to their preferences and needs.
Another exciting goal is to enable Vinyl Buddy to sync seamlessly with Discogs, the leading platform for buying and selling vinyl records. This integration would create a comprehensive, one-stop solution for collectors, allowing them to manage their collections, make purchases, and sell items all within a single app. Such a partnership would significantly enhance the app’s functionality and value to the vinyl community.
Lastly, I aim to develop a “wishlist” feature, allowing collectors to track records they hope to add to their collection. This feature would serve as a handy reference during record hunts, whether in stores, online, or at garage sales, ensuring that no sought-after gem is overlooked. Together, these updates would make Vinyl Buddy an even more indispensable tool for vinyl enthusiasts.