Spotify Moments
Spotify Moments
Spotify Moments
Spotify lets us save the songs we love, but what if we could save the memories behind them too?
Spotify lets us save the songs we love, but what if we could save the memories behind them too?
Spotify lets us save the songs we love, but what if we could save the memories behind them too?
Spotify Moments is a multisensory digital scrapbooking feature that lets listeners capture and relive memories behind meaningful songs through music, photos, and reflections.
Spotify Moments is a multisensory digital scrapbooking feature that lets listeners capture and relive memories behind meaningful songs through music, photos, and reflections.
Spotify Moments is a multisensory digital scrapbooking feature that lets listeners capture and relive memories behind meaningful songs through music, photos, and reflections.
At a Glance
At a Glance
At a Glance
Role: UX Researcher & Product Designer
Role: UX Researcher & Product Designer
Role: UX Researcher & Product Designer
Timeline: 5.5 days; UX Hackathon
Timeline: 5.5 days; UX Hackathon
Timeline: 5.5 days; UX Hackathon
Team: 4 team members
Team: 4 team members
Team: 4 team members
Participants: 29 music listeners
Participants: 29 music listeners
Participants: 29 music listeners
Methods: Survey; Brand research; Literature review; Affinity mapping
Methods: Survey; Brand research; Literature review; Affinity mapping
Methods: Survey; Brand research; Literature review; Affinity mapping
Tools: Figma
Tools: Figma
Tools: Figma
Outcome: Interactive Prototype
Outcome: Interactive Prototype
Outcome: Interactive Prototype
My Role
My Role
My Role
Research
Research
Research
Conducted and synthesized user research, brand research, and a literature review
Conducted and synthesized user research, brand research, and a literature review
Design
Design
Design
Used research insights to guide design decisions and rationale
Used research insights to guide design decisions and rationale
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyping
Prototyped Spotify Moments within Spotify's existing interface using Figma
Prototyped Spotify Moments within Spotify's existing interface using Figma
Challenge & Context
Challenge & Context
Challenge & Context
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
SparkJam 2026, a 5.5 day UX hackathon, challenged us to:
SparkJam 2026, a 5.5 day UX hackathon, challenged us to:
SparkJam 2026, a 5.5 day UX hackathon, challenged us to:
Design a creation-centered feature for a traditionally non-creation focused platform.
Design a creation-centered feature for a traditionally non-creation focused platform.
Design a creation-centered feature for a traditionally non-creation focused platform.
Why Spotify?
Why Spotify?
Why Spotify?
Spotify already uses listening behaviour to tell stories about its users.
Spotify already uses listening behaviour to tell stories about its users.
Spotify already uses listening behaviour to tell stories about its users.
Our brand research showed that Spotify views listening history as a reflection of identity and celebrates this through personalized storytelling (like Spotify Wrapped!).
Our brand research showed that Spotify views listening history as a reflection of identity and celebrates this through personalized storytelling (like Spotify Wrapped!).
Our brand research showed that Spotify views listening history as a reflection of identity and celebrates this through personalized storytelling (like Spotify Wrapped!).
Design Opportunity
Design Opportunity
Design Opportunity
Instead of Spotify telling users what music they've been listening to, why don't we create a space for users to share why they've been listening to that music?
Instead of Spotify telling users what music they've been listening to, why don't we create a space for users to share why they've been listening to that music?
Instead of Spotify telling users what music they've been listening to, why don't we create a space for users to share why they've been listening to that music?
The Solution: Spotify Moments
The Solution: Spotify Moments
The Solution: Spotify Moments
A multisensory digital scrapbook that turns passive listening into a personalized, reflective experience.
A multisensory digital scrapbook that turns passive listening into a personalized, reflective experience.
A multisensory digital scrapbook that turns passive listening into a personalized, reflective experience.
Capture the memories behind a song through photos, lyrics and reflections.
Capture the memories behind a song through photos, lyrics and reflections.
Capture the memories behind a song through photos, lyrics and reflections.
01
01
01
Capture Your Moment
Capture Your Moment
Capture Your Moment
Save a meaningful song as a Moment directly on Spotify while listening.
Save a meaningful song as a Moment directly on Spotify while listening.
Save a meaningful song as a Moment directly on Spotify while listening.
02
02
02
Make it Your Own
Make it Your Own
Make it Your Own
Personalize it with photos, lyrics, and reflections, or use a customizable template!
Personalize it with photos, lyrics, and reflections, or use a customizable template!
Personalize it with photos, lyrics, and reflections, or use a customizable template!
03
03
03
Build Your Time Capsule
Build Your Time Capsule
Build Your Time Capsule
Moments collect over time, creating a personal archive of songs and the memories connected to them.
Moments collect over time, creating a personal archive of songs and the memories connected to them.
Moments collect over time, creating a personal archive of songs and the memories connected to them.
04
04
04
Relive the Moment
Relive the Moment
Relive the Moment
Every 6 months, Spotify creates a personalized recap featuring select memories from the Moments you’ve saved.
Every 6 months, Spotify creates a personalized recap featuring select memories from the Moments you’ve saved.
Every 6 months, Spotify creates a personalized recap featuring select memories from the Moments you’ve saved.
What Shaped the Solution
What Shaped the Solution
What Shaped the Solution
To ground our solution in real listening behaviours, we explored what makes music personally meaningful and how listeners currently capture and revisit those experiences.
To ground our solution in real listening behaviours, we explored what makes music personally meaningful and how listeners currently capture and revisit those experiences.
To ground our solution in real listening behaviours, we explored what makes music personally meaningful and how listeners currently capture and revisit those experiences.
My Research Approach & Rationale
My Research Approach & Rationale
My Research Approach & Rationale
Research Goal
Research Goal
Research Goal
Rather than adding creation for its own sake, we wanted to understand what makes listening personally meaningful and where a creative experience could add value.
Rather than adding creation for its own sake, we wanted to understand what makes listening personally meaningful and where a creative experience could add value.
Rather than adding creation for its own sake, we wanted to understand what makes listening personally meaningful and where a creative experience could add value.
Literature Review
Literature Review
Literature Review
Explored the relationship between music, memory, emotion, and reflection.
Explored the relationship between music, memory, emotion, and reflection.
Explored the relationship between music, memory, emotion, and reflection.
Mixed-Methods Survey
Mixed-Methods Survey
Mixed-Methods Survey
Examined how listeners connect music to personal memories, whether and how they revisit those memories, and what they would value in an experience for capturing and reflecting on meaningful listening moments.
Examined how listeners connect music to personal memories, whether and how they revisit those memories, and what they would value in an experience for capturing and reflecting on meaningful listening moments.
Examined how listeners connect music to personal memories, whether and how they revisit those memories, and what they would value in an experience for capturing and reflecting on meaningful listening moments.
Rationale
Rationale
Rationale
We wanted to understand how ideas from the literature show up in people’s everyday listening lives, so we could design something that felt meaningful without disrupting existing listening routines.
We wanted to understand how ideas from the literature show up in people’s everyday listening lives, so we could design something that felt meaningful without disrupting existing listening routines.
We wanted to understand how ideas from the literature show up in people’s everyday listening lives, so we could design something that felt meaningful without disrupting existing listening routines.
The literature review gave us the research landscape; the survey showed us how those ideas played out with real music listeners.
The literature review gave us the research landscape; the survey showed us how those ideas played out with real music listeners.
The literature review gave us the research landscape; the survey showed us how those ideas played out with real music listeners.
Key Insights
Key Insights
Key Insights
01
01
01
Songs can become cues for personal memories
Songs can become cues for personal memories
Songs can become cues for personal memories
02
02
02
Music becomes meaningful in everyday moments
Music becomes meaningful in everyday moments
Music becomes meaningful in everyday moments
03
03
03
Listening creates space for reflection
Listening creates space for reflection
Listening creates space for reflection
From Research to Opportunity
From Research to Opportunity
From Research to Opportunity
Spotify captures what we listen to, but…
Spotify captures what we listen to, but…
Spotify captures what we listen to, but…
How might Spotify help listeners capture and relive the memories behind meaningful songs?
How might Spotify help listeners capture and relive the memories behind meaningful songs?
How might Spotify help listeners capture and relive the memories behind meaningful songs?
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
Our findings shaped three design principles for the experience:
Our findings shaped three design principles for the experience:
Our findings shaped three design principles for the experience:
01
01
01
Capture meaning in the moment
Capture meaning in the moment
Capture meaning in the moment
→
→
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Make it easy to preserve the context behind a song while the listener is on the go.
Make it easy to preserve the context behind a song while the listener is on the go.
Make it easy to preserve the context behind a song while the listener is on the go.
02
02
02
Make it personal
Make it personal
Make it personal
→
→
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Support different ways of expressing a memory through photos, lyrics, and reflections.
Support different ways of expressing a memory through photos, lyrics, and reflections.
Support different ways of expressing a memory through photos, lyrics, and reflections.
03
03
03
Create value overtime
Create value overtime
Create value overtime
→
→
→
→
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
DESIGN DIRECTION
Create an experience that becomes more meaningful as memories accumulate over time
Create an experience that becomes more meaningful as memories accumulate over time
Create an experience that becomes more meaningful as memories accumulate over time
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
This project reinforced the value of using research to define what a product should be, not just how it should work.
This project reinforced the value of using research to define what a product should be, not just how it should work.
This project reinforced the value of using research to define what a product should be, not just how it should work.
We began with a broad challenge to introduce creation to Spotify. By understanding what made listening personally meaningful, we found an opportunity to build on a behaviour that already existed: the meaning people create around the music they love.
We began with a broad challenge to introduce creation to Spotify. By understanding what made listening personally meaningful, we found an opportunity to build on a behaviour that already existed: the meaning people create around the music they love.
We began with a broad challenge to introduce creation to Spotify. By understanding what made listening personally meaningful, we found an opportunity to build on a behaviour that already existed: the meaning people create around the music they love.
References
References
References
FioRito, T. A., Geiger, A. R., & Routledge, C. (2021). Creative Nostalgia: Social and Psychological Benefits of Scrapbooking. Art Therapy, 38(2), 98–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2020.1748986
Hanson, J., Frame, J., Bai, E., Mehl, K., Jakubowski, K., & Belfi, A. M. (2026). Popular music and movies as autobiographical memory cues. Memory & Cognition, 54(2), 515–531. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-025-01765-2
Jakubowski, K. (2023). Why does music bring back memories? What the science says. Durham University.
Jakubowski, K., & Ghosh, A. (2021). Music-evoked autobiographical memories in everyday life. Psychology of Music, 49(3), 649–666. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735619888803
Jancke, L. (2008). Music, memory and emotion. Journal of Biology (London, England), 7(6), 21–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/jbiol82
Phillips, B. J. (2016). The scrapbook as an autobiographical memory tool. Marketing Theory, 16(3), 325–346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593116635878
Spotify. (2026). The look behind the sound. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-23/spotify-design-history/
Spotify. (n.d.). About Spotify. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/company-info/
FioRito, T. A., Geiger, A. R., & Routledge, C. (2021). Creative Nostalgia: Social and Psychological Benefits of Scrapbooking. Art Therapy, 38(2), 98–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2020.1748986
Hanson, J., Frame, J., Bai, E., Mehl, K., Jakubowski, K., & Belfi, A. M. (2026). Popular music and movies as autobiographical memory cues. Memory & Cognition, 54(2), 515–531. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-025-01765-2
Jakubowski, K. (2023). Why does music bring back memories? What the science says. Durham University.
Jakubowski, K., & Ghosh, A. (2021). Music-evoked autobiographical memories in everyday life. Psychology of Music, 49(3), 649–666. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735619888803
Jancke, L. (2008). Music, memory and emotion. Journal of Biology (London, England), 7(6), 21–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/jbiol82
Phillips, B. J. (2016). The scrapbook as an autobiographical memory tool. Marketing Theory, 16(3), 325–346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593116635878
Spotify. (2026). The look behind the sound. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-23/spotify-design-history/
Spotify. (n.d.). About Spotify. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/company-info/
FioRito, T. A., Geiger, A. R., & Routledge, C. (2021). Creative Nostalgia: Social and Psychological Benefits of Scrapbooking. Art Therapy, 38(2), 98–103. https://doi.org/10.1080/07421656.2020.1748986
Hanson, J., Frame, J., Bai, E., Mehl, K., Jakubowski, K., & Belfi, A. M. (2026). Popular music and movies as autobiographical memory cues. Memory & Cognition, 54(2), 515–531. https://doi.org/10.3758/s13421-025-01765-2
Jakubowski, K. (2023). Why does music bring back memories? What the science says. Durham University.
Jakubowski, K., & Ghosh, A. (2021). Music-evoked autobiographical memories in everyday life. Psychology of Music, 49(3), 649–666. https://doi.org/10.1177/0305735619888803
Jancke, L. (2008). Music, memory and emotion. Journal of Biology (London, England), 7(6), 21–21. https://doi.org/10.1186/jbiol82
Phillips, B. J. (2016). The scrapbook as an autobiographical memory tool. Marketing Theory, 16(3), 325–346. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470593116635878
Spotify. (2026). The look behind the sound. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/2026-04-23/spotify-design-history/
Spotify. (n.d.). About Spotify. Spotify Newsroom. https://newsroom.spotify.com/company-info/
© 2026 Jeneesha Dhaliwal. All Rights Reserved.