An Invitation to Explore.
WhatSounds Design was invited by Lyft to help explore the audio experience of their passenger and driver apps. After a deep audit of both apps, we found many opportunities to incorporate sound and make the Lyft audio experience much more informative.
The Importance of Sound for the Passenger
User Guidance
By using thoughtfully designed audio cues we created a vocabulary that gave the user useful information through sound.
Brand Recognition
Knowing that these sounds would be heard in very public spaces, creating a strong brand recognition was key.
Trust
We created sounds that reflected the quality of the Lyft product and instilled trust when heard by millions on users.
A Series of Sounds.
A key moment of the user journey is when the driver is matched and the ride begins. We recommended a series of sounds that were distinct yet related. We wanted Lyft to make the audio experience a melodic one to tie the user journey together.
A light, friendly sound that reassures the passenger their ride is set.
A subtle but clear sound indicating the driver is nearby.
A satisfying tone signalling the ride has arrived
For passengers, we focused on sounds that are pleasant, clear, and instantly recognizable — without being intrusive. We wanted to be mindful of the users soundscape, whether that be a busy restaurant or a quiet waiting room.
Each sound captures Lyft’s upbeat, modern personality to create a seamless passenger experience. Through face to face exploration meetings and absorbing plenty of brand material, we helped the Lyft design team realize the potential of sound.
By using tools such as Principle, we were able to test and iterate on the designs to maximize our efficiency. Working closely with the engineering and design team, WhatSounds successfully designed and implemented a complete branded sound set for the Lyft app.
