48-Hour Product Design Challenge

Spotify Free
for Kids

Role: Product Designer (Solo Project)
Timeline: 48 Hours (Sprint)
Tools: Figma, Desk Research, Prototyping

UX Research UI Design Rapid Prototyping
Spotify Kids Mode on laptop
The Constraint

Velocity as a Feature

The challenge was strict: analyze, ideate, and prototype a solution for a specific target audience in just 48 hours.

48-hour design sprint timeline
The Problem

Peace of mind shouldn't be premium-only

Spotify is the world's most used streaming service. However, for families using the free plan, there is a significant gap: no accessible parental control.

I created a short breakdown to illustrate exactly how this friction affects the daily routine of a parent:

Video breakdown (Sound On)
Discovery

Validating the Hypothesis

I conducted a rapid survey to validate the hypothesis. The data revealed that over 70% of parents would use parental controls if available on the free tier.

Survey results — parental controls demand

Competitive Landscape: Analysing the "Freemium" gap in the market.

Benchmark analysis — freemium parental controls
Strategy

Ideation & "How Might We"

The goal was to adapt content and ads specifically for family moments without requiring a separate app.

Must Haves (MoSCoW):

  • Button to activate/deactivate child mode.
  • Time control from the profile.
  • A secure Parental PIN.
Strategy diagram and hypotheses
The Solution

Visual Differentiation

To solve the user's anxiety ("Is it safe?"), I used colour psychology. Activating "FreeForKids" mode transforms the UI from Spotify's dark theme to a vibrant Purple & Yellow interface.

Standard Spotify Free UI Standard Free Account
Spotify Kids Mode UI — purple and yellow theme Family Mode Activated

Atomic Design & Components

Design system components for Kids Mode
Interact

Try the Prototype

Experience the "FreeForKids" flow yourself. Navigate through the parental control activation below.

Outcome

In just 48 hours, I delivered a validated, strategic feature that solves a real pain point for millions of users, enhancing brand trust for Spotify.

✓ Research validated ✓ Prototype delivered ✓ 48 hours

Thank you for scrolling.