Redesign & New concept

After much consideration, I decided to change the concept of we heart mixtapes.

I was worried about the comparisons that would be made to makeamixa.com so I decided to change my idea slightly to avoid this.

The cassette tapes I was originally going to use were brand new un-used cassettes. However after looking at my target audience I decided to change this.

A cassette tape is a piece of history, soon factories will eventually stop manufacturing them. With this in mind, I have now decided to use old used mixtapes for my project. My target market will be mostly girls who enjoy the history of old/antique objects and one off vintage finds. Every cassette tape will be individual to its recipient making the story behind the mixtape more loving and sentimental. Also, this will tap into the green-conscience customer who is passionate about recycling and re-using.

With this new concept in mind, I am under-going a new redesign. The design will reflect the new concept and will have a handmade feel to it. Photography will be washed out and dreamy, using old cross processed filters. I will be taking inspiration from digital scrapbooking for the overall design of the website.

Conceptual Mixtape

"Art students! You're itching to create a conceptual mixtape. While mixtape making is an art form in itself, you should make a conceptual tape under only one condition - the recipient is also an art student. We have heard reports of one creator who made an avant-garde collection with exactly 4'33" between songs, as a nod to John Cage. There are very few people who will tolerate this kind of whack job. Lets be clear; this is a novelty stunt and the tape will be tolerable for one listen, much less repeated takes. keep the Art in the gallery and away from this populist medium"

Database Structure

Music database:

• music_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a new song is added to the database a new ID is assigned to that track
• music_url : a URL to the music file will be input into the database so when played it can be directed to the correct address
• genre : so that the mixtape maker can recommend music dependant on the users type of mixtape a genre must be given to the song file to define it
• artist : title of the artist
• title : title of the song

Playlist Database:

• playlist_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a user makes a playlist it is assigned an individual ID
• user_ID : pulled from the user database so that the playlist is assigned to the correct user
• playlist : a list of arrays which store which songs were selected for the playlist
• design : a list of arrays which store the design elements used for the design of the tape
• tape_colour : a variable is stored in this field dependant on what colour cassette tape was chosen
• tape_name : the name the user added to the mixtape

User Database : For login/register

• user_ID : this is set to auto-increment so when a user registers with the site an individual ID is assigned to them
• username : Records the users choice of username
• email : Records the users email
• password : Records the users password

Redefining the stages

To organise the structure of the website in my head, I am using psuedo code to determine how each of the stages will work.

Stage one : Define the mixtape

• User enters mixtape_name
• When next button is pressed
• mixtape_name to be saved to an array

• User chooses mixtape_style
• When next button is pressed
• mixtape_style to be recorded for further stage

Stage Two : Create a playlist

• Depending on mixtape_style show relevant song recommendations
• Search Facility to search through database of songs
• Ability to play individual songs
• Songs to be able to drag and drop to chosen tracks box
• Chosen tracks need to be recorded into an array
• login/register prompt when user clicks save
• If user already logged in go to profile
• After login/register playlist info needs to be recorded and pulled back in

Stage Three : Choose mixtape colour

• Choice of coloured mixtape to be saved to an array

Stage Four : Design Inlay

• Draggable elements onto cassette tape inlay
• Colour Picker
• Final design to be recorded to be remembered later

Stage Five : Verify Design

• Pull in image of final design
• Tracklisting pulled in and added to inlay

Stage Six : Profile Page

• Pull in saved mixtapes (stages 2&6)
• Ability to delete mixtape from the database
• Edit button needs to work out what stage the user is at

Finalised Mock up Design

After much deliberation over the design of the website, I have finally decided on a design:

Homepage Design

Stage one

Stage Two

Stage Three

Stage Four

Stage Five

MP3 Gift Vouchers

Itunes

Currently there are online wholsalers who distribute itunes gift cards, however they do not seem to have any connection with apple themselves, nor do apple condone it.

http://www.tradetang.com/wholesale-iTunes-Gift-Cards_c262011.html

Amazon

Amazon currently offer corporate gift vouchers which are for large businesses who are wishing to purchase vast amounts of gift vouchers for their employees.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=gc_gc_corp2/?ie=UTF8&node=236462011

Summary

As gift cards are classed as an item, I can imagine the first sale doctrine and the sale of goods act would apply. So purchasing a gift card for commercial use would not be feesible. However, having permission from either brand, or smaller music distributers would be an option.

Join our club

Since I have already produced a sign up form for the website I have decided I will try and incorporate it into a mailing list or a 'mixtape club'.

Mixtape Club Newsletter

- updates on new mixtape themes
- fan photos
- mixtape stories