I’m by no means a UI designer, but I think redesigning volume controls would benefit users and increase parity between UI elements. As you can see, I’ve experimented with many styles.
Let’s start with the basic volume view.
1. The first concept is in a dotted style. I don’t think the dot works everywhere, but here it could be a nice indicator.
2. The second concept is more 2.6-esque—I think it works nicely too.
3. This one isn’t dotted; it makes the UI feel smoother. It also mitigates the issue of having dots for every volume level.
4. This is a blend between the second and third concepts. It looks unique.
5. This is a variation of the third concept. A darker line “runs from” the white line. It’s a little bit hard to see, so I’ve extracted this asset for better visibility.
Extended view: the control center for all volume settings. Here, I considered how to make it more usable and how to create a more welcoming UI. I think that a key to an enjoyable experience is having a design that feels almost like it’s winking at you.
Nothing is trying to teach us how to use our phones less. Since moving from a Redmi Note 8 Pro to a Phone (2a), I use my phone less. I’ve uninstalled the majority of social media, and it’s refreshing. I think that having the DND icon not just in the quick settings tile or buried in settings but accessible with one button click could help us disconnect.
Also, maybe a mode timer slider? - To help with workflow optimisation. It would activate when holding a certain control, accompanied by nice haptic feedback.
What is this mixer button below the volume?
Some Android OEMs include something called a “Sound Assistant.” It allows you to control separate audio streams’ volume independently. I think this allows the end user to listen to, for example, a Spotify podcast while also listening to soothing rain sounds in a different app.
I don’t think there’s a need to showcase them all; here are two.
The little chevron under the Spotify logo allows you to see the currently playing song. This is just a widget from the home screen, but it would provide the same functionality in a different place, enhancing the overall UI experience.
This is how it looks like now as a reminder.
As I’ve said, I’m not a UI designer. Share what you think about these concepts!
