How to Save 85% Of Clicks in MuseScore For iOS [UX Redesign]

MuseScore is a platform to browse, display and compose digital scores for piano and other instruments. After using their iOS app for some time, I noticed some UX issues that require a lot of unnecessary interaction.

A common use case, at least for me, is reopening a previously played score of mine. As the app doesn’t save my settings, I have to change them again and again. Hence, I need 13 (!) clicks to access the main function of the app every time I want to use it. Most of the clicks require a conscious decision and therefore some mental workload that could be avoided almost entirely.

But first, let’s analyze use case to open one of my scores.

Interaction Analysis

1. Tap on “My Library”
   (After a delay the layout shifts, which can lead to unintentional clicks)
2. Tap on “My scores”
3. Select the score
4. Open the horizontal play view
5. Select the right track
6. Confirm
7. Open “Settings”
8. Toggle the on-screen keyboard
9. Close settings
10. Open “Metronome”
11. Disable precount
12. Tap anywhere to close overlay
13. Tap play button

13 Steps needed to play a score with some settings in MuseScore

But how can this interaction be improved?

Interaction Redesign

11 of 13 clicks can be avoided by saving previous settings and by providing some additional shortcuts:

1. Add a “recently played” section (A) on the “Home” screen to save 2 clicks
2. Save 10 clicks by remembering previous settings for view, tracks, keyboard, and metronome (and any other settings)

Additional improvements:

• Add a skeleton in the “My Library” section to prevent layout shifts
• don’t hide common settings like the metronome (B) and use a close icon instead of an arrow (too similar to “rewind”)
• remove the save icon in the horizontal play view and combine the settings under one button (B)
• switch the keyboard to the top (C), so the play button doesn’t hide notes
• keep important settings visible while playing (D)

Redesign to save 11 clicks to play a score in MuseScore

Conclusion

The suggested changes are actually just minor UI tweaks and no complete rework. Most of them just happen in the background by saving previous settings. But nonetheless, they would save a lot of time and friction and would greatly improve the User Experience of MuseScore’s iOS App.