PTEN

Self-initiated study — motion design

Apple Musicconcept study

A 20-second study in how color, a 3D object and sound can make a music app feel alive.

  • TypeSelf-initiated study, non-commercial
  • RoleConcept, storyboard, motion design, 3D, sound effects
  • ToolsAfter Effects, Cinema 4D Lite
  • Format20 seconds, 16:9, 4K
  • Year2026

The idea

Instead of a faithful demo of the interface, a looser, more artistic take: the color of each album cover spills into the background, a 3D object moves with the music, and type carries the message.

How it moves

  • Color

    Each track sets its own mood. The palette is pulled from the album cover and spills into the background, so the whole scene changes with the song.

  • Object

    A 3D headphone model, brought into After Effects through Cinema 4D Lite, moves as the track changes.

  • Type and sound

    Kinetic type delivers the tagline, a waveform in the player bar plays along with the track, and sound effects tie each transition together.

Three tracks, three palettes.

Headphones floating over a deep purple starfield above the player bar
Palette one
Headphones over a copper-red gradient, the player bar showing "The Less I Know The Better" by Tame Impala
Palette two
Headphones turning over a dark wine-red gradient above the player bar
Palette three

From the dock to the tagline.

The macOS dock over an orange and red wallpaper, the cursor clicking the Music icon
The study opens on the macOS dock, with the cursor selecting the app.
"Discover new music every day." in white on a pink-red gradient
It closes on the tagline, then the logo.

Process notes

My second music-app study, after an earlier one on Spotify. I started from a storyboard that opens on the macOS dock, moves to the tagline and closes on the logo, and chose a looser, more artistic direction over a faithful interface demo. Along the way I swapped the headphones in the storyboard for a 3D model that moves with each track, then added sound waves and sound effects.

Conceptual study piece, non-commercial. All brands, music and artists belong to their respective owners.

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