Sherry Lee Tech 06.26.2024 02:37 AM EDT

Yutong Zhang Unveils MUSO Project Revolutionizing Music Education

Who is Yutong Zhang? She is a highly skilled UI/UX designer whose expertise spans across designing intuitive user experiences and interfaces for a variety of applications. With a solid foundation in interaction design and business, Yutong has distinguished herself in the field through her work with leading companies and her academic contributions.

Beginning her professional journey as a UI/UX Intern at UBTECH North America Research and Development Center in Pasadena, CA, Yutong made significant strides in designing user-centric features and frameworks for B2C service robots. Her ability to incorporate user-centered design principles, conduct comprehensive research, and collaborate effectively with teams led to the successful launch of new onboarding processes and a notable improvement in user task completion rates.

Elevating her career, Yutong transitioned to a contract design consultant role within the same organization, focusing on interface and user experience design for upper limb rehabilitation training robots. Her collaboration with the hardware team to design and develop rehabilitation games showcased her versatility and commitment to enhancing user experiences through innovative solutions.

In August 2023, Yutong joined PassiveLogic in Salt Lake City, UT, as a Jr. UI/UX Designer. Here, she has been instrumental in designing B2B modeling software and visual SQL analysis software for building automation. Her contributions to the V2 Design Library and product series rebranding efforts highlight her ability to merge aesthetic appeal with functional design.

An esteemed academic, Yutong has shared her knowledge and expertise as a lecturer and teaching assistant at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA. Her guidance in research, analysis, and professional presentation has enriched the learning experience for students.

Yutong's academic achievements are notable, with a B.S. in Interaction Design, Minor in Business from the ArtCenter College of Design, where she graduated with distinction. Her recognition on the ArtCenter Provost's List and receipt of scholarships for outstanding academic achievements and professional skills underscore her dedication and talent.

Her excellence has not gone unnoticed in the design community, as evidenced by numerous awards, including the iF Design Awards, UX Design Awards, IDA Gold Design Awards, European Product Design Awards, Spark Design Awards, Muse Design Awards, Vega Digital Awards, and Edison Awards. These accolades reflect her innovative contributions to UI/UX design, particularly in service design, educational tools, consumer electronics, and augmented reality applications.

Yutong Zhang's career is a testament to her passion for design, commitment to user experience, and continuous pursuit of excellence. Her work has not only improved the interface and usability of products but has also contributed significantly to the field of UI/UX design through her innovative solutions and educational endeavors.

Yutong Zhang, a visionary in the realm of UI/UX design, has made significant strides with her innovative project, Muso. This project, a mixed reality (MR) music synthesizer, is designed to transform everyday objects into musical instruments, making music education accessible and engaging for children worldwide.

Zhang's Innovation is the driving force behind significant change in the dynamic field of education. Renowned user interface and experience designer Yutong Zhang introduces MUSO, an innovative project that will change the way students learn music. Immerse yourself in this interview as it delves into the origins, development, and impact of MUSO on the domains of creativity and learning.

Learn how Zhang's innovative method combines creativity with technology to provide students of all ages with an engaging musical experience. Come with us as we explore how MUSO has forever changed the face of education.

Introducing MUSO: A Journey through Music and Imagination

What is MUSO?

Muso is not just a project; it's a journey into the heart of music education, reimagined. By leveraging cutting-edge MR technology, Muso allows children to explore the musical potential of the objects around them, turning a simple round bowl into a drum or a lamp into a string instrument. This project embodies the essence of creativity, encouraging kids to see the world as a playground of musical possibilities. The core of Muso lies in its unique approach to learning: it's about making music education fun, accessible, and embedded in the creative play that children naturally engage in.

Ther overall Intensely designed to ignite a love of music in youngsters, MUSO is a revolutionary MR (Mixed Reality) music synthesizer. It breaks down barriers between different types of learning by fusing the ordinary with the enchantment of music. Inviting youngsters on a magical musical journey, MUSO's user-friendly design and interactive play teach them basic music theory while fostering creativity. Making music instruction more accessible, engaging, and immersive, MUSO uses new technology to redefine the learning experience.

Through MUSO, Zhang gives kids the tools they need to discover their inner musicians and embark on a life-altering journey of learning.

The brilliant UI/UX designer Yutong Zhang is on an incredible quest with her ground-breaking initiative, MUSO, which seeks to transform music education. Zhang's inventive energy is on full display with MUSO, a unique educational tool that uses gesture and picture recognition to revolutionize the way kids learn.

The heart of MUSO is the use of state-of-the-art gesture and image recognition technology to turn commonplace items into instruments in the mesmerizing world of Mixed Reality (MR). In the MR world, the musical features of each item are greatly influenced by its form, color, and interaction style. The innovative combination of technology and creativity in MUSO allows youngsters to go beyond the limits of conventional education by way of a multimodal learning experience.

Key Features of MUSO:

Unlocking Creativity: MUSO catalyzes creativity, inspiring children to observe and experiment with objects in their daily lives. By seamlessly transforming these objects into playful instruments, MUSO encourages children to explore their imaginations and express themselves through music.
Easy to Start: Thanks to its intuitive interface and MR recognition technology, MUSO offers a seamless and hassle-free initiation into the world of music. Children can swiftly transform ordinary objects into musical elements with just a few taps and gestures, eliminating barriers to entry and fostering a sense of empowerment and agency.
Learn through Play: MUSO seamlessly integrates fun animated characters into its interface, creating an engaging and immersive learning environment. As children interact with these characters and explore the musical possibilities of everyday objects, they gain a deeper understanding of music theory concepts playfully and interactively.

MUSO's intuitive interface and eye-catching visual features are only two examples of Zhang's innovative approach to design. Zhang hopes to do more than change the way kids learn music with MUSO; he hopes to motivate the next generation to be innovative and resourceful.

Yutong Zhang's work with MUSO exemplifies her passion for developing innovative user interfaces and user experiences for educational purposes, which in turn empower and inspire students.

The inception of Muso was driven by a stark realization: less than 10% of children in developing countries have access to music education. The traditional paths to music learning, often seen as tedious and unattainable, inspired Yutong and her team to think outside the box. They envisioned a world where music education is not bound by the availability of instruments or the confines of a classroom but is instead a part of the everyday lives of children around the globe. This vision was about democratizing music education, making it a joyful, engaging, and integral part of childhood.

A strong desire to make music education more accessible, especially in underprivileged areas, was the impetus for the founding of MUSO. After being disappointed by the limited chances for kids to interact with music, Yutong Zhang and her colleagues set out to find creative alternatives. When they saw the monotony of conventional music instruction, they had an idea for a platform that would combine the two worlds of learning and play. As a result, MUSO came into being—a revolutionary program that seeks to empower children all around the globe by making music education more accessible, engaging, and participatory.

One of the most moving parts of Yutong Zhang's experience with MUSO was the user testing phase. It brought Zhang and her colleagues immense delight to see the youngsters interact with the MR environment, which was full of creativity and song. Extensive sessions conducted in homes and schools gave first-hand knowledge of the life-changing effects of MUSO, which sparked interest and fostered a love of music in youngsters. The project's direction was influenced by these exchanges, which highlighted the need for user-friendly design and learning focused on children. Zhang and her team recommitted to building an immersive and powerful teaching platform with MUSO via these unforgettable experiences.

Yutong Zhang and her team faced an enormous obstacle while developing MUSO and navigating the intricacies of technological development. They set out on a path filled with challenges and successes, with no background in MR development. Every detail required careful consideration and creative thinking, from creating elaborate visual effects to replicating the interactions of real-world instruments. Their relentless commitment to providing a faultless customer experience was the engine that kept them going in the face of these obstacles. They eventually realized the revolutionary potential of the MUSO platform as a result of their dogged persistence and inventiveness.

Their story exemplifies how perseverance and creativity can overcome adversity to bring forth revolutionary changes in design and technology.

For Yutong, the user testing phase of Muso stands out as the most unforgettable experience. Witnessing children interact with Muso, transforming mundane objects into instruments with gleeful curiosity, was both heartwarming and illuminating. It underscored the project's potential to change perceptions of music education, turning apprehension into excitement and engagement. The feedback from these young users was invaluable, shaping the project's development and reinforcing the team's commitment to creating an intuitive and magical musical experience.

The journey of bringing Muso to life was not without its hurdles. The team, comprised primarily of designers, faced the daunting task of mastering MR technology to create a seamless and intuitive user experience. Developing the technology to recognize objects and translate them into musical instruments required innovative thinking and relentless determination. The challenge was to design interactions that felt natural and engaging, ensuring that children could effortlessly create music through simple gestures and movements.

Recognitions and Accolades Showered Upon MUSO

Muso's innovative approach to music education has not gone unnoticed. The project has garnered several prestigious awards. These accolades are a testament to the project's impact on redefining how music education can be delivered and experienced.

List of Awards:

Indigo Design Award Gold Winner
UX Design Awards Nomination: 2024 | Concept Nominees – MUSO
IDA Gold Design Awards in Education: 2024 | Professional Gold in Education / Alternative Education Tools

Spark Design Awards Bronze Award: 2023 | Professional Spark: Digital Bronze
Muse Design Awards Gold Award: 2023 | Professional Conceptual Design – Gaming, AR & VR Gold Winner
Vega Digital Awards Gold Award: 2023 | Professional Apps & Softwares – Augmented Reality Gold Winner
Vega Digital Awards Gold Award: 2023 | Professional Apps & Softwares – Augmented Reality Gold Winner

As the interaction and visual designer of Muso, Yutong was instrumental in crafting the user experience. Her responsibilities ranged from developing the visual effects that accompany each musical interaction to designing the gesture-based interactions that allow children to engage with the MR instruments. Yutong's commitment to natural interaction and low learning costs was paramount, ensuring that Muso would be not only innovative but also accessible to its young audience. Yutong Zhang played a crucial role as both an interface designer and a visual designer in the development of MUSO. She oversaw the creation of its visual design and user interface components with meticulous attention to detail, guaranteeing a smooth and engaging experience throughout the whole process. Zhang went above and beyond in her engagement, demonstrating her commitment to accessible, transformational education via innovative design solutions and her desire to create a game that encourages creative discovery while minimizing learning obstacles.

Quotes

"I believe that every child possesses innate creativity, and MUSO serves as a conduit for unleashing that potential through the magic of music." — Yutong Zhang.

Yutong Zhang played a crucial role as both an interface designer and a visual designer in the development of MUSO. She oversaw the creation of its visual design and user interface components with meticulous attention to detail, guaranteeing a smooth and engaging experience throughout the whole process. Zhang went above and beyond in her engagement, demonstrating her commitment to accessible, transformational education via innovative design solutions and her desire to create a game that encourages creative discovery while minimizing learning obstacles.

Through Muso, Yutong Zhang has embarked on a mission to revolutionize music education, making it a delightful and inclusive experience for children worldwide. Her work exemplifies the power of design in creating meaningful and transformative educational tools.