VST PLUGIN UI REDESIGN
BY DANIEL MUNTEAN
TAL - an audio instrument plug-in company, has just released a new exciting product called TAL-PHA, which is an emulation of an analog 80's synthesizer Alpha Juno II, and it sounds absolutely amazing!
I love all of their products. I use them regularly in most of my music production and live performances @Munbraze. But the interfaces, although very intuitive (mimicking the original instrument's layout) are quite flat and uninspiring. Especially in comparison with some of the competition. So while I was on a sabbatical, looking to get myself into new, more fulfilling personal projects, I've decided to redesign the interface of this plug-in and give it more detail, depth and texture while also "tightening up" the objects and their surrounding negative space. In other words, give it a skeuomorphic treatment that it deserves
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First, I started by recreating a very precise blueprint on top of an overlapped screenshot of the actual plugin, modifying things on the go, while looking to improve the overall spacing and relation between objects, by using "chunking" and proximity rules.
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Everything was calculated and strictly aligned according to a 4px unit modular grid, in order to establish consistency and spacing rules for each type of object.
(I know... very Buchla)
Then I went into the most time-consuming task - creating detailed individual physical elements. As a reference I used 70s vintage Roland gear, which although would not be period correct for this synth emulation, it added the texture and vibe that I was looking for this "skin". A lot of trial and error went into it, until I was happy with each result.
After creating all elements, turning them into components, and figuring out how to turn the knobs without affecting their light and shadows, I began putting it all together on top of the above-mentioned blueprint/wireframe, which turned into...
..this:
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And some delicious last touches: adding textures, noise, extra shades of light and shadows and the obligatory wooden panels.
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Making sure again, that everything is stuck to the 4x-unit grid.
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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO ME?
I've always wanted to combine my passion of music and my obsession with structure and detail with my long-standing UX expertise. Chase Jarvis has a saying "Create the work you want to get paid to create (instead of waiting for someone to give you that opportunity)." What you see above, is the type of work I'd like to create and get paid for, and this is a small but sure step towards that direction.
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