Rethink Spotify: a White Version of Spotify

No. It’s not hard at all. Just click, click, click and BAM! It’s white. But why?

The black cover art

The first approximately 400 results of Google Image’s “Album cover” search have shown that different shades of black are the most common colors in these album covers (full chart). A white UI will increase the contrast and accentuates the cover art.

For readability

Using white text on a black background also affects the user’s readability. It is harder for human eyes to distinguish content when the light of the white text scatters and runs into the black background…Just think of the glowing neon lights in dark.

Your eyes prefer white text on black background

Usually, black print on a white background is the best combination for comfort*. Spotify app is being launched several times a day for many users. On the bus, at work, in a car, at home. People’s eyes simply get physically tired from looking at black.

The time is right

Last year, Spotify unveiled a playful new brand identity by Collins. New colors were introduced, Spotify green was updated, black is no longer that dominant. Also, with the departure of the AD/product design lead Tobias van Schneider, who seem to be a big fan of black, now it would be interesting to see a bolder redesign of the app.

Speaking of the timing being right, Rdio is now dead (Long live, Rdio) and Apple music turned out to be terrible. So why not go ahead and own the color white?