This unnamed Taiko app is a work in progress. Nothing has been finalized, especially the colors.
After starting taiko classes (a big thank you to 西志津お囃子友の会), I began looking into apps that could either help me practice (or simply have fun) in places where I would not be able to bring or use an actual drum, which is almost everywhere.
None of the existing ones seemed to satisfy either of these two conditions, let alone both. Based on my research, existing apps could be split into three categories:
- full skeuomorphism with poor experience (below, Garageband's taiko interface)
- composing apps, outside of my needs/requirements
- games, also outside my needs/requirements, but a good place for inspiration
After an initial research period, the concept was narrowed to a pastime app, more of a toy than a game, followed by many messy notes on basic functionality, ideation keywords, phone holding positions, etc.
Initial exploration of element placement. It is essential for the app to make use of both thumbs (possibly index fingers), as this can translate into an actual taiko practice in terms of procedural memory. The obvious inspiration here were games.
Some visual cues added to distinguish interface elements.
Followed by parallel exploration of element placement and additional (secondary) functions - metronome, gameplay, notation, etc. I worked on expanding on the visual cues and abstracting them to serve the secondary ideas.
On the phone. After some testing, I added additional requirements for the interface, such as the ability to adjust the sound areas for different devices and finger placement.
Basic functionality, interface adjustment.
More updates to follow.
