Discover Barcelona’s metro music
Every line change in Barcelona's metro system brings a new musical surprise. Opera, reggae, folk guitar, and Chinese flute melodies fill the underground corridors, as street musicians share their art with passing commuters. While these performers pour their hearts into every note, busy travelers can usually spare only ten seconds before rushing to their next train. Our project bridges this gap between artists and audiences. We're developing an app that allows commuters to carry these underground melodies with them throughout their journey, transforming brief musical encounters into lasting connections with Barcelona's vibrant underground music scene.
Product Design, Concept, Case Study
The tale of music in Barcelona's metros
What we discovered was truly eye-opening! While street music in many cities is often informal - performers simply setting up wherever they can to earn some spare change - Barcelona's metro music scene operates on an entirely different level. Far from random busking, performing in the metro is a sophisticated, regulated system.
It's a complex business that requires official permits, scheduled time slots, and designated performance spaces. Musicians must audition, demonstrate their skill, and follow specific guidelines to earn their spot in the underground network. This structured approach transforms what might seem like spontaneous performances into a carefully orchestrated part of Barcelona's public transit culture.
The foundation
Barcelona's metro music program is a formal collaboration between two key organizations: AMUC (an NGO supporting metro musicians) and TMB (Barcelona's public transport system). Together, they've created a sophisticated performance infrastructure within the metro network, complete with designated mini-stages throughout the underground hallways.
The selection process is highly competitive. Each year, around 600 aspiring performers audition for a coveted spot in the metro system, but only a select few earn the right to perform at assigned stations. This isn't just about music – it's part of TMB Culture's broader mission to strengthen cultural connections between citizens and local arts organizations across the metropolitan area.
The Commuters
The Value Proposition
After our field observations focused on both metro musicians and commuters, we identified two critical issues. First, the reliance on cash tips created an inconvenience barrier in our increasingly cashless society. Second, talented musicians received minimal attention from rush-hour commuters, particularly on workdays.
Our value proposition for the proposed add-on is to create a seamless bridge between performers and commuters that transcends the limitations of time and physical currency. By enabling digital tipping and allowing commuters to carry these musical experiences beyond their brief encounters, we can transform fleeting moments into lasting connections, benefiting both the artists who seek recognition and the commuters who desire to engage with Barcelona's underground culture on their own terms.
Designing the metro experience
In developing our digital solution, our team strategically chose to focus on the most challenging audience segment: the busy commuter rushing to their destination who briefly encounters metro musicians along their route. This decision was deliberate and strategic – we believed that if we could successfully engage and enable these time-constrained commuters to listen, support, and tip musicians without disrupting their schedule, adapting the solution for less hurried audiences would be straightforward.
By solving for the most challenging use case first, we aimed to create a solution that would work seamlessly for all metro passengers while maximizing impact for the performing artists.
Storyboarding the user's commute
Before we could jump into sketching out the screens, we had think through every moment a commuter goes through from the time they go into the metro station, through the hallways and out again.
Frame 1 shows the entry point - a commuter descending the metro station escalator, with some posters visible on the wall.
Frame 2 depicts the first encounter with music, illustrated by musical notes and multiple commuters in the hallway, with what appears to be imagery or posters on the wall.
Frame 3 zooms in on the direct interaction, showing the commuter approaching a musician performing near a display or poster.
Frame 4 illustrates a brief gathering moment, where the commuter joins others to listen to the musician performing with their instrument, with a poster or display visible nearby.
Frame 5 represents the digital bridge - a hand scanning a QR code on what appears to be the musician's profile display.
Frame 6 shows the end result - a mobile interface with a "LIVE" indicator and what appears to be an audio visualization or waveform, complete with a play button, allowing the commuter to continue listening to the performance.
User flow
After understanding in detail all the touch points of the user as he goes through the metro, it was easier to plan out the user flow. We wanted the experience of to be intuitive, interactive and direct, focusing on making the clicks at minimum and effortless for the busy commuter.
Fleshing out the design
After mapping out the commuter's journey through Barcelona's metro system, we developed a series of screens that would transform fleeting musical encounters into lasting connections. Our solution enables busy commuters to discover, engage with, and support metro musicians through a seamless digital experience that begins with a simple QR scan and extends well beyond their brief underground encounters.
Live Performance Stream
Upon scanning the musician's QR code, commuters are instantly connected to a real-time audio stream of the ongoing performance. This landing screen features the artist's live music accompanied by their compelling personal story and background, available as scrollable content below. The seamless transition from physical encounter to digital experience allows busy commuters to continue enjoying the performance even as they rush to their next destination, transforming a brief moment into an extended musical journey.
One of the decisions we had to make was to allow the user to only stream the audio. Streaming live video would have been ideal but considering the bandwidth it would take, audio was the best option.
Proximity/Discover Map
Moving beyond traditional artist listings, our discovery interface places your current location at the heart of the experience. The screen displays a dynamic map centered on the musician performing at your station, while surrounding icons represent artists playing at adjacent metro stops.
This intuitive spatial design helps commuters explore the metro's musical landscape as they travel, encouraging spontaneous discoveries along their route. Whether moving forward or backward along the line, passengers can preview and connect with performers they'll encounter during their journey.
Think of it as a musical journey that moves with you. Just as your train travels from station to station, the app's display shifts in real-time to reflect the live performances happening around you. The currently playing artist at your station always takes center stage in your screen, while the surrounding artists naturally update as you progress through your journey. It's like having a living, breathing map of Barcelona's underground music scene that evolves with every stop of your commute!
In reimagining how commuters show appreciation for metro musicians, we transformed the traditional act of tipping into an engaging digital gesture. The interface borrows the familiar tactile satisfaction of a toggle switch, where users simply select an amount and slide upward to complete their contribution. This intuitive motion, coupled with encouraging messages that appear at each step, turns what could be a mundane transaction into a moment of delight. By streamlining the tipping process, we've made it effortless for hurried commuters to support the artists who soundtrack their daily journeys.
Through user testing, we discovered an important insight about payment confirmation. While our initial design automatically dismissed the tipping screen after payment processing, users expressed a clear preference for controlling this final step themselves. By adding a manual close option, we give users the satisfaction of completing their contribution on their own terms and the confidence of knowing their tip was successfully processed. This small but significant adjustment makes the tipping experience feel more intentional and controlled, even within the rush of a busy commute.
Looking ahead, this app has rich potential for growth. Future improvements could include enhanced discovery features like audio previews and genre filtering, alongside robust community elements that allow commuters to connect with their favorite performers. Technical enhancements such as offline listening and improved audio quality would enhance the user experience, while expanded economic opportunities through subscriptions and digital music sales could provide additional revenue streams for artists. Integration with local music venues and festivals, combined with accessibility features and performance analytics, would create a more comprehensive platform serving both musicians and their audiences.