The Aura app by Andre Rodrigues was an interesting project by Radio Mirchi. Having worked on cool Spotify like app called Gaana with the Times Group, we were challenged to design a small app with devotional music that would appeal to Indian users as well as International audiences that were used to a certain type of design sensibilities. So we decided to have a bit of fun.

The team and I came up with several patterns for the project, however most of them followed too many conventions. We needed something to showcase each school of Devotional music or rather, each mind frame of meditation. So we changed the UX a bit to include the expanding sections. While it was not perfect, it did showcase the work. The team did a great job of the music player. However, there was something missing. To me it was looking like any other music app. We had to be mindful of the constraints of time and manpower. So we decided to keep all the styling graphic, so the coders could easily slot it in.
-Andre Rodrigues

To add that spark to the project, I took inspiration from the intricacies of Indian art, the flowery almost lace like designs that are abundant here, carved into wood and metal by artisans, woven into silks and sheets by skilled weavers. So we took those elements and added them as a predominant sheen across the app. From the hyper attention to detail on the play buttons, to the background art. Due to time constraints we did not get to fully animate or add a lot more to the project, but we were satisfied we got that look. The amazing people at Times Internet let us really go wild with our imaginations.
-Andre Rodrigues

There are several music apps out there, but the great thing about Aura is that it embodies the zen like nature of its music in its little design elements. From the typography, to the little embellishments around it. The finer details. At heart the app is very simple to user, to get in and play the music, sit back and relax. However, that scape which the design elements create, immerse the user deeper into what the app is all about. The designs you see now are the concepts, the culmination of our efforts.
-Andre Rodrigues

I would describe my style as colorful. I love color. Indians have the most colorful festivals, movies, clothes and customs. I like to embody color in my designs. There are times where color is not possible, or when a minimal styling is required, I like to detail elements and icons to add that small zing to the app. I tend to jump in and try different things to challenge myself and with each project it requires a different mode of thinking and a different style, but I try to add that little signature to keep things fresh.
-Andre Rodrigues

One of my biggest inspirations is Tobias Von Shneider, not only for his design style, but for his design journey. Like him, I too am self-taught, which I believe is a great quality to have, as it makes a designer even more hungrier to learn and improve, evolve a lot faster than most designers. My biggest inspirations are Video games, the big open worlds I explore there, the vibrant colors and typography of the 80's which made a big impact on me when growing and yes, the textures and colors of the country I live in.
-Andre Rodrigues

Advice is not one of my strong suites, all I can say is to keep evolving. See where Design is turning, and you turn with it. Don't be afraid of learning new things or even starting from scratch. As long as you have your ideas, your design sense, let that be your guiding light and force of preservation. Even when things go crazy, just take a quiet moment and just sketch something or paint something to clear your head.
-Andre Rodrigues

About Andre Rodrigues

Andre Rodrigues and have been in design for more than 17 years now. He had worked across print, web and mobile, being the Creative Head of Top Gear Magazine India, UX Director for Notion Ink, Design Head of Gaana and most recently the Principal Interaction Designer for Flipkart.com, one of India's biggest eCommerce websites. See more of his works on Behance or his website.