Product Design · 2026
Podbrew
Podbrew
Podbrew
What is this about
What is this about
Built a minimal podcast ecosystem where users can discover new shows, generate podcasts from text, and enjoy distraction free listening through an interface inspired by the warmth of a coffeehouse.
Built a minimal podcast ecosystem where users can discover new shows, generate podcasts from text, and enjoy distraction free listening through an interface inspired by the warmth of a coffeehouse.
Overview
Overview
Podbrew is a coffee inspired podcast application designed for people who simply want to discover, listen to, and enjoy podcasts without distractions. While most podcast platforms have gradually evolved into content-heavy entertainment ecosystems, Podbrew focuses on creating a slower, calmer listening experience with thoughtful design and a unique visual identity.
Alongside traditional podcast playback, Also introduces AI powered podcast generation, allowing users to create personalised podcasts from their own ideas without disrupting the simplicity of the core experience.
Podbrew is a coffee inspired podcast application designed for people who simply want to discover, listen to, and enjoy podcasts without distractions. While most podcast platforms have gradually evolved into content-heavy entertainment ecosystems, Podbrew focuses on creating a slower, calmer listening experience with thoughtful design and a unique visual identity.
Alongside traditional podcast playback, Also introduces AI powered podcast generation, allowing users to create personalised podcasts from their own ideas without disrupting the simplicity of the core experience.
Design Process
Why I Built It
The podcast market is already saturated with a slew of apps, each offering its own take on listening and discovery. I had been using Google Podcasts for years, and when it was discontinued, there were plenty of alternatives to choose from. Yet, none of them quite felt the same. That experience made me wonder if there was room for a podcast app that brought back that feeling of simplicity and focus, while still having an identity of its own.
The podcast market is already saturated with a slew of apps, each offering its own take on listening and discovery. I had been using Google Podcasts for years, and when it was discontinued, there were plenty of alternatives to choose from. Yet, none of them quite felt the same. That experience made me wonder if there was room for a podcast app that brought back that feeling of simplicity and focus, while still having an identity of its own.
Setting the direction
Keep the experience simple and focused on listening.
Create a distinct identity that feels made for podcasts.
Make discovering and enjoying podcasts feel calm and effortless.
Keep the experience simple and focused on listening.
Create a distinct identity that feels made for podcasts.
Make discovering and enjoying podcasts feel calm and effortless.
Research
Before designing, I studied several popular podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and Google Podcasts.
Before designing, I studied several popular podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts and Google Podcasts.
Rather than copying existing solutions, I focused on understanding their strengths, weaknesses and interaction patterns.
Rather than copying existing solutions, I focused on understanding their strengths, weaknesses and interaction patterns.
Common observations included:
Recommendations, trends, and promotions often overwhelm the simple act of finding something to listen to.
Most podcast apps feel visually similar, with little personality beyond podcast artwork.
Simple actions like resuming an episode or finding downloads can take multiple taps.
Recommendations, trends, and promotions often overwhelm the simple act of finding something to listen to.
Most podcast apps feel visually similar, with little personality beyond podcast artwork.
Simple actions like resuming an episode or finding downloads can take multiple taps.
What I Wanted to Solve
The research made one thing clear: Podbrew didn't need to compete by offering more. It needed to offer less, but better.
The research made one thing clear: Podbrew didn't need to compete by offering more. It needed to offer less, but better.
Make listening effortless
People usually know what they want to hear. The interface should help them start listening. not spend time deciding.
People usually know what they want to hear. The interface should help them start listening. not spend time deciding.
Continue listening matters
Resuming an unfinished episode should require as little effort as possible.
Resuming an unfinished episode should require as little effort as possible.
Personality creates memorability
Most podcast apps feel technically polished but emotionally neutral.
Most podcast apps feel technically polished but emotionally neutral.
Make discovery feel intentional
Rather than constantly pushing trending content, discovery should help users find something they genuinely want to listen to.
Rather than constantly pushing trending content, discovery should help users find something they genuinely want to listen to.
From Ideas to Screens
From Ideas to Screens
With the direction established, I started exploring how Podbrew could translate these principles into an actual experience. Google Podcasts became an important reference point because of its straightforward approach to podcast listening. I studied its information hierarchy and navigation patterns, then explored how those ideas could be adapted into something with its own personality. I began with low-fidelity wireframes to focus on structure rather than visual styling.
With the direction established, I started exploring how Podbrew could translate these principles into an actual experience. Google Podcasts became an important reference point because of its straightforward approach to podcast listening. I studied its information hierarchy and navigation patterns, then explored how those ideas could be adapted into something with its own personality. I began with low-fidelity wireframes to focus on structure rather than visual styling.
The goal was to answer a few fundamental questions:
The goal was to answer a few fundamental questions:
What should users see when they open Podbrew?
How quickly can they get back to something they were listening to?
How should discovery work without overwhelming the user?
How can the interface feel different without sacrificing familiarity?
What should users see when they open Podbrew?
How quickly can they get back to something they were listening to?
How should discovery work without overwhelming the user?
How can the interface feel different without sacrificing familiarity?
The wireframes helped establish the foundation before introducing the visual language.
The wireframes helped establish the foundation before introducing the visual language.
Designing the Brew
Designing the Brew
The initial direction was built around the idea of a coffee-inspired podcast experience. While the theme gave Podbrew a visual identity, the interface still felt too close to a conventional native app. I wanted Podbrew to feel like a product with its own character, rather than simply another podcast player with a different colour palette.
The initial direction was built around the idea of a coffee-inspired podcast experience. While the theme gave Podbrew a visual identity, the interface still felt too close to a conventional native app. I wanted Podbrew to feel like a product with its own character, rather than simply another podcast player with a different colour palette.
I started experimenting with a more playful visual language using bold colour blocks, rounded shapes, expressive layouts, and
softer typography. The goal was to keep the experience simple and familiar, while giving the interface enough personality to feel distinctly Podbrew.
I started experimenting with a more playful visual language using bold colour blocks, rounded shapes, expressive layouts, and
softer typography. The goal was to keep the experience simple and familiar, while giving the interface enough personality to feel distinctly Podbrew.
Designs
Designs
I redesigned the home screen around a simpler, more personalized listening experience. Instead of using a traditional navigation tab, the home screen gives users direct access to new episodes and recently relevant content, reducing the steps between opening the app and pressing play. Recommendations also adapt to the user's listening patterns, making discovery feel more personal over time rather than simply showing a fixed list of popular podcasts.
Warm colours inspired by a latte, combined with Material 3's expressive approach, gave Podbrew a softer and more distinctive visual identity. I carried this language into discovery, using clear sections and personalized recommendations to make finding something to listen to quick and effortless.
Warm colours inspired by a latte, combined with Material 3's expressive approach, gave Podbrew a softer and more distinctive visual identity. I carried this language into discovery, using clear sections and personalized recommendations to make finding something to listen to quick and effortless.
For the player screen, I wanted the controls to feel clear, expressive, and effortless to use. I used large, bold icons for the primary playback actions, with responsive sizing and spacing to keep the controls comfortable across different screen sizes. I also used a wavy progress indicator, inspired by Material You’s expressive design language, instead of a conventional linear seek bar.
For the player screen, I wanted the controls to feel clear, expressive, and effortless to use. I used large, bold icons for the primary playback actions, with responsive sizing and spacing to keep the controls comfortable across different screen sizes. I also used a wavy progress indicator, inspired by Material You’s expressive design language, instead of a conventional linear seek bar.
Developer Hat
Developer Hat
This project pushed me beyond my usual role as a product designer, as I decided to build Podbrew myself rather than hand it over to a developer. Using React Native, Expo, and AI coding tools, I built the interface, integrated the podcast API, and implemented playback. Throughout development, design decisions had to consider technical constraints. I kept visuals lightweight, minimized API calls, and carefully chose React Native modules. It became less about simply making the app look good and more about making sure it performed well.
This project pushed me beyond my usual role as a product designer, as I decided to build Podbrew myself rather than hand it over to a developer. Using React Native, Expo, and AI coding tools, I built the interface, integrated the podcast API, and implemented playback. Throughout development, design decisions had to consider technical constraints. I kept visuals lightweight, minimized API calls, and carefully chose React Native modules. It became less about simply making the app look good and more about making sure it performed well.
Stack
Podcast Genration
Podcast Genration
With the rise of AI-generated content, I wanted to explore how it could complement Podbrew without taking away from its core podcast experience. The idea was simple: if a user can't find a podcast about a particular topic, they can create one instead.
AI podcast creation remains an additional option rather than the focus of the app, keeping discovery and listening at the centre of Podbrew. I also explored ways to make generation affordable by using open-source scripting and text-to-speech tools, keeping the cost of generating an episode as low as possible and called it caffeinator
With the rise of AI-generated content, I wanted to explore how it could complement Podbrew without taking away from its core podcast experience. The idea was simple: if a user can't find a podcast about a particular topic, they can create one instead.
AI podcast creation remains an additional option rather than the focus of the app, keeping discovery and listening at the centre of Podbrew. I also explored ways to make generation affordable by using open-source scripting and text-to-speech tools, keeping the cost of generating an episode as low as possible and called it caffeinator
Shipping
Shipping
The project didn't feel complete once the designs were finished—I wanted to take Podbrew all the way from an idea to a real product. I built the app, prepared the store assets, handled the release process, and published it on Google Play. The first release reached a small audience, but the real achievement was seeing the project go from research → design → development → launch and into the hands of real users.
The project didn't feel complete once the designs were finished—I wanted to take Podbrew all the way from an idea to a real product. I built the app, prepared the store assets, handled the release process, and published it on Google Play. The first release reached a small audience, but the real achievement was seeing the project go from research → design → development → launch and into the hands of real users.
What I Learned
Podbrew started as a design exercise but became a lesson in product thinking. Building it myself made my design decisions more grounded in real-world constraints like APIs, performance, and feasibility. Most importantly, it gave me the experience of taking a product from research to design, development, and launch and putting it into the hands of real users.
Podbrew started as a design exercise but became a lesson in product thinking. Building it myself made my design decisions more grounded in real-world constraints like APIs, performance, and feasibility. Most importantly, it gave me the experience of taking a product from research to design, development, and launch and putting it into the hands of real users.