Proposed Design Framework for Digital Piano Interfaces: A User-Centered Approach

Abstract

With advances in music technology, digital pianos now provide high-quality sound simulation and increasingly diverse functions. However, interface design faces a growing challenge in balancing feature expansion with ease of use. Fixed physical buttons are limited in supporting complex parameter adjustments and may increase extraneous cognitive load, while touchscreen interfaces often lack the tactile feedback needed for embodied interaction. This study aims to propose a user-centered design framework to address these challenges. A mixed-methods approach was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, in-depth interviews with 10 experts were used to identify key operational preferences and functional layout principles. In Phase 2, a questionnaire survey was administered to 390 digital piano users. Cluster analysis identified three user groups: Advanced Experts, Intermediate Practitioners, and Novice Entry Users. Results showed that 71.0% of users preferred physical buttons during individual practice, with Intermediate Practitioners demonstrating particularly high reliance on physical controls (96.7%). However, a mismatch was observed between current interface designs and actual usage patterns. For example, although the Transpose function is often prominently positioned on control panels, 63.6% of users reported rarely or never using it, suggesting inefficient use of physical interface space. Additionally, simplified menus (58.5%) and one-touch shortcuts (55.4%) were identified as key factors for improving operational efficiency. Based on these findings, this study proposes a three-layer design framework consisting of a Functional Layer, Interaction Layer, and Emotional Layer. The framework emphasizes reorganizing functions according to usage frequency and integrating tactile and visual feedback to reduce cognitive load and improve usability across different user groups.