Website: kromafm.cc
GitHub: /UglyMice/KromaFM.cc
KromaFM.cc is a color palette selector where each swatch is linked to a song title. The first version uses a custom data array, and I’m currently working on integrating the Spotify API. The site is built with React, on a Vite setup. I kept the design minimal and focused on making it clean, functional, and easy to use. This project is part of my learning process and a way to show what I’ve been working on as I build my front-end development skills.
Project Overview
Original Sketch UI designs.
The idea for this project started as a way for me to learn JavaScript and React in a hands-on, creative way. I wanted to build something simple enough to learn from, but still functional, usable, and with a sense of purpose — even if that purpose was personal or small. That’s the approach I aim to take with all my personal projects: learning by doing, and creating things that feel real.
The original concept was inspired by several things. I’ve always found it fascinating how PANTONE could create, brand, and monetize their own color system — and yet never actually own the colors themselves. That idea stuck with me. I thought it might be fun to create my own color system, just for exploration. As a graphic designer, I often used sites like Coolors for color inspiration. It's a simple, easy-to-use color swatch site that’s probably the most popular in its niche. Lastly, I remembered a documentary I once watched that talked about chromesthesia — a condition where people perceive sound and music as color. And since curating Spotify playlists is something I genuinely enjoy, my brain found the right blend for what became my first React project.
I eagerly began developing the concept visually in Sketch. From the start, I knew I wanted the user interface to be minimal and clean, with a dedicated Recommendations page to make the site more interactive and community-driven.
Branding
The branding for KromaFM.cc was inspired by the idea of being a radio station for color. The overall branding was kept minimal and straightforward to let the colors and songs shine. I also explored creative brand extensions like desktop wallpapers featuring fun color/song pairings and a scannable website QR code. Inspired by PANTONE’s annual tradition, I introduced the idea of a “Color of the Year” to give the brand a recurring moment and emotional hook. Also, started exploring the concept of KFM.live, a fictional festival that extends the idea into a broader creative experience.
Brand Concepts
Wallpaper
Color of the Year
KromaFM.live
Final v1
KromaFM.cc is a personal project that combines color, music, and web development. In Version 1, I built a responsive grid layout, a working submission form, and a way to display color and song pairings.
For Version 2, I plan to add:
- 🔍 Search Bar — Quickly find swatches by color name, song title, or artist
- 🌙 Dark Mode — A sleek, low-light interface for night owls and late-night listeners
- 🎵 Spotify Integration — Preview songs and link directly to Spotify from each swatch
- 🛬 Landing Page — Add a fun landing page to act as a introduction to the website
I’ll also address layout issues on smaller screens, improve the visual design of the swatches, check for hex code duplicates, and link the GitHub repo in the sidebar.