RTRFM | The Sound Alternative

RTRFM's project brief was clear: "make music the hero again." The station’s previous website no longer reflected its vibrant spirit or served its diverse audience. The challenge was to balance essential accessibility requirements with engaging visual design while integrating complex audio streaming capabilities. It was crucial to honour 45+ years of community radio heritage while introducing RTR2, a new on-demand streaming platform. The design needed to resonate with long-time supporters, attract younger listeners, and deliver an intuitive experience across all devices and technical abilities, propelling RTRFM confidently into the digital future.

The design solution puts music at the forefront while achieving nationally recognised accessibility standards. The project began with extensive UX research to understand RTRFM's diverse audience needs, followed by a design phase emphasising motion and interactivity, and the execution of complex streaming functionality in development. The integration of RTR2 represented the biggest technical challenge, requiring custom development to create an on-demand platform that complements traditional radio. The result balances RTRFM's alternative identity with functional, accessible design.

The reimagined RTRFM platform has transformed how Perth’s diverse community connects with local music and culture. An accessible digital hub now extends the station’s reach beyond traditional radio, engaging younger audiences with instant live radio access, an archive of aired shows, and RTR2’s on-demand capabilities. Streamlined donation pathways have significantly improved fundraising outcomes, directly supporting RTRFM’s long-term sustainability. Most importantly, the project preserves and amplifies a vital cultural institution that has championed Perth’s alternative music scene for over 45 years, ensuring RTRFM remains "The Sound Alternative" for future generations in an increasingly commercial media landscape.

The RTRFM website features a seamless live streaming player, intuitive navigation for archived content, and dynamic event listings - all wrapped in a responsive design that adapts across devices. A persistent audio player follows users as they browse, ensuring uninterrupted listening through both live streams and archived content. User experience is enhanced through scroll-based animations and interactive hover states that bring the site to life without compromising accessibility. The programming guide uses visual cues to help users quickly identify shows by category, making content discovery intuitive. The RTR2 platform represents a major evolution, transforming the station from traditional radio to an on-demand experience. It allows access to curated music collections and podcasts while maintaining RTRFM’s community-driven ethos. Special attention was given to mobile touch interactions and overall responsiveness. The Radiothon fundraising component included real-time progress updates and streamlined donation pathways that have measurably increased conversion rates. The events calendar integrates seamlessly with ticketing systems while showcasing RTRFM’s vibrant community. The website balances bold, alternative visual design with the practical requirements of accessibility and functionality - creating a platform that reflects RTRFM’s identity while remaining highly usable.