'Copy Paste' design

We recently did a minor redesign of the My radeo website and we thought it would be a good opportunity to talk about our typical design process - 'Copy Paste' design


What is 'Copy Paste' design?
This refers to the process of borrowing and mixing user interface concepts and elements from other popular applications.  For example, with our new redesign we had two goals

1. Help users differentiate the new site search from finding a new song to share
2. Promote the upload and record features of the site

To achieve this goal, we looked at how other applications layout their Share user interfaces

Facebook

 Twitter

FriendFeed

My radeo 

How does it happen?
We use other apps regularly and can't help but be influenced by them.  We don't copy everything, just the elements that make sense and fit together for our site.

Why is it necessary?

• Lack of resources - My radeo doesn't have a team of designers or time to run full studies to test out a lot of novel concepts.  We make wireframes and mockups and test them on users once in a while but overall we have to be scrappy and take advantage of what has already been done

• Good design - Other sites are successful in part because they have good design.  Their designs have been created by teams of experienced designers and in some cases tested heavily across different alternatives.  Imitation is flattery.

• User familiarity - Many people are used to the metaphors and elements that other sites promote.  With any new design, there is a tradeoff of providing an innovative experience vs initial user confusion and training

Isn't this unoriginal? Why can't you invent new designs?
It is unoriginal but we do invent new designs from time to time.  Very few sites are purely original and everyone borrows from others.  At a broad level, many mobile apps borrow elements from the web and many web apps borrow elements from the desktop.

Since, interfaces are rarely patented or protected, everyone can observe and contribute.  It's a continual cycle of refinement, where everyone is adding to the collective wisdom of what good interface design means.  Let us know your design suggestions!

Search inside My radeo

We just launched "Search" inside My radeo.  This new feature lets you search over artists, users, and all the songs that you and others have shared on the site and on Facebook.  You can check it out by signing in to your My radeo page and using the search box on the right side of the page.

Here is a sample results page for the search "jonathan"

Find your songs fast

Since launching the site, I have shared 800+ songs. Many users are well over 100 songs.  The new search makes it easy to find that particular version of the song that you love and play it anytime.  It also makes it easy to find all the songs that you have shared by a particular artist.

Discover your friends' songs and make new music friends

• Ever wonder what your friends' favorite Michael Jackson songs are?
• Just discovered a new artist and want to see which of your friends like that artist? 
• Want to find people who like the same artists and songs as you do?

The new search makes it easy and fun to do all of these things and more.  Try it out and let us know what you think at feedback@myradeo.com

Special thanks to Bill Katz for developing Full Text Search for App Engine