It took a PowerPoint presentation to get print designer Maureen Lin interested in working in the interactive medium. Next came an MFA in Computer Graphics, from RIT and a position as lead designer at Unified Field.

01.03.07

Swapping CDs (For A Dollar A Trade)

What site do you look at every day? LaLa.com.

What's it about? Used CD trading.

What's so great about it? I'd almost forgotten what it was like exploring music when I was a teenager (when, because of my limited "income," I would try to save money on music). Like most people, as an adult, too many miscellaneous expenses cut into this portion of my spiritual investment. A friend invited me to join LaLa earlier this year. I traded out a lot of my old CDs, which I almost never bother listening to anymore, and in return I started collecting albums carefree again (bye bye singles).

How does it work? To use LaLa the users first make a Have list of CDs they own; then they create a Want list. The site does the match-up. LaLa displays the number of CDs that are requested by other members, as well as the number of CDs other members will ship to you. LaLa charges only $1 postage (about $.75) for each CD that's shipped. That's less than $2 for a CD. I have about 200 CDs and my traded number (in/out) has exceeded 100. I really like the whole recycling idea; on top of that the site functions so well. For some reason when a lot of my musical properties are requested by other LaLa members it makes me feel pretty good. Some people just have better musical taste I guess...

How could it be better? When a user is viewing a certain artist's album, LaLa provides a list of music recommendations that offer an opportunity to explore more diverse music. But sometimes it seems that the site's recommendation system is not totally on-target (at times, it seems almost too random). It's difficult to say if this is good or bad, because if all of a sudden it ended up like Amazon.com then it would actually be too predictable.

Also, LaLa recently changed their music preview system. Before we could browse other pages while the music was playing (media player), now the music stops if we move to another page. I really think continuous feeding is the best way to get people into the music.

What's your job? I'm lead designer at an interactive design company in New York called Unified Field.

If you have a degree in what field is it? I have a BA in Sociology, from National Taiwan University and an MFA in Computer Graphics, from Rochester Institute of Technology.

How did you get involved in this industry? It was funny how it started... I used to do print only and then one day I had to make a presentation for a fashion consultant in PowerPoint. I enjoyed putting in buttons and that gave me the idea of learning about and doing interactive design.

What's your biggest Web (design) turn-off? Idea stealing. Similar designs turn-up way too often.

Who, in this industry (or not), has been your biggest inspiration? yugop. I like his very original thinking.

What's the oddest thing you've bought online? Is there anything considered weird online? Dr. Bronner's Liquid soap?

What do you do in your spare time? Read, listen to music, travel (whenever possible), take pictures, bike, visit museums on Friday nights and Chelsea galleries on Saturdays.

What music are you listening to right now? Regina Spektor in concert from NPR (still waiting for the CD).

What product/gadget can you not live without? A high-speed Internet connection.