Let's Log In...

As a user of Last.fm for several years, I have watched Last.fm develop and refine their goals as a website. Initially interested solely in displaying my musical preferences in a cohesive manner, Last.fm provided a simplier way. I didn't have to actively try to understand or analyze what artists I played the most of. Rather, Last.fm would pay attention for me. Their user interface has developed throughout the years, but has evolved into a cohesive, interactive, Web 2.0 website that allows the user to interact with their own profile, other users', and the greater musical conversation they fit in.

On initial log-in, the user sees an initial "dashboard-like" webpage. It shows recent tracks added to the user's libarary, ads, a search bar, and recommended tracks. As the user scrolls down, they see similar units of information, but perhaps not as relevant to the individual user. There are pending friend requests, current friends, and what these contacts are listening to. There is an area of free music downloads available to the user, and tracks "loved" by friends. This initial page give the user many different individual boxes to interact with, yet, we are left with a cohesive design that correllates them all. Although the connection of music is within all areas of the initial log-in page, the level of connection to the individual user decreases as the user scrolls down. Beginning with their own individual tastes, as the user peruses down the page, it evolves into their friends musical preferences and lastly, music that has no direct correlation with them as an individual. Interestingly enough, the website's advertising is directly across from the most personalized information displayed.

Last.fm is directly engaging the individual user with this layout. Although they are asking the user to interact with others and engage with "friends," they are more directly asking for the user to converse with the conversation of music as a whole. Rather than playing their friend's recent plays at the top of the page, they show prefernce to the user understanding their own personal tastes, and how they can find other artists to help develop that taste. Last.fm is placing focus upon the individual user and the development of their music habits, encouraging them to perceive their own listening habits and other music that is recommended based on such.