The serendipity shuffle

Recently, listening to music in shuffle mode has gained a strong following. Analysis of online data about the 'shuffle experience' reveals a range of rich and unusual user-experiences - one in particular is Serendipity. Although serendipity is often imbued with 'magic' or regarded as a product of chance and luck, its effects can be inspirational and transformative. To date, little has been done to understand and characterise this experience. We sketch an initial understanding of serendipitous experience, and position it within a broader view of user experience. We also surface some implications for user-centred design processes.