Jump to Event: Evolving Command Palette Search

My Role

Design Engineer — Interaction Design, Prototyping, Technical Documentation

Team

Luke W, Lead SWE (Initial MVP)

Denis M, FE SWE

Ben B, PM

Timeline & Status for Initial MVP

• Q3 2023 Redesign Proposal
• Q4 2024 Proposed for 2025 Roadmap

Overview

What started as a side project addressing immediate client needs evolved into a critical search functionality for artist events at Prism. The initial MVP developed by our lead engineer demonstrated significant user adoption and engagement. 🚀

This case study explores how we transformed initial success into a comprehensive vision for an intelligent command palette search.

A command palette search solution that empowers users to quickly access event and reporting data, with future AI integration possibilities.

The Power of Bottom-Up Innovation

When organic adoption speaks volumes

The initial MVP's success was evident in its metrics: high time-to-activation, strong stickiness, and sustained user adoption. 📈

This organic growth signaled an opportunity to evolve the feature further.

North star design principles

01 Speed & Efficiency

Optimize for quick data access across large datasets

02 Scalability

Design for future AI integration and expanded functionality

03 Framework Compatibility

Maintain Angular compatibility while incorporating modern patterns

Understanding the Landscape

Initial research focused on best-in-class command palette implementations, particularly @pacocoursey's CMDK component. The challenge was adapting these patterns for our Angular framework while maintaining performance.

Designing for Scale

The redesigned component introduces:

• Structured data organization
• Enhanced routing capabilities
• Extensible architecture for future AI integration

From Functional to Polished

• Enhanced typography and spacing
• Improved information hierarchy
• Refined interaction states

Future Roadmap Integration

The prototype and technical documentation serve as foundation for:

• 2025 roadmap inclusion
• AI search capability integration
• Cross-functional team alignment

PROJECT IMPACT & LEARNINGS

Bottom-up Innovation

Sometimes the best product improvements start as simple solutions to immediate needs

Data-Driven Evolution

Usage metrics provided clear validation for feature expansion

Technical Prototyping

Rapid prototyping with AI tools accelerated stakeholder buy-in

Cross-functional Alignment

Early stakeholder involvement and technical documentation were crucial for roadmap inclusion