Copy and paste are commands used daily in our phones, but they have not been updated for decades. Clipboard is a native expansion exploring a new way we could be saving and sharing information in our phones.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffd148f8a92b6626f5a1dc7_Clipboard%20Banner.jpg)
Clipboard:
Copy & Paste
in iOS
Copy & paste has become limited as the use of smartphones grows. The need for sharing multiple pieces of information in smartphones calls for a richer version of copy and paste.
As a New Yorker, I'm often on the go and using my phone for complex tasks, which can become frustrating. I created this native product to explore how sharing could be expanded to meet the needs of current user trends.
Process
1 | Research
2 | Solution
3 | Design Iterations
4 | Prototype
Skills
UX
UI
Visual Design
Prototyping
1 | Research
Storyboards / User Flows / Interviews / Diary Studies / Academic Research
Creating a product intended as a native feature means considering broad demographics and designing a highly adoptable solution. To begin, I researched thoroughly to understand and analyze the limitations of copy & paste.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffdf2ed4efe752b53d7ff5f_Research%201%20WF.jpg)
Empathizing through user flows. Here we see the inefficiencies of current copy / paste behavior.
Task: Sharing a quote + the URL of an article in mobile via text
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffdf30c3468ef1201801933_Research%203%20WF.jpg)
Whiteboard user flow exercise
Same task as above
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffdf31a0bc206ca9ef9bec6_Research%202%20WF.jpg)
Research method plan and participants
Findings
- Users never follow the same paths to share information. Inefficiencies in copy & paste along with share features built into various apps lead users to many different ways of sharing.
- Unintended workarounds are common when doing complex tasks. Users don't have a singular app for sharing or storing information easily.
- Users still want the existing, simple copy & paste behavior, but would also be receptive to a restrained expansion of copy and paste that could do more.
- Existing copy / paste requires repeated app changes, costing users time. The changing of app screens is the primary problem to solve for.
2 | Solution
Currently, copy & paste only allows for single item data management - its main limitation in phones. Since touch screen gestures and app views prevent easy transfers of content, our design solution must include multiple item data management.
Clipboard is a new feature built into the native iOS UI that enables users to save and manage multiple items, dramatically reducing the need to change apps so frequently.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe065e2430eaf7697ac6f3_Research%204%20WF.jpg)
User flow demonstrating the benefits of an expanded feature using multiple item management
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe06e3a52e431500abbd07_WF%20Research%205.jpg)
Content sharing possibilities with Clipboard
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe070bec208967d232eb29_Research%206%20WF.jpg)
Clipboard content management example
3 | Design Iterations
Constant feedback from users was key in refining a version of Clipboard that could be adopted by a diverse user base. Each of these iterations was refined through prototyping and testing with users.
My goal was to create a highly intuitive feature that also inspired users to easily think of additional use cases not shown by the prototype.
Here are all the iterations of the Clipboard product:
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe1bbcec6c3d792d54534f_Research%207%20WF.jpg)
Early concept for a new copy & paste UI.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe1bbbf52edc3177c253ef_Research%208%20WF.jpg)
UI iterations - removing cluttered buttons in preference for a clearer option for users to click.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe1bbc4f68060d7fbf8f74_Research%209%20WF.jpg)
Early iterations considered three 'clipboard' fields that could be opened from the highlight UI. Testing showed this was confusing, leading to a clearer solution.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe1bbcc443a04e1f4f84d4_Research%2010%20WF.jpg)
The clipboard field followed Apple notification design systems at first, but the need for more manageable space led to using the overlay text message designs.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe1bbb4efe750d26d8a583_Research%2011%20WF.jpg)
This current iteration offers generous room for content editing along with a toggle for three different clipboards to save utilize.
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/5fcd4b9f54f8995756050768/5ffe2307bd6dfbd2e738f5c4_Research%2012%20WF.jpg)
Current iteration:
Clicking Clipboard opens the content management field where text, links, and images can all be added together. When pasting, Clipboards 1,2, or 3 can be clicked to paste content from that field together.
Prototype
Shown: A user saving a quote from an article, saving the article link, and then sharing both together with one click.
User Responses to Clipboard Tests
4 | Conclusion
An intelligent and dynamic expansion of copy and paste could dramatically affect our day to day experience using smartphones, making sharing far more efficient.
Expanding a native feature requires many considerations and thorough testing, but multiple item management is the clear solution for better sharing in mobile. I can see how useful this would be for many users on the go doing complex work in their phones.
Looking forward:
I would love the resources to test Clipboard with a larger audience and work with engineers to create a functional MVP. Still, this study served to show how a native UI could offer better ways for sharing and organizing information.