In this paper we discuss the results of a workshop study for the HappyBrackets system – a development framework for creatively coding multi-device musical performances, sound installations and interactive media artworks – in which new users using the system are invited to create new multi- device music compositions in a rapid creative and collaborative hacking session. We consider the types of works made, the problems encountered and the methods used, including how some of the new features we have added to the system support exploratory creative search. We develop our observations into design principles that we speculate will better support more rapid creative exploration of multi-device creative musical compositions
