WESTSIDE
ROLE
UX Designer
CATEGORY
Re-Design
DURATION
2 Weeks
TEAM
Solo Project
OVERVIEW
Method is an app designed for individuals seeking information about artists and booking events. It offers art enthusiasts a platform to discover and learn about artists and their works, while also allowing them to save artwork in personalized collections. For those seeking a therapeutic gallery experience, Method provides an opportunity to explore galleries and stay updated on current exhibitions.
This project follows a Design Thinking Method. Empthise, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test.
EMPATHISE
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I was designing for and their needs.
Primary user groups identified through research were working adults who are an art enthusiasts and students pursuing a diploma in the art field. The first user group confirmed initial assumptions about busy visitors’ issues while visiting the gallery, like difficulty finding information on the artist of the painting they are viewing.
On the other hand, the other group who feels a close tie between the gallery and their professional passion expressed virtual issues finding exhibitions of their concerned artists and networking with people sharing the same interests.
Many art enthusiasts, like my friend that sparked the idea of the app in my mind, struggle to find detailed and comprehensive information about artworks beyond the brief descriptions displayed next to paintings. This lack of accessible, in-depth content limits their understanding and appreciation of art. Additionally, art lovers often face difficulty staying connected with art communities and discovering relevant events, exhibitions, or artist-related activities. The current methods of engagement leave users disconnected from the broader art world, making it harder for them to immerse themselves in the vibrant art scene. We want to provide a clear need for a platform that not only provides a deeper, more engaging experience of learning about art but also fosters connections within art communities and helps users easily find and participate in art events and exhibitions.
The goal of competitive audit is to compare the artist bio search/read experience in each competitor’s app.
First impressions (desktop website experience, app/mobile website experience), interaction (features, accessibility consideration, user flow, navigation), graphic design (brand identity), and content (tone, descriptiveness) are the criteria used to assess the audit. Following extensive investigation and analysis, I have discovered several areas in which each app needs to be improved:
-Lack of emphasis and categorization of the content
-No features for people with hearing or vision impairments
-Language possibilities are limited
-Having trouble discovering artists
-Links and buttons are difficult to distinguish
-After a while, notifications cease arriving.
-Important details should be underlined.
THE PROBLEM
DEFINE
Competitive Audit
User Persona 1
User Journey Map
User Persona 2
User Pain Points
Planning & Time
Lack of information on peak times and less busy times to make it easier to plan for visits beforehand and Hard to find exact paintings i’m viewing at the gallery on the brochure. When I view a painting online & in gallery I want to know everything about it. And the artist who made it. I would also like to buy prints of that painting in different sizes
Networking
Unable to connect with people with the same favourite artists/paintings
on the platforms. It’s preferable that i’m notified of any art communities, events and workshops to network more
Categorization
Overwhelmed by the lack of information online and printed on brochures. There should be enough information for a user to digest.
The goal is to create an app that makes it easy for users to browse galleries, find information on artists, and book events. To offer the best user experience, the app's content will be tailored based on the preferences of each user.
User Flow
Lo-Fi Wireframes
Desin System
Usability Testing
Round 01 findings
Round 02 findings
Users want to search artists, artworks and events by filters
Users want to find artist’s details quickly
Users want to preview the print before purchasing it
The purchasing process is repetitive because users have to type in all their personal details again and again
Users want to be able to search artists' and artwork' details through QR code.
The solution was tested through iterative usability testing.
Conducted 2 rounds of lo-fi testing to identify critical usability issues
Refined navigation entry point based on 0% task success in early testing
Validated final design with 5 users using a hi-fi prototype
Results:
100% task completion for core navigation flow
SUS score: 85.5 / 100 (Excellent usability)
Significant improvement in feature discoverability and task efficiency
TESTING & ITERAIONS
There were numerous difficulties in managing a challenging project by myself because Method is the first UX research and design project I have completed. Initially, I could not envision how the prompt, "Design an artist bio app for a gallery," would come out, but now that I can see the efforts I have made, even though there are still flaws that exist, I am extremely grateful.
I discovered when designing the Method app that the first concepts and presumptions represent only the start of the process. Each version of the app's design is influenced by usability studies and feedback.
Additionally, the design process was greatly simplified by research and usability studies, ensuring that every decision was made with the user in mind.
WHAT I LEARNED