UX Design Sample Projects
For more information contact Anna
Art Hub Atl
a mobile app for contemporary art exhibition listings in Atlanta, Georgia
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The Challenge
Atlanta has a diverse arts community and a quickly growing population. Leaders among arts organizations need a way to connect with their audiences and promote accessibility of arts events happening throughout the city. The Solution
Art Hub Atl is an iOS mobile app offering information, resources, and directions to contemporary art exhibitions and events in the city of Atlanta. This app is a central platform for users who are interested in engaging with arts events, artists, and arts organizations in Atlanta. |
The Results
In each stage of the user experience design process, I implemented research into design concept drafts. Insights gathered, through rapid protoyping and usability testing, informed the digital prototype and final high-fidelity mockups. The final product design and case study for "Art Hub Atl" was presented to UX professionals in the field and to leaders of Atlanta arts organizations.
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Research
Research began with an investigation on the cultural climate in Atlanta Field studies Field studies took place in various art galleries and exhibition spaces in Atlanta, such as:
Secondary sources, such as the Atlanta Regional Commission Strategic Plan (January 2019), were used to identify the scope of the problem. Despite this rich cultural backdrop, artist and arts organizations struggle in a state that ranks 49th in per capita state spending on the arts. In FY2018, the Georgia Legislature appropriated just 11 cents per capita to the Georgia Council on the Arts, spending that is lower than any other state except Kansas. The region also has no single arts service organization acting as convener, advocate, and marketing leader for arts, culture, and creative placemaking. This lack of a regional arts council can make it difficult for artists, organizations, and advocates to organize and act around important issues and initiatives. |
Pictured above: Pages from the Atlanta Regional Commission 2019 Strategic Plan
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User Surveys
Additional user research was gathered, by surveying the target audience, to identify potential user needs. Initial questions included:
Although the insights from the survey were inconclusive, the questions provided a script for user and stakeholder interviews.
Additional user research was gathered, by surveying the target audience, to identify potential user needs. Initial questions included:
- Who were potential users?
- What neighborhoods did they live in?
- Where would they be willing to travel to?
- How might they access information needed to attend an event?
- How would event organizers submit information/ events?
- What would be the most valuable features for app users?
Although the insights from the survey were inconclusive, the questions provided a script for user and stakeholder interviews.
Analysis & Ideation
Competitive Analysis
A competitive analysis was conducted with three mobile apps and one interactive map overlay designed to focus on connecting viewers with artwork, such as:
Competitive Analysis
A competitive analysis was conducted with three mobile apps and one interactive map overlay designed to focus on connecting viewers with artwork, such as:
- NY Art Beat
- BeltTour
- The High Line mobile app
- The Atlanta Beltline website interactive map with 'The Art Collection' overlay
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Key insights included:
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Personas
Primary (Brittany Anderson) and secondary (Jason Smith) personas were created based on information gathered from user interviews.
Primary (Brittany Anderson) and secondary (Jason Smith) personas were created based on information gathered from user interviews.
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Needs
Brittany needs a way to increase revenue for the gallery, develop a strong company brand for a target audience, and know what's happening in Atlanta. |
Pain Points
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User Story
Brittany is a fine art Gallery Director who leads 6-8 exhibitions each year. She works most directly with art buyers in New York and often researches new artists based in the Southeast. She is frustrated by the fact that no matter how much effort she makes in planning an event, there are often schedule conflicts with other arts organizations in Atlanta. Her greatest challenges are navigating client relationships, change management, and decision-making.
Brittany is a fine art Gallery Director who leads 6-8 exhibitions each year. She works most directly with art buyers in New York and often researches new artists based in the Southeast. She is frustrated by the fact that no matter how much effort she makes in planning an event, there are often schedule conflicts with other arts organizations in Atlanta. Her greatest challenges are navigating client relationships, change management, and decision-making.
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Needs
Jason needs to find a way to engage clients, generate leads, and communicate customer requirements with internal teams. |
Pain Points
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User Story
Jason is a Regional Director who travels 4-8 times per month for work. His regional focus is in the Southeast, with a focus on Atlanta. Jason is frustrated by the amount of time it takes to find events he could bring clients to. He is interested in learning more about art and wants his client meetings to be as engaging as he is. His greatest challenges are setting his company apart from competitors from a client perspective and reporting progress to National Director.
Jason is a Regional Director who travels 4-8 times per month for work. His regional focus is in the Southeast, with a focus on Atlanta. Jason is frustrated by the amount of time it takes to find events he could bring clients to. He is interested in learning more about art and wants his client meetings to be as engaging as he is. His greatest challenges are setting his company apart from competitors from a client perspective and reporting progress to National Director.
Design & Usability Testing
The prototype went through several iterations throughout the two-week sprint. The initial designs were created as a low-fidelity paper prototype using paper and pencil.
The prototype went through several iterations throughout the two-week sprint. The initial designs were created as a low-fidelity paper prototype using paper and pencil.
Based on user research and best-practices, features such as bookmarking, informed descriptions of the artwork, a search navigation, and geolocation were added.
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The paper prototype was tested with five users who provided valuable insights, which informed changes made to the digital wireframes, including:
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The digital prototype was then tested and user feedback was integrated into the final design mockups.
The digital prototype was then tested and user feedback was integrated into the final design mockups.
Based on feedback from interviews, the following design changes were made to the digital prototype to create a more efficient and user-friendly experience:
- Users were unsure about what the icons referenced in the navigation bar, so text descriptions were added below each icon.
- Stakeholders wanted a way to identify Art Hub Atl from other cities if the project were to scale to incorporate other cities, so the Georgia peach color palette was added to the designs for Atlanta. If the app were developed for other locations, each city would be designed with unique, branding colors as a way of differentiating between the apps.
- Users needed a way to edit exhibition information after submitting the form in the app. A confirmation page and email login page were added for users to access information saved in the app through their linked email account.
Click below to contact Anna with interest or for further information about the project.