Artist Biography App
for an Art Gallery
Project Overview
I chose the artist biography app design for my first project in the Google UX Design Certificate program. The app highlights five culturally diverse artists and their dynamic artwork, focusing on user needs and preferences. Its goal is to promote unity through individual creative expression.
THE GOAL
Design an artists' biography app for an art gallery.
THE PROBLEM
Maintain user engagement and accessibility for all users.
MY ROLE
Generalist / Team of 1
User research, wireframes, gallery and artist research, UI, Figma prototyping, accessibility development, usability studies, iteration, brand design
TARGET AUDIENCE
Local community, art students, online art lovers, art buyers and gallery visitors.
CHALLENGE
Compete in the digital art world.
Research Summary
My participants, five men and women, ages 20s - 70s, were interviewed online, unmoderated. The data was measured and sent me into motion. I nailed down user pain points to build empathy maps and persona characters.
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
What do you look for when reading an artist's biography? Do you easily engage or drop off? Please tell me why. What is the takeaway for you?
FIELD WORK
Empathy maps, affinity mapping, artist biographies, gallery sites
FINDINGS
Most users are interested in knowing why artists create and what influences their creativity and the art process in the work.
Understanding the User
"When you read an artist's biography, what do you look for?"
“Tidbits of their background, journey and some of what led them to their current lifestyle and desire to create.”
- Nathan M -
Interior Designer
SEEKS ART PROCESS
Solution
Thoughtful content, images,
interviews that discuss personal journey.
SITE DESIGN ISSUES
Solution
Iterate, research sketch to create dynamic UI.
REJECTS ART SPEAK
Solution
Make text informative,
interesting, clear. Translation feature.
WHY CREATE?
Solution
Interviews and artist
statements that address
the artist's purpose to create.
PERSONA 1
Problem Statement: Vince is an art lover who needs to understand the source of inspiration because he seeks what motivates the drive to create.
PERSONA 2
Problem Statement: Carina is a busy mom who needs to understand the language well and textual content because she is interested in the artistic process.
CARINA JOURNEY MAP
CARINA BIG PICTURE & CLOSE UP
Starting the Design
WIREFRAMES
LO-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Please test below and return to the site.
LO-FIDELITY USABILITY STUDY
Five men and women (30's to 60's) commented on the prototype in an online, unmoderated study. Below is a summary of the findings.
LO-FI VISUALS
4 out of 5 participants criticized the lo-fidelity generic appearance, two were lost in navigation.
SEARCH FOR MEANING
4 out of 5 participants would like to read about the artist in a straight forward manner, no clicking on and off topics.
IDENTIFICATION
4 out of 5 participants would like to see the artist name included with an image. A list of names is ineffective.
Finalizing the Design
I designed the app to navigate like a book. Each artist has a main page that includes personal history; which links to a Talk X interview.
The interview explores the work, influences, and processes. By sharing the artists' stories and analyzing the work, the app addresses user concerns such as connection and comprehension on a deeper level.
MOCKUP VER 1
The Gallery X brand design was inspired by the Lower East Side when all the cool galleries popped up, a definitive time of new art and bold nightlife.
MOCKUP VER 2
I made iterations to improve space and aid user engagement.
HI-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Please test the link below and return to the site.
- Jade M -
Heritage Resources Historian
“I felt like I got to know the artist as a person!”
- Kate M -
Artist
“Selection of artists and varied styles - interesting!”
“Visual appeal and ease in navigation!”
- Nathan M -
Interior Designer
USABILITY STUDY 2
Three men and women (30s to 60s) in an online unmoderated study tested the hi-fidelity prototype, below are the findings summarized.
ART PROCESS
3 out of 3 affirm art process was evident.
ACCESSIBLE WRITING
2 out of 3 participants affirm the text was interesting and an adequate amount.
CREATIVE PURPOSE
3 out of 3 participants affirm the creative purpose and going deeper into meaning, experienced.
VISUAL DESIGN
3 out of 3 participants pleased with visual elements. 2 users complained about size
of header and arrows.
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
The header was iterated after usability study 2 for improved visibility and navigation.
DROP DOWN MENU
The menu accessibility features aid the user in understanding and nourishing paint points. An interview participant requested the opportunity to stay in touch with the artist.
LARGE ART IMAGES AND BOLD TYPE
Large images, easily accessible with visible text, aid in understanding the art.
Conclusion
I have a deep admiration for the artists and their incredible work. This experience has ignited a passion for the art world in me as a UX designer.
I have learned the importance of prioritizing organization, as well as the value of sketching and iterating to achieve the best results. I am now more mindful of spatial awareness and will continue to study all aspects of typography design, including spatial considerations. I have iterated my homepage to enhance the user experience, particularly with respect to breakpoints and heirarchy.
Next, I believe establishing a gallery presence can foster meaningful interactions between the gallery, the artwork, and the user. By incorporating activities, artist information, and art education opportunities, I aim to enhance understanding and potentially promote well-being for the user.
I am thankful for the positive feedback I received from my Google peers and participants. I am grateful to Google for providing me with this enriching experience.