A mobile app teaches SilkyWay visitors about Art

SlikyWay
As a visitor in a gallery, you may want to learn about the artworks, but visual or auditory impairments prevent you from reading the descriptions. This was the issue I tackled during my work on the SILKY WAY project. I prioritized accessibility, utilized Design Thinking, and created an app that enhanced visitor experience and accessibility to audio and artworks.

My way is Fluid and Free!

It’s so simple, addressing real human needs

My Role

UX/UI Product Designer, designing an audio-tour app for the SILKY WAY art gallery

My Goal

Create an art audio-tour app with distraction-free detailed descriptions.

My Way

Empathize
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Test

SilkyWay

SILKY WAY is an app designed to enhance the user experience in art galleries and museums. By providing an audio tour and various features, it aims to make exploring artwork more accessible and enjoyable.

Project Timeline

Problem

Reading artwork descriptions may be difficult and time-consuming for visitors, affecting their understanding and enjoyment of an exhibit.

Solution

The SILKY WAY app's audio tour offers a more convenient and easy way for visitors to learn about each artwork, without having to read descriptions on the wall.

Key challenges

Ensuring accessibility for all users, including those with impairments
Creating a user-friendly design that is easy to navigate and visually appealing
Incorporating the audio tour seamlessly into the app's design

Meet Nora

An industrial designer, passionate about exploring new trends and techniques in the art world with her friends.

Nora's Empathy Map

This empathy map provides insight into the user's emotions, needs, and pain points.

Nora's Journey Map

Research study

User interviews and empathy maps revealed the target group as non-artists unfamiliar with art vocab. Findings validated assumptions but uncovered the need for customized tour routes and varied narrators. Specialized vocab understanding proved challenging.

Silence and lighting are vital in art galleries/museums. Gallery's interior design impacts visitor experience. Symmetry and clear navigation path enhance focus. Warm hues, curves, transparency, and natural light create a serene atmosphere for better enjoyment.

Wireframes

Accessibility

Language Settings

Accessibility Settings

Visual Settings

Hearing Settings

Low Fidelity Prototype

I displayed wireframes from one of the iterations, aiming for a minimal and straightforward approach as per the initial concept.

Homepage

List of tours

List of Artists

Artist's page

High Fidelity Prototype

The app's primary navigation starts with a splash screen, continues with audio tour selection and playback, and ends with quiz and reward redemption.

Try Prototype

Artists

List of Artists

The Artist's Page

Artist's Artwork

User Interview

Usability Test Plan

For SILKY WAY, I recruited diverse participants, noted feedback, and made necessary adjustments for a user-friendly experience and effective art learning.

User Feedbacks & Improvements

Takeaways

App's key design principle: prioritize simplicity and concision, incorporating user feedback. Empathy is critical for user-centered design to consider diverse perspectives and needs for an inclusive and intuitive app.

My Responsibilities

Research target audience and user needs
Develop a problem statement for the project
Use the design thinking framework to create a user-centered design solution
Design and develop the SILKY WAY audio tour app
Conduct user testing to identify any usability issues and collect feedback for design adjustments
Incorporate feedback and make necessary design adjustments to improve user experience
Ensure that the app is accessible and inclusive for all users

My Accomplishments

Ensured accessibility was considered throughout the design process, resulting in a user-friendly and accessible platform
Used Design Thinking framework to guide design, resulting in a well-received platform that meets user needs.
Created comprehensive design documentation, including style guides and design specifications, to ensure consistency and maintainability of the platform over time.