Building a research plan

After conducting the unmoderated usability test, I synthesized feedback from five participants and categorized their responses to uncover common usability issues. Three key findings emerged:

Notes taken during the usability study sessions were organized to capture participant reactions, behaviors, and pain points. These early insights helped shape the key findings that followed.

User Journey Map

To better understand the user experience and identify potential pain points, I created user journey maps for each persona. These maps helped visualize users’ thoughts, emotions, and opportunities throughout their interaction with the product.

Problem Statement

Based on the personas and user journey maps, I defined two core problem statements that this project needed to address. Also, I synthesized a combined problem statement based on the needs of both personas, to guide the design direction and ensure the solution addresses shared user goals.

• Linsey’s Problem Statement

Linsey is an art enthusiast who needs an intuitive way to discover and compare current art exhibitions near her because she finds it difficult to access and evaluate exhibition information across multiple sources.

🧩 Combined Problem Statement

People who are interested in art,whether casually or professionally, need a user-friendly way to explore current exhibitions and deepen their understanding of artworks, because existing sources are scattered, difficult to compare, and often lack accessible educational content.

To better understand the current market landscape and identify opportunities for differentiation, I conducted a competitive audit of existing products that offer art-related content and exhibition information.
The goal was to:

• Identify key competitors

• Understand how they position themselves in the market

• Evaluate their strengths and weaknesses

• Analyze how they communicate their value to users

Key Takeaways & Design Implications

Through a competitive audit of four art-related platforms, I analyzed product offerings, UX strengths, and usability gaps. While many competitors offered standout features—such as location-based discovery and daily art content—few combined educational material with real-time exhibition access in a cohesive, user-friendly experience.
Common issues included limited language support and unclear UI elements, which presented key opportunities for differentiation:

• A cleaner, more intuitive visual design

• Seamless integration of art learning and discovery features

• Improved accessibility for a broader, global audience

To validate the early concept of the design, I planned a usability study to gather actionable feedback on the low-fidelity prototype. This research aimed to uncover usability issues and opportunities for improvement before moving into high-fidelity design.

After analyzing insights from the usability study, I made key refinements to the design to better align with user needs:

2. Added Filter Option
To help users easily find exhibitions that match their interests, I incorporated a filter feature allowing them to sort exhibition lists by specific criteria(e.g., date, type of art).

Here are four key refined mockups that represent the updated design direction. These changes aim to enhance usability, simplify navigation, and ensure a smooth user experience.

After incorporating feedback and design changes from the usability study, I created a high-fidelity prototype that follows the same core user flow established in the low-fidelity version.

This prototype reflects:

• Visual design refinements

• Improved interactions based on usability insights

• Enhanced clarity and accessibility

View the High-fidelity prototype For ArtWith

Core Features of the App based on users’ needs:

🖼️ Art Exploration & Discovery

• View daily featured artwork with explanation

• Browse current exhibitions

• Check exhibitions that are ending soon

• Apply filters to narrow down exhibitions

• Read articles and art-related news

• View exhibition locations and artworks

🗂️ Personal Management

• Bookmark favorite exhibitions and artworks

• View liked exhibitions and works

• Manage visit schedule via a calendar in the profile

Before translating the mobile app into a responsive web version, I created a sitemap to define the site structure. This helped organize content for larger screens (tablet and desktop), clarified the overall structure, and ensured a consistent and intuitive user experience across devices.

To ensure a seamless experience across devices, I designed responsive layouts for mobile, tablet, and desktop.
Each screen was adapted to address the specific needs and behaviors of users on different devices, maintaining usability and visual consistency.

I maintained consistent branding and UI components across devices while adjusting layout density, interaction patterns, and hierarchy to suit each format.

View the High-fidelity Prototype for Mobile Web

Users shared that the app would help make engaging with art feel more approachable and accessible in daily life. One peer feedback quote was:

“As an art enthusiast, I'm definitely willing to use the app. I like the fact that I can get the information on art easily and I won't be able to miss out on the exhibition near me!”

Throughout this project, I learned that while the design process can be time-consuming, taking the time to move thoughtfully through each stage, especially aligning closely with user needs, leads to more effective and meaningful solutions.

I also realized that thorough research and extracting insights from it are just as important as crafting a visually appealing design to build a helpful product.