World Art Gallery
Problem: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, galleries have faced significant challenges in conducting in-person tours and selling artwork. This situation has particularly impacted small pop-up galleries, which often lack the resources and technology to transition to virtual platforms. As a result, many artists and curators have struggled to reach their audiences and maintain sales.
Solution: Create an easy-to-use platform that allows art galleries to set up their own virtual tours while providing a seamless way to sell artwork. This platform should facilitate effective advertising and enable users to easily search for specific galleries. Created a VR app that empowers galleries to independently create virtual tours where visitors can explore and purchase artwork they admire.
Project Length
7 Months
Role
UX/UI Design
Research
Team
1 Researcher
1 Lead UX
Myself
Gallery Creation Interaction
Flow-Chart Diagram
Research
Quantitative
The data gathered through researching articles and current galleries had many interesting findings. Some of the most important were that small galleries were not able to operate during Covid-19 and now people don't know how or when the small galleries are coming back.
Qualitative
Interviewing people about their taste provided great feedback on how they would like to tour galleries, and what they expect from there layouts when viewing them online. The feedback given in the interviews helped build the personas to build the app off of.
Competitive Audit
The competitive audit reveled that an app for small galleries to set up a virtual tour on their own is an untapped market. There were no direct competitors, the only competition was prominent galleries that paid someone to come in and set up a virtual tour. Of those galleries that are currently offering virtual tours non of them sell the art they have. This leaves a whole market of art sales that can be provided through the app.
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Competitors already have a user base that could pull directly from the app.
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Competitors could try to make their virtual tour easier to set up.
Weaknesses
Threats
Opportunities
Strengths
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Fun and easy to use.
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Engaging crafts (VR Headset instructions for cardboard.)
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Clear branding
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No support for small pop-up galleries.
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Someone from company has to come and set up virtual tour.
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Doesn't have many galleries to choose from.
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Have an app that anyone can walkthrough and set up virtual tour without assistance.
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Create marketing for small galleries.
Personas based on research
Each persona group had valid struggles; but by focusing on the struggles I was able to determine what the app needed and why. Starting with the teacher that wants to show his students current art trends. All the way to the other side with an artist who has been busy and unable to get their art out into the world.
Group A
Ali's goal of being able to show students art from in the classroom showed me that the app needs to have a cast function. It also needs to have a art filter so that it shows what is appropriate for the age group.
Group B
Anika's frustration with galleries shutting down due to Covid-19 told me that I needed to design the app so that anyone with a phone can set up a art gallery with zero contact. This also aligned with her goal to set up an art gallery in her home.
I created a simple way to setup a gallery
Being able to set up a gallery is the backbone of the app. This is why I started with designing the setup steps to make it as easy and quick as possible. The set up process allows users to walk through a gallery setting up a virtual tour, set up the art they have for sale, and set key words to help people find the gallery. Along with this it has the ability at the end of setup to request marketing help for the galleries.
I made the galleries easy to navigate.
When a user goes to virtual tour a gallery they are given a few galleries at a time to scroll through or they can also search for something specific. The journey the user takes in the galleries is simplified to make it as easy as possible for the user to get to the end goal.