JBG
Designing an Immersive Gallery Experience with AR
The JBG App is an augmented reality (AR) design project inspired by my curation at the James Black Gallery, where I hosted my first art exhibition during my undergraduate studies. Through interactions with the local artist community, I identified key challenges, such as optimizing their work and managing financial pressures. The JBG app was developed to support local artists by promoting their work and enhancing user engagement with both the exhibition and the artists, fostering deeper connections and interactive experiences.
Role - Interaction Designer
Tool - Figma, Adobe aero
Year - 2021 (3 weeks)
Method - 27 Surveys, 1 Stakeholder Interview, Secondary Research
Constraints - To keep the project scope manageable, I focused the primary research on the James Black Gallery, a key gallery in Vancouver, to support local artists.
Research and Insights
I combined secondary research, interviews, and surveys to understand the challenges artists face and what gallery visitors seek in their experience. Here’s what I discovered:
Secondary Research Findings: The Challenges Facing Emerging Artists in Vancouver
Vancouver’s emerging visual artists struggle to sustain their careers due to financial challenges and the lack of affordable studio space.
Low Income
The median income for artists in Vancouver is CAD$22,116, which is below the national poverty line and 44% lower than the broader population (City of Vancouver, 2019).
Expensive Studio Space and Exhibition Costs
In the past decade, 152 studios have been lost in Vancouver, making it difficult for artists to find affordable workspaces (Vancouver Sun, 2019). Additionally, 77% of artists are actively seeking new studio spaces (Daily Hive Vancouver, 2019).
Survey and Interview Findings: What Do Gallery Visitors Want?
Interest in Artists' Backgrounds: 56% of visitors want to learn more about the artists’ stories and backgrounds.
Desire for Artist Interaction: 74% of visitors expressed interest in interacting with artists but don’t know how.
Design Question
How might we help emerging artists promote their work more effectively and reduce the financial pressures they face?
Proto Persona
Based on the surveys and interviews, I created two personas representing the perspectives of artists and visitors to ensure the design addresses the needs of the general audience at the James Black Gallery.
Visitor Journey Map
To help artists find the most effective way to promote their work, I created a visitor journey map to understand the steps visitors go through. This helped me identify opportunities where my design proposals could be incorporated to enhance the overall experience.
Possible Design Interventions
Direct Artist Communication
Allowing visitors to easily contact artists, fostering connections and engagement.
Interactive Artwork
Using AR and detailed descriptions to enhance interaction and deepen visitors' connection with the art.
Artist Background Insights
Providing rich backstories about the artists to enrich the visitor experience and understanding.
Storyboard
This storyboard illustrates the journey of the target audience and highlights key moments where design interventions can enhance their experience. It explores how visitors discover the gallery, interact with the artwork, and engage with the artists, translating these moments into potential design solutions that align with their needs and interests.
Ideation Process
Next, I created a user task flow based on the process of visiting an exhibition at the James Black Gallery.
Final Prototype
Reflection
Throughout this project, I applied UX research tools to gather data and inform the design. The app enables users to build digital art collections, engage with artists, and share artwork, offering a new way to experience exhibitions.
For improvement, I would collaborate with developers to bring the app to life and test it in a real gallery setting, like JBG. This would ensure both the design and technical aspects are sound, while allowing for valuable user feedback to refine the experience.
Looking ahead, I aim to continue blending technology and creativity to create engaging, interactive experiences.
