What is ArtMarketplace?
ArtMarketplace is a portfolio project art ecommerce app for customers shopping for high valued artwork. They can choose to either Purchase or place a Bid. Through the use of modern security technologies such as biometric login or two-factor authorizations this app will provide a sense of security and privacy users demand with purchasing large transactions, whether by debit, credit, or cryptocurrency.
Role: UX Researcher, UX Designer
Time: 2 Weeks
Responsibilities: Conducting interviews, user studies, developing paper and digital wireframes, both the low and high-fidelity prototypes, managing accessibility, and design iterations.
The Problem
ArtMarketplace addresses the issue of securing users financial and personal information as they purchase high-end art from around the world through the use of up-to-date security features.
The Goal
To provide a secure and easy to use ecommerce marketplace for users to search for and purchase art through a multitude of financial options including cryptocurrency.
The User Research
Research included interviews, affinity diagrams, and empathy maps to understand the art buyers or collectors and their needs. The primary user group was determined to be high-income individuals who did not have a lot of time to shop art galleries in person.
Personas
User Journey Maps
Competitive Audit
Ideation
Initial wireframe drafts of the main screens of the app were drafted on paper to preview the user pain points and journey. An easy and quick checkout process to save users time was a priority.
Wireframes and Low-Fidelity Prototypes
After sketching the paper wireframes, I created low-fidelity mockups and prototypes in Figma. This helped to organize the information to create the best experience for the user.
Usability studies were conducted using the low-fidelity prototype. Affinity mapping the users pain points led to adding multiple login options and more information about the artist and the value of their art.
User Research: Pain Points
Time
Art buyers/collectors are too busy to travel to art galleries in person.
Security
Ecommerce apps and websites are not incorporating modern security technology to provide the most secure shopping experience available.
Knowledge
The majority of art shoppers are not knowledgeable of current artists and the value of their work.
High-Fidelity Prototype
Through several iterations the prototype was expanded to include more of the user journey through the app.
Takeaway
Impact:
This app will provide a safe and secure location for serious art collectors and buyers. A quote from a user during the study: “A hot auction makes me feel competitive, I want to win."
What I learned:
During the initial design phase I learned not to try to maintain the original app function but to adapt and develop based on the user feedback. The studies and research are the backbone of app development and can evolve the original design far outside the original scope of the app.
