Gallery Pal
Experience Art in a New Dimension with Augmented Reality
Google Ventures Design Sprint
UX/UI Designer | 1 Week | Figma & Procreate
Elevating the Art Experience with Augmented Reality
In a world where museums and galleries need to captivate visitors, GalleryPal blends technology with creativity to transform the art-viewing experience.
I focused on developing a mobile-optimized solution that enhances the in-person art experience. The challenge? Delivering immersive, relevant information about art pieces in a way that captures attention without distracting from the artwork itself.
My goal was simple yet impactful: How might we enhance the way people perceive and engage with art when visiting museums or galleries?
Day 1: Understand & Map
Behavior Map
I began by reviewing Google Ventures' research, including user interviews, personas, and usability tests, to synthesize insights on user needs and pain points. From this, I identified key problems and potential solutions. I then mapped out user flows to address these issues and enhance the art viewing experience, setting a clear direction for ideation and solution development.
Problem: Lack of Context
Solution: Provide clear, accessible information to help visitors connect with the art.
Problem: Information Overload
Solution: Deliver concise, essential content for tours without overwhelming users.
Problem: Passive Experience
Solution: Engage visitors with memorable stories and deeper context to create emotional connections.
Problem: Desire for Autonomy
Solution: Offer guided insights for independent exploration without the constraints of group tours.
Day 2: Sketching
Part I: Lightning Demos
Today, I examined innovative features from various related apps to identify and draw inspiration for enhancing the museum experience in my own app. These explorations provided valuable insights into potential features that could elevate user engagement and improve the overall functionality of the platform. Here are the key takeaways...
Part II: Crazy 8’s & Critical Screens for Solution
Before starting my Crazy 8s sketches, I focused on the "Art Exploration" screen, the most critical part of the user journey. This screen needs to deliver key information without distracting from the art, allowing users to stay immersed in the real-world experience.
Through Crazy 8s, I explored 8 layouts, aiming for a balance between functionality and immersion. Key elements like quick audio access, collapsible text, and streamlined navigation were designed to be non-intrusive, keeping the focus on the art while providing essential info. These ideas will guide the next stage of storyboarding and wireframing.
Google Arts & Culture – Pocket Gallery
Big Idea: AR Galleries transform user spaces by placing virtual museums and allowing detailed exploration of artworks.
Keywords: Augmented Reality, Virtual Museum, Immersive Experience, Art Exploration.
Nintendo 3DS Guide – Louvre Museum – Interactive Exploration
Big Idea: The Nintendo 3DS Guide provides an interactive, multimedia tour with a 3D map, audio commentary, and video content, enabling a personalized museum experience.
Keywords: Interactive Tour, Multimedia Guide, 3D Map, Personalized Experience.
Augment – Product AR for Ecommerce
Big Idea: AR Technology lets users visualize products in their own environment, enhancing the shopping experience by allowing previewing of items like furniture or artwork.
Keywords: Augmented Reality, Product Visualization, Ecommerce, User Experience.
Day 3: Storyboard
Storyboarding allowed me to visualize the user journey and refine the core interactions in the app. By sketching out key screens and transitions, I was able to map how users engage with the app, ensuring a seamless flow. This low-fidelity process helped identify potential pain points early, allowing for quick adjustments and ensuring the design supports the user’s needs while keeping the focus on exploring art.
These storyboards now serve as a foundation for wireframing, where I can further refine the details and interactions.
Day 4 & 5: Prototyping & Testing
Prototype
For Day 4 of the design sprint, I prototyped GalleryPal’s key features, including AR tours, intuitive art discovery, and personalized gallery guides. The design emphasized a minimal, modern interface, enabling users to explore exhibits seamlessly, with AR bringing artworks to life and providing real-time information.
User Testing Sessions
I tested the app with five participants in a simulated gallery environment, focusing on AR navigation and discovery features. A key challenge was realizing that AR testing required a staged, physical space to simulate tap triggers effectively. This made it clear that real-world interaction with the environment is crucial for accurate testing of the app's AR functionality.
All five testing sessions were successful, but a few recurring issues were addressed:
Button Labeling & Navigation:
Minor changes were made to make map page less overwhelming with addition few chips.
Search Bar Clarity:
Multiple users found the search bar text unclear, causing uncertainty.
Content Overload:
Two user found the museum page overwhelming, with too much information. I simplified the layout for a more intuitive user experience.
Tap Triggers & Visual Cues:
Users expressed that interaction points on the map and AR view could be made more noticeable.
Bringing it all together…
By leveraging AR and intuitive design, we transformed gallery visits into a personalized journey, enhancing user engagement and streamlining information delivery.
Problem: Lack of Context
Delivered: Clear, bite-sized portions of memorable and interesting information to help visitors connect with the art.
Problem: Information Overload
Delivered: A platform where curators can create concise, essential content for tours, avoiding overwhelming users.
Problem: Passive Experience
Delivered: Engaging visitors with memorable stories and deeper context through interactive AR elements, allowing exploration of hidden details within the artwork.
Problem: Desire for Autonomy
Delivered: Guided insights that support independent exploration without the constraints of group tours.