Overview

“What art galleries and museums do you recommend?” I used to work at The Contemporary Austin art museum and people asked this a lot. Where could they find more art in Austin? My coworkers and I would share locations, directions, the type of art to expect, hours, and walkability. Eventually, it made more sense to have all the best info in one place—a website that anyone could find and use on their phone. I searched for sites that fit this bill and only found two. Both were out of date and had usability issues. A space existed for a website that responsively resized for mobile, was visually clarified, and prioritized the needs of the user. But who exactly was the user?

User research and defining the problem

For research, I conducted informal conversations with friends, family, and strangers in art spaces in Austin, Texas. I asked what art museums and galleries they had visited in town, and if they planned to visit any. I asked what they liked the most and least about art spaces, and why. Based on my conversations, I developed three user personas: the tourist, the newcomer, and the local. Each of these personas valued art experiences in Austin in a particular way. Key metrics used to distinguish the personas included: art location, cost, hours, and type of art on display. Additional factors included accessibility, aesthetics of the space, and proximity to other interesting spaces or restaurants. 

Creating a design and user journey

My design for Austin Art Hub prioritizes easy navigation and helpful, concise content. Each user persona can quickly find the information they value. Imagine a user at a restaurant in downtown Austin with their visiting family. They’ve seen the Blanton and want to check out one more art location before they leave town. This user wants a beautiful setting for a stroll and a chat. They use their phone to search Austin art locations and open Austin Art Hub. Laguna Gloria looks fitting—a sculpture park on the water with a beautiful outdoor art walk. Off they go for a picturesque stroll.

Iteration

Not all of my initial designs worked. When I embedded Google Maps, the maps cluttered the page. A user had to click through to a larger map to see anything useful. To fix this, I linked map locations through text which kept the page organized and easy to navigate. I also added two continuously updated resources for current gallery openings and ongoing art shows.

After building and testing a few prototypes, I landed on the current navigation. This navigation separates art museums, art galleries, and community resources as these were the main categories users sought. During my research, people also discussed related topics like art classes, art supplies, studio spaces for rent, and art grants. I included extra resource pages on the site for these users in the footer. I update the site regularly as I learn more about users’ experiences.