Sammy the Digital Canvas is an interactive drawing software designed specifically for the Susquehanna Art Museum to address this issue. It allows patrons to engage with the exhibits and share their creativity with others.
My role:
User research, Project Management
Client:
The Susquehanna Art Museum
Tools:
Adobe XD, Google Jamboard, Google Forms
Team:
Nia P.
Mickey L.
James G.
Troyan C.
Project Mandate
Design an interactive technology for a museum with the intention to increase engagement.
Research and Analysis
What makes a museum visit truly engaging?
To comprehend the museum experience, my team and I immersed ourselves in two observational studies, becoming observers of visitors' behaviors and interactions. These observations allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of the user journey.
During the our initial field research. we observed:
Many attendees moved through the space quickly, glancing from art piece to the next.
Some instinctively reached out to touch the artwork.
There was little insight into what they took away from the experience.
Competitive analysis
We conducted a comprehensive competitive analysis, venturing beyond our museum's walls to explore the offerings of other art institutions. Through this exploration, we gleaned valuable insights and identified areas where our museum could differentiate and excel.
IMED 340 - Competitive AnalysisIn comparison to other museums, SAM was found to lack significant social media prominence, limiting its reach and engagement with a wider audience. SAM lacks social media prominence, accessibility for hearing impairments and sensory disorders, and interactive engagement. There’s an opportunity to enhance inclusivity and create innovative, tech-driven experiences that bridge the gap between art and technology, making the museum more immersive and engaging for all visitors.
By prioritizing these core features, Homeo’s MVP would immediately address the biggest student frustrations, laying the foundation for a more transparent and efficient maintenance reporting experience.
SME interview
Seeking expert guidance, we engaged in an enlightening SME interview, tapping into the wisdom and perspectives of those immersed in the art and technology realms.
Activity Insights
The museum has very unstable internet
The museum was not equipped with newer technology
Doesn’t want technology to distract from overall "feel" of the room
Personas
Ideation
During the project ideation process, we embarked on a creative journey to shape the design of Sammy the Digital Canvas.
8 ups sketches: It began with the creation of eight initial sketches, each representing a distinct design idea. These sketches served as a springboard for exploration and discussions about how to incorporate digital tech into the museum. First, we analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each design idea to determine the most promising concepts. Next, we prioritized sketches based on their alignment with the project goals and potential to enhance the museum experience and selected standout designs for further exploration and refinement.
Design Charette: Through a design charrette, we collaborated as a team, brainstorming and refining our concepts to ensure they aligned with our project goals. The resulting design charrette report captured our collective insights and provided a solid foundation for the next phase.
Collaborated as a team to generate new ideas and refine existing concepts.& Engaged in brainstorming sessions to explore different possibilities and perspectives.
Conducted critiques and discussions to evaluate the feasibility and alignment of ideas with project goals.
Consolidated insights and feedback into a design charrette report, capturing the collective decisions and directions for the next phase.
Project Brief
With a clear vision in mind, we condensed our findings into a comprehensive project brief, outlining the key objectives and guiding principles for the development of Sammy. This process not only fostered creativity but also offered valuable insights that shaped our design direction, ensuring a compelling and meaningful experience for museum attendees.
Synthesized research findings and insights to identify key objectives and guiding principles.
Documented the project brief, outlining the agreed-upon objectives and principles for the development of Sammy.
Copy of IMED340 Project Brief.pdfDesign
Interaction Modeling - Initial Prototyping
Interaction Storyboard.pdfInformation Architecture:
Identified key interaction points and user goals and conduct a cognitive walkthrough
Developed a clear and logical structure for organizing content and functionality within the application.
Created user flow diagrams to visualize the sequential steps and decision points in the user journey.
Final Prototype
Users can use the tutorial to familiarize themselves with the tools to create visuals. The software will detect obscene images and profanity, which prevents submission to the museum.
Users can share the artwork with the museum, as well as send the memory to themselves via email.