MuseMap
Introduction
Led the creation of the Art Gallery App as Lead UX Designer and Researcher (November 2024 – January 2025).
Aimed to transform gallery visits into seamless, inclusive, and personalized journeys.
Developed an experience that empowered visitors to connect with art in meaningful ways
The Problem
Imagine walking into a sprawling art gallery, excited to explore, only to be faced with confusing layouts, unclear signage, and limited accessibility tools. It’s overwhelming for anyone, but families with kids, visitors with mobility challenges, and casual art lovers often experience the most frustration. This project sought to change that by making art galleries more welcoming, accessible, and enjoyable for everyone.
Research
I started with listening to understand the challenges users faced and uncover their needs. My research combined the following:
Talking to People
Maria, who uses a wheelchair, emphasized the importance of seamless step-free navigation.
Emma, an art enthusiast, wanted tailored recommendations to maximize her visits.
James, a casual visitor, sought intuitive ways to find gallery highlights.
Sarah, an art teacher and parent, needed stress-free navigation and child-friendly features.
Analyzing the Bigger Picture
I uncovered gaps in gallery attendance among younger, older, and minority groups.
A competitive analysis revealed the shortcomings of existing museum apps in accessibility and user engagement.
These insights laid the foundation for creating a tool that prioritizes accessibility, clarity, and personalization.
Ideation
With user needs in focus, I began designing an app centered on three core features:
Streamlined Navigation: Accessible maps with filters for step-free routes and key highlights.
Interactive Features: Augmented reality guides, audio descriptions, and note-saving options.
Customizable Content: Settings tailored to different expertise levels and visitor preferences.
To ensure the designs reflected user diversity, I used personas and journey maps. Early sketches allowed me to experiment with simplicity and inclusivity from the outset.
Design and Iteration:
Mockups and High-Fidelity Prototypes
As the app’s design evolved, I moved into the high-fidelity prototype phase to refine the user experience:
Key features such as accessible maps, AR and AI guides, and customizable settings were integrated.
Visual designs were polished to make the app as appealing as it was functional.
User flows and interactions were rigorously tested to ensure responsiveness and intuitiveness.
This phase allowed me to validate assumptions and make critical adjustments based on real-world user feedback.
Key Testing Results
Testing was pivotal in shaping the app’s final form. Here’s what the usability tests revealed:
First Test:
Users experienced a 33% drop-off rate due to unclear map elements.
Accessibility features had a 100% success rate but showed a 26% misclick rate.
The booking flow was functional but had an 11% misclick rate.
Second Test:
Improved map clarity reduced the drop-off rate to 24%.
Enhanced button responsiveness lowered misclicks on accessibility features to 17%.
Booking flow errors dropped to just 2%, delivering near-seamless functionality.
Final Test:
Navigation tasks scored 4.16/5, up from 3/5 in the first test.
Accessibility tasks showed consistent success with even fewer errors.
The app’s polished design and intuitive user experience received widespread praise.
User testimonials
Here’s what users had to say about their experience with the app:
“Overall, pretty easy to use. The tasks are pain-point free.”
“I felt pretty comfortable using the app and enjoyed using it.”
“It was a pretty seamless experience. I could manage all the tasks easily.”
“Great effort and good design choices.”
“Good job with the prototype! My experience was good.”
“The app is easy to navigate.”
These comments reflect the app’s ability to provide an intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly experience.
Key Performance Indicators
From the outset, I set clear KPIs to guide the project. Here’s how they were met:
Accessibility:
Users completed all tasks, with error rates dropping by 35% due to enhanced button responsiveness and clearer interactive elements.
User Satisfaction:
Usability scores averaged 4.16/5, a significant improvement from 3/5 in early tests. Refinements to navigation and booking flows contributed greatly.
Navigation Efficiency:
Drop-off rates decreased by 9%, thanks to streamlined map interfaces and visual cues.
Error Reduction:
Booking flow errors fell to just 2%, simplifying critical tasks for users.
These achievements reflect the project’s success in delivering a user-centered and impactful design.
Challenges and Learnings
Challenges were inevitable, but they were opportunities to grow. Early on, users struggled with confusing map interfaces and extra steps for accessibility paths. By listening to their feedback and iterating, I simplified task flows and added actionable feedback, making the app intuitive and enjoyable for all users.
Conclusion
Reflecting on this project, I feel immense satisfaction knowing that the Art Gallery App reimagines what a gallery visit can be. It’s inclusive, intuitive, and engaging. By keeping users at the center of the design process, the app meets diverse needs while exceeding expectations.
With all KPIs achieved, this project demonstrates the transformative power of user-centered design in creating meaningful and impactful solutions