Overview

INST406: (Cross-Disciplinary Communication Lab): Group Project

Project highlights and responsibilities overview

My Role

UX Researcher

UX/UI Designer

Timeline of Project

2 weeks: Discovery & Research

2 weeks: Ideation & Branding

3 weeks: Prototyping & User Testing

Skills Incorporated

UX Research, Design Thinking, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Testing

Tools Utilized

Figma

FigJam

Understanding the Problem

Discovering pain points users face through empathy and research

Creativity seems to be waning in our society, especially as adults struggle to manage busy schedules, and AI encroaches on traditional artistic domains. As creatives ourselves, we resonate deeply with this struggle. Our goal is to counteract the decline in creative engagement by fostering supportive environments where individuals can share their projects, discover inspiration, and reignite their passion for creation. We envision a future where artistic expression thrives, and individuals find solace and encouragement in their creative endeavors.

User Interviews

We each conducted two user interviews, aimed at further understanding young people’s current relationship with technology, their autonomy over their free time, and creativity. We interviewed a total of 4 people, providing 110+ data points, 3 main themes, and 9 insights.

Affinity Mapping

Following the user interviews, we shifted to affinity mapping to highlight common themes our users were facing. We used FigJam to organize comments and identify common pain points. This gave us a thorough understanding of what our users needed in a platform aimed at fostering creativity and community. This process paved a clear path for refining CraftShare to cater to the diverse dimensions of creative expression, shaped by our users' perspectives.

Main Themes + Insights

Theme 1: Technology Use Behaviors

Individuals struggle to balance technology with creative pursuits, often feeling overwhelmed by screen time

Theme 2: Creativity & Community

Social media platforms evoke mixed feelings, inspiring and discouraging users in their online interactions

While some embrace AI as a creative tool, others express concerns about its impact on art's authenticity and intentionality

Creative expression is deeply intertwined with personal lifestyle and hobbies, serving as relaxation and self-expression

Desire for intentional engagement with creative activities stems from personal fulfillment needs and a sense of accomplishment

Theme 3: Social Media Use

COVID-19 has influenced creative habits and hobbies, prompting experimentation with new activities and interests

Autonomy over free time is valued, but many feel unsure how to utilize it amidst distractions.

Community significantly inspires creativity through shared experiences, collaboration, and diverse perspectives

While technology facilitates learning and discovery, it also challenges maintaining a healthy online-offline balance

User Persona

We crafted a persona to represent our ideal user. By understanding her frustrations and needs, our user persona helped shape our ideation and design process, ensuring that CraftShare addresses the challenges and desires of people like Hailey seeking a supportive and inspiring creative community.

Developing a Solution

Using what we had learned to create a customized product fit to our user’s needs

Competitive Analysis

We conducted a comprehensive competitive analysis to understand current market trends and evaluate similar products. We identified key characteristics, highlighting both strengths and weaknesses. This process revealed essential features to include in CraftShare, such as the ability to search and save inspiration, daily challenges, discover local events, and a profile page to showcase artwork and list it for sale.

Final Solution

User Flow

We divided the task and each crafted specific user flows that prioritize intuitive navigation and a seamless user experience in CraftShare. This section highlights the flows I personally developed.

Key:

(Tiktok creator) As a creative, I am looking for a place to expand my platform by posting craft videos.

(Tiktok creator) As a creative, I am looking for a place to expand my platform by selling my work.

(Amateur Creative) As a creative, I am looking to find places and spaces near me that are hosting in-person creative events.

Designing & Iterating

Developing CraftShare as a brand and incorporating user feedback as we develop high-fidelity wireframes

Brand Identity

We wanted CraftShare to embody a vibrant and welcoming community, invoking a warm feeling when someone enters the app. We played with color theory, iconography, and vector art to create a cohesive and inspiring visual identity.

Low Fidelity Wireframes

Mid Fidelity Wireframes

High Fidelity Wireframes

Incorporating User Feedback / Main Improvements:

  • Etsy Integration & Listings:

    • Concern: What happens if I already have an Etsy page with dozens of listings? Do I have to manually add everything one by one?
      Solution: Implemented an Etsy integration feature.

    Daily Challenges:

    • Concern: Can I view other daily challenges? How can I see what my friends or others may be working on?
      Solution: Users can view other submissions after they submit their own.

    Profile Personalization:

    • Concern: If our profile is meant to be a digital artbook, how can it be personalized?
      Solution: Added the option for users to include not only a profile picture but also a custom banner image.

    Event Registration:

    • Concern: Can I register for events through the app, or only view them?
      Solution: Provided one-click registration that automatically sends event details to the contact info on file.

Prototypes

Completed the design phase by incorporating insights from user research and seamlessly integrating them into the finalized designs.

Search & Save Inspiration from Others

Browse and save inspiration from a vast pool of user projects. Search and watch how-to videos to broaden your crafting skills.

Daily Design Challenges

Engage in daily challenges to try different mediums, enhance your skills and share your creations with the community.

Events & Calendar

Discover and register for local art events like crochet clubs and paint nights, connecting with the local art community.

Making a Post

Showcase your creative projects and build a digital portfolio on your profile. Option to credit inspiration sources to promote community.

Profile Page (Digital Art Book)

Display work in your custom art book, list items for sale, view awards, and check your art gallery of saved inspiration.

Reflection

Reflecting on CraftShare as a Project

This project presented unique challenges as it was undertaken by just two of us, covering the research, ideation, and prototyping phases on our own rather than in a larger group. This structure pushed us to stretch our creative boundaries in ways we hadn't before.

This experience also sparked broader discussions about the future possibilities for CraftShare if this was a product we committed to. As we envisioned the next few years to a decade, we realized the potential for expanding beyond a digital platform. We imagined establishing physical spaces that bridge the gap between a vibrant online community and tangible, collaborative environments. Our idea is to create not just venues for scheduled events—like those we would book in coffee shops or community centers—but also permanent spaces where members can freely engage in creative activities anytime, whether that's working on a painting, writing a book, etc.

Next Steps

01

Refine Onboarding Experience

With more time, we would develop a streamlined onboarding system to quickly integrate and familiarize new users with CraftShare’s core functions and community.

02

Enhance User Journeys

We aim to expand pathways and streamline user journeys, making the platform more responsive and inclusive for diverse user behaviors and preferences.

Thank You!

Please check out my other Projects!

03

High-Fidelity User Testing

We plan to conduct focused user testing on our high-fidelity prototypes to refine usability and functionality, ensuring the final design is intuitive and accessible.