ArtEcho
/aart - eh·kow/
mobile application
ArtEcho is a mobile application that allows users to customize their museum visit. They can personalize an itinerary for their visit at their fingertips and browse audio tours with ease. The typical user is between 20-55 years old, and most users are busy professionals or those that are seeking a tailored museum experience. ArtEcho’s goal is to make the enjoyment of art accessible to anyone and everyone, no matter your lifestyle.
The Problem
Museum visits can seem daunting and interested guests might not know how to tailor their visit.
The Goal
Design an audio tour application with clear navigation and allow browsing of audio tours and customizable scheduling options to offer more accessibility to visiting the museum.
User Research Summary
I conducted user interviews which I converted into an empathy map to better understand the target user’s needs. I discovered that many target users do not use audio tours for museum visits or predominantly look at a map/list of exhibits and plan their visit from there. If they were to participate in a tour, it is a guided tour with an in-person tour guide more likely in a group with other visitors. However, many users expressed that a more accessible way to access person guided tour would incline them to use it to guide their visit.
Pain Points
Limited to using museum's device to listen to audio tours — wanted ease of access through mobile device
In-person guided tours are not always suitable for all visitors. Audio guided tours gives various platforms for guests to experience the museum
Mobile application allows features beyond audio tours (map, help/support, creating personalized schedule for visit.
User Personas
“Having a work-life balance is very important to me. Going to things like an art gallery on the weekends with my family are great. We just don’t have the capabilities to comfortably enjoy a group tour.”
Clark Jenkins
Age: 45
Education: B.A. in Marketing
Hometown: Boston, MA
Family: Wife & 3 kids
Occupation: Marketing VP
Goals
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Be able to successfully plan family outings with ease.
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Maintain work-life balance.
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Be able to give his family opportunities to see art & other cultures.
Frustrations
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“I want to be able to take my family to things like art galleries but don’t have time to research tours.”
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“My wife has social anxiety so large tour groups make it difficult for her to concentrate.”
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“Keeping 3 kids together during a tour group can be a challenge”
Clark is a busy marketing VP but also a loving husband and dad. He wants to be sure he can spend enough time with his family going to places like art galleries. His wife has social anxiety and trying to keep their 3 kids together in a group in-person tour is challenging. Therefore, a mobile app with audio, self-guided tours for an art gallery would be a huge help for their family’s visit!
“I love art galleries & need to do research there for my art classes. Guided group tours are hard to keep up with while taking notes!”
Kelsey La
Age: 19
Education: Art Student
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Family: Single, lives alone
Occupation: Full time student
Goals
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Efficiently & effectively make use of her time at the art gallery
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Have an easy way to access information about the gallery & its art both in/out of the gallery
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Have a way to tour the gallery at her own pace for research & note-taking
Frustrations
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“In-person guided tours are difficult to keep up with in terms of note-taking/research”
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“I wish there was an easy & accessible way I can reference the information about the gallery in and out of it.”
Kelsey is a full time art student so going to art galleries is part of her regular routine. Because she has to do research/takes notes there, regular group guided tours are difficult to follow along with. Also, the information on tours are valuable to her so she doesn’t want to miss it! Having a mobile app that has auditory self guided tours would be ideal as she can go through the gallery at her own pace and go back to information for reference if needed.