Inside Guggenheim Museum
Inside Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's independent mobile app designed to enhance visitors' experiences by providing access and interaction with artworks and their information during in-person visits.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum's independent mobile app designed to enhance visitors' experiences by providing access and interaction with artworks and their information during in-person visits.
ROLE
UX Researcher
UI/UX Designer
TEAM
Solo Personal Project
TOOL
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
DURATION
3 months
ROLE
UI/UX Designer
UX Researcher
TEAM
Solo Personal Project
TOOL
Figma
Illustrator
DURATION
3 months
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City attracts over 860,000 visitors each year, making it a premier destination for both locals and international tourists. Despite its popularity, the museum has maintained a traditional approach and hasn't integrated technology as extensively as other institutions, which makes access towards information of artworks and collections featured in the museum difficult to obtain. This has resulted in visitors expressing frustration over lack of convenience in accessing information during their physical visits.
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City attracts over 860,000 visitors each year, making it a premier destination for both locals and international tourists. Despite its popularity, the museum has maintained a traditional approach and hasn't integrated technology as extensively as other institutions, which makes access towards information of artworks and collections featured in the museum difficult to obtain. This has resulted in visitors expressing frustration over lack of convenience in accessing information during their physical visits.
Majority of in-person visitors reportedly come to see the museum's architecture rather than the artworks or collections inside.
- David Watkin
Majority of in-person visitors reportedly come to see the museum's architecture rather than the artworks or collections inside.
- David Watkin
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
How might we empower diverse users to easily access information and engage more deeply with the artworks and collections for a better museum experience?
How might we empower diverse users to easily access information and engage more deeply with the artworks and collections for a better museum experience?
Current visitors rely on the Bloomberg Connects app for museum information during their visits, but the app provides less information and fewer features compared to the official Guggenheim website. However, the website is also challenging to navigate due to its extensive content. As a result, visitors have voiced the on-site experience to be frustrating and less engaging.
Current visitors rely on the Bloomberg Connects app for museum information during their visits, but the app provides less information and fewer features compared to the official Guggenheim website. However, the website is also challenging to navigate due to its extensive content. As a result, visitors have voiced the on-site experience to be frustrating and less engaging.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
Create an independent "Guggenheim Museum" app that delivers an interactive and informative experience.
Create an independent "Guggenheim Museum" app that delivers an interactive and informative experience.
This mobile app will let users scan QR codes next to artworks for detailed information. It will also provide comprehensive details about collections and help users navigate artworks and collections within the museum.
This mobile app will let users scan QR codes next to artworks for detailed information. It will also provide comprehensive details about collections and help users navigate artworks and collections within the museum.
CURRENT PRACTICES
CURRENT PRACTICES
What do visitors currently use to assist with their visits?
What do visitors currently use to assist with their visits?
Current visitors have two options to enhance their museum visits: the Guggenheim official website or the affiliated Bloomberg Connects app. The museum doesn't have its own independent app; instead, it relies on the Bloomberg Connects app, which offers guides and interactive features for over 200 museums, The Guggenheim Museum being one of them.
I conducted a SWOT analysis on both platforms to identify key features emphasized by the museum and areas crucial for improving in-person tours.
Current visitors have two options to enhance their museum visits: the Guggenheim official website or the affiliated Bloomberg Connects app. The museum doesn't have its own independent app; instead, it relies on the Bloomberg Connects app, which offers guides and interactive features for over 200 museums, The Guggenheim Museum being one of them.
I conducted a SWOT analysis on both platforms to identify key features emphasized by the museum and areas crucial for improving in-person tours.
The website offers extensive information that users can reference to when visiting the museum.
Building an official, independent mobile application with focus on assisting and improving on-site museum experience could enhance accessibility and user experience online and offline.
Technological limitations (ex. augmented reality) can eventually pose threat as the online art world is becoming highly competitive.
The website offers extensive information beyond what is most visited by its users.
The user experience could be enhanced through better organization in terms of search functionality, navigation, and through incorporating more interactivity in which users can use on-site.
Official
Website
Provides audio features for most of the pages.
Provides well-organized map feature for users on their visit on-site.
Develop an independent mobile app offering a comprehensive overview of the museum experience by addressing key visitor needs on site.
Redesign the app to guide Guggenheim visitors and enable direct contact with service teams.
For art enthusiasts, association with the Bloomberg app, which caters to financial interests foremost, can leave the wrong impression that the app serves primarily as a financial commodity rather than as a glimpse of the museum experience.
Accessibility information could not be found within the app, making users refer to it by visiting the website separately.
The app is limited in the amount of information it provides to its users.
Bloomberg Connects
Mobile App
Key Insights: What limitations do visitors face with the current systems?
Access to information
Visitors can access extensive information about museum collections and artworks via the official website, but not through the Bloomberg app. This makes it challenging to obtain information during in-person visits.
Limited interaction
Visitor interaction within the museum is currently limited to audio guides as the sole method of engagement.
Map feature
The official website offers various types of maps to enhance accessibility, while the Bloomberg app shows collection locations on its map feature. However, no platform provides both, resulting in limited user accessibility.
Access to information
Visitors can access extensive information about museum collections and artworks via the official website, but not through the Bloomberg app. This makes it challenging to obtain information during in-person visits.
Limited interaction
Visitor interaction within the museum is currently limited to audio guides as the sole method of engagement.
Map feature
The official website offers various types of maps to enhance accessibility, while the Bloomberg app shows collection locations on its map feature. However, no platform provides both, resulting in limited user accessibility.
Key Insights: What limitations do visitors face with the current systems?
USER RESEARCH
USER RESEARCH
So the Bloomberg Connects app lacks a comprehensive museum guide experience, while the website overwhelms with information. But what information do the users truly seek and require during their visits?
So the Bloomberg Connects app lacks a comprehensive museum guide experience, while the website overwhelms with information. But what information do the users truly seek and require during their visits?
To understand real visitor needs and frustrations during in-person visits to the Guggenheim museum, I contacted a diverse group of users, including those with different app or website experience, NYC residents, travelers, and others. I organized 14 responses into groups for an affinity diagram.
To understand real visitor needs and frustrations during in-person visits to the Guggenheim museum, I contacted a diverse group of users, including those with different app or website experience, NYC residents, travelers, and others. I organized 14 responses into groups for an affinity diagram.
PERSONA
PERSONA
Persona and User Journey.
Persona and User Journey.
Based on gathered user insights, I developed a persona and user journey map to illustrate the target users' needs, experiences, behaviors, and goals.
Based on gathered user insights, I developed a persona and user journey map to illustrate the target users' needs, experiences, behaviors, and goals.
DESIGN DECISIONS
DESIGN DECISIONS
Build an independent mobile app that caters to in-person visitors, delivering essential artwork information and interactive features to enhance the visitor experience.
Build an independent mobile app that caters to in-person visitors, delivering essential artwork information and interactive features to enhance the visitor experience.
By using an independent mobile app, the Guggenheim can have more control over the visitor information and features. Additionally, the mobile platform offers simultaneous support for both pre-visit planning and the in-person experience.
By using an independent mobile app, the Guggenheim can have more control over the visitor information and features. Additionally, the mobile platform offers simultaneous support for both pre-visit planning and the in-person experience.
HOW MIGHT WE?
Problem Statement
While the Guggenheim Museum's official website offers in-depth guides and assistance, the on-site experience falls short, leading to frustration and limited engagement for visitors.
What are the existing pain points during in-person visits to the Guggenheim?
How can visitors interact and augment their experience at the museum?
BRAINSTORMING
BRAINSTORMING
Wireframes.
Wireframes.
VISUAL IDENTITY
VISUAL IDENTITY
Style guide developed based on Guggenheim library.
Style guide developed based on Guggenheim library.
Colors and font families are chosen based on the Guggenheim's design library.
Colors are reimplemented to follow the ADA compliance, and font sizes are decided based on providing accessibility.
Colors and font families are chosen based on the Guggenheim's design library.
Colors are reimplemented to follow the ADA compliance, and font sizes are decided based on providing accessibility.
Final Prototypes.
Final Prototypes.
Using the design system and user research insights, I finalized design decisions for my independent app to create a more comprehensive and interactive experience for Guggenheim museum visitors.
Using the design system and user research insights, I finalized design decisions for my independent app to create a more comprehensive and interactive experience for Guggenheim museum visitors.
INFORMATIVE
Information on individual artworks
Users can view individual artworks from the museum's permanent collection on the app, which provides in-depth information and an audio guide.
INTERACTIVE
QR code for visitor engagement
Interactive moment where visitors can scan the QR code near each artworks to quickly access its information on the app.
Information on individual artworks
Users can view individual artworks from the museum's permanent collection on the app, which provides in-depth information and an audio guide.
INFORMATIVE
QR Code for visitor engagement
Interactive moment where visitors can scan the QR code near each artworks to quickly access its information on the app.
INTERACTIVE
USER TEST
USER TEST
What did the users say?
What did the users say?
User testing provided valuable perspectives, helping me refine the app's user flow to be more seamless and informative for visitors during their visits to the museum.
User testing provided valuable perspectives, helping me refine the app's user flow to be more seamless and informative for visitors during their visits to the museum.
The audio feature is great and very accessible, but initially, it was difficult to identify this feature within the page.
I hope I can see where each of the artworks are located within the museum as well, and not just the collections.
The audio feature is great and very accessible, but initially, it was difficult to identify this feature within the page.
I hope I can see where each of the artworks are located within the museum as well, and not just the collections.
↓ ↓ ↓
REFINE
Prominence on audio feature
The audio feature now has a dedicated section with increased visibility and accompanying text for better accessibility.
Location for individual artworks
Users can press the 'Show on Map' icon to locate individual artworks directly on the map page.
Prominence on audio feature
The audio feature now has a dedicated section with increased visibility and accompanying text for better accessibility.
Location for individual artworks
Users can press the 'Show on Map' icon to locate individual artworks directly on the map page.
REFINE
TAKEAWAY
TAKEAWAY
What went well, what didn't?
What went well, what didn't?
This project focused on user research to identify the needs of Solomon R. Guggenheim museum visitors. Competitive analysis helped create a minimum viable product aligned with the museum's goals. Interviews and surveys with frequent NYC museum-goers provided insights into visitor objectives, sparking ideas to enhance the museum experience.
I wished I had performed more user testing across a diverse range of target users. Despite efforts to reach out, feedback primarily came from younger users. With more time, I would conduct tests with a broader audience, including the elderly, to gain deeper insights and identify areas for improvement.
This project focused on user research to identify the needs of Solomon R. Guggenheim museum visitors. Competitive analysis helped create a minimum viable product aligned with the museum's goals. Interviews and surveys with frequent NYC museum-goers provided insights into visitor objectives, sparking ideas to enhance the museum experience.
I wished I had performed more user testing across a diverse range of target users. Despite efforts to reach out, feedback primarily came from younger users. With more time, I would conduct tests with a broader audience, including the elderly, to gain deeper insights and identify areas for improvement.
What did I learn from it?
What did I learn from it?
From this project, I've come to realize that the role of a UX designer entails greater responsibility in designing the end to end user flow. It starts by understanding user experiences on a deeper, more empathetic level to generate impactful ideas. In my quest to boost visitor engagement and interest in the Guggenheim's artworks, I saw how enhancing user interaction could ultimately increase museum revenue, benefiting both visitors and the institution.
From this project, I've come to realize that the role of a UX designer entails greater responsibility in designing the end to end user flow. It starts by understanding user experiences on a deeper, more empathetic level to generate impactful ideas. In my quest to boost visitor engagement and interest in the Guggenheim's artworks, I saw how enhancing user interaction could ultimately increase museum revenue, benefiting both visitors and the institution.