WeCreate
2020
UX/UI Design
AUS
Course Design Projects
Brief Overview
The goal of the project was to create a purposeful design that solves an existing problem in the region. The project defined and dissected the issue of a lack of an adequate platform that connects creative people to art and design workshops. Deeper research was conducted in order to develop a solution that involved creating a digital platform as well promotional strategies that enabled an easier process for creative individuals to find their preferred workshops in the region.
Problem Definition
Defined an opportunity from research into the following issue:
Lack of an adequate method of finding and booking art and design workshops in the UAE.
The initially defined stakeholders that are affected by this problem are:
Art and design students that cannot find or do not know about existing workshops that can help developing their skills in fields they are passionate about.
Designers that are working in the field lack knowledge about workshops that can expand their skills.
Studios that provide workshops are not able to reach a larger scope of people due to their methods of connections.
Later on, a more thorough stakeholder map was developed to fully understand the role of each party taking part on the process of finding and booking a workshop.
Primary Research
Observations were conducted to prove the existence of the issue.
The subjects were asked to name a type of workshop they would be interested in participating in, then they were asked to conduct research and try to find that workshop in the region. The goal was to test how long it would take them and how difficult the process would be.
Then, a survey was led on direct stakeholders in the UAE to further confirm the problem and understand their needs in order to develop the best solution for them. The key survey results are as follows:
How many times have you been to
an art and design workshop?
Used to create a benchmark to understand how often the potential user attend workshops.
How difficult is it for you to find a workshop of interest?
Used to clarify the degree of the problem.
As shown, a large portion of participants found the current process difficult, illustrating user needs.
From that, a research question was developed:
How can the process of finding and registering for creative workshops in the UAE become easier?
Do you believe there should be an easier way for booking workshops?
Although some participants found the current process of booking workshops easier, they still believe there should be an easier way. Demonstrating the demand for a solution.
The project aims were:
01
To help people learn new skills and improve existing ones by creating a seamless process of discovering and register for workshops.
02
To create a better way to connect studio owners to their target audience in order to increase client base.
What type of platform would you use?
The results show that the majority of participants prefer to use an application. Which was used as a guide to provide the best platform for the user.
Defining Users
After fully defining the problem, three personas were developed in order analyze how the problem is affecting the users. In addition to defining areas of improvement that would provide them with a seamless experience.
Then, target users were defined based on the personas in order to create a more user focused solution. Our target users were art and design enthusiasts ages 18-40 located in the UAE, as well as UAE workshop studio owners.
Solution Development
Finally, the solution was developed by providing a digital service that connecting creative individuals to art and design workshops in the region.
The service included an application that showcased a database for venues and courses and provided users with an easier method of booking workshops and tracking them. In addition to a social media launch and promotional activities in art and design events and Universities.
Application Prototype
Promotions
In addition to developing a social media presence on Instagram to campaign the application, popup booths would be created. They would be placed in universities to promote the platform to students. In addition to popups in creative events in the region such as soledxb and Dubai Design Week to promote the application to art enthusiasts. These popups will be interactive and provide visitors with promotional discounts.
User Journey
To fully illustrate the process of using the application and how it affects the user’s experience of booking and attending workshops in the region, a User Journey Map was developed.
Conclusion
WeCreate’s main purpose is to help all parties included, from the user to the studio. Its goal is to assist users in their process of attending workshops by reducing unnecessary touchpoints, and to increase studio’s customers by providing them with exposure.
In order to evaluate the platforms success, we will collaborate with studios to gain feedback from clients as to where they found the workshop, create annual studio feedback meetings and app reviews from users, and evaluate AppStore ratings.
