A platform connecting local artists with paid opportunities, fostering collaboration, and enriching community engagement.
Role
UX/UI Design
Information Architecture
Scope
4 Weeks
Tools
Figma
Canva
The Creative Conundrum:
Where do local artists go?
In today's vibrant creative landscape, local artists strive to showcase their talent and land gigs, while event small business owners grapple with finding talented artists to enhance their events. This disconnect leads to missed opportunities for both parties, creating a void in the local creative community that needs attention.
To delve deeper, I explored Reddit, known for its diverse user base and anonymity. Threads covering artistic disciplines like theatre, singing, dancing, comedy, and crafts revealed local artists' challenges in securing work, while threads seeking talent for local events highlighted the high demand across various artistic disciplines.
Snippet of local artists discussing work opportunities and challenges.
Forming Artistic Alliances
The aim of Trouver is to create a platform that serves as a dynamic catalyst, fostering connections between local artists and event organizers, catering specifically to the distinct requirements of both parties involved. Through an intuitive interface, Trouver empowers artists to engage with potential organizers, simplifying the journey of finding, securing, and coordinating projects.
Target Audience
Age Group:
All ages
Work Profile:
Musicians, Theatre Actors, Craftspeople, Painters, Students
Analysing the competition
I started my UX research with a competitive analysis, identifying the top 3 competitors and here are the insights i found.
BookMyShow
Diverse events/artists
User-friendly
Lacks communication/tools
No artist side
no cancellations.
Broadjam
User-friendly
Musicians only
Neglects other categories
BookAnArtist
Personalized bookings
UI needs improvement
Limited to art fields
What I Found
Insights from the user survey:
Assumption 1:
Primary issue for artists was the quality or availability of gigs in their local area.
Insight:
30% artists said that lack of networking opportunities hindered their ability to discover more gigs and connect effectively with event organizers. Additionally, few opportunities found did not pay enough.
User Persona
After analyzing user surveys and competitors, I crafted Samantha, a single mother and musician who faces challenges in finding local gigs.
She's searching for an easy-to-use platform designed for artists like her, offering concrete job opportunities and putting an end to her cycle of unsuccessful searches.
Redefining the Problem
Local artists struggle to secure gigs due to limited networking and pay, while event organizers find it challenging to efficiently discover and hire talented locals amid the abundance of online information. This impedes collaboration within the creative community and leads to missed opportunities.
How Might We.... streamline local talent discovery process for artists and organizers to enhance collaboration?
Brainstorming & Resolution
After brainstorming and struggling to find a solution for both artists and organizers, I decided to design a web platform with a unified landing page. A web platform was chosen for Trouver over a mobile app for its versatility, allowing seamless access across various devices without the need for app downloads or updates. Users can choose to navigate as artists or organizers.
Artists can search for events, create detailed profiles, and track their audition results. Organizers can find top artists, post event listings, review applications, and make hiring decisions. Hired artists receive notifications about earnings and can chat with organizers. They also have the flexibility to cancel gigs up to 36 hours before the event with a valid reason. This platform aims to simplify communication and offer flexibility in booking for everyone. It addresses the overarching issue of limited networking opportunities and resources for local artists and organizers.
Wireframes
Usability Testing
Once the wireframes were crafted, I transformed them into prototypes and conducted usability tests with 2 artists who were my batchmates, along with a local café owner who acted as an organizer. These tests provided valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the Trouver platform and revealed areas where users experienced challenges or confusion.
The Feedback Loop: Iterative Improvements
For Artists
-
Implement a "Featured Events" header on the artist homepage.
-
Create a media section in the artist profile tab for uploading work samples.
-
Enable profile editing/updating for artists.
For Organisers
Add a "View Work Samples" button on artist profiles, opening a quick popup window for organizers to browse, aiding hiring decisions.
Individuals seeking local talent for hire, unsure of where to begin.
The Final Design
Assumption 2:
Current methods, such as browsing subreddits or Facebook posts, were effective for locating local artists.
Insight:
36% organisers said that the overwhelming volume of posts on these platforms made it difficult to sift through and find relevant talent. Without a centralized platform, organizers struggled to efficiently identify local artists, underscoring the need for a streamlined artist discovery process.
Next Steps For Trouver...
The project's next phase involves conducting additional usability testing for the artist side with the mockup and, refining it based on feedback. Despite planning the organizer side up to wireframing, its complexity delayed completion. Further, more features can be explored for eg: Would integrating contracts prevent artists from exploitation? How will it help organizers? Exploring these questions is vital for Trouver's functionality.
Challenges Faced
Selecting the Right System
Deciding what kind of platform would have broader accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and easier maintenance.
Navigation Complexity
Designing an intuitive navigation in the platform, especially as the it grows in complexity.
User Feedback Integration
Incorporating user feedback to enhance platform usability and address key pain points while prioritizing actionable improvements.
Meeting Diverse Needs of Artists and Organizers
Providing tools for both artists and organizers while maintaining coherence within the platform.
My Learnings...
Striking the Right Balance:
Finding the sweet spot in How Might We statements is pivotal; they should be broad to address user needs effectively yet focused enough to be actionable.
Empathy as a Foundation:
Comprehending the user's viewpoint and empathizing with their needs and challenges is fundamental for crafting user-centric designs.
Iterative Learning Process:
Recognizing that perfection isn't immediate, Along the design journey, I've encountered instances where certain ideas seemed nonsensical, or better approaches emerged only after user testing or evaluating the final mockup.
For instance, separating the user profile and portfolio into distinct tabs could have enhanced usability and design clarity.
Managing Complexity:
Projects often evolve over time, becoming more intricate as deeper insights into the problem are uncovered.
