MUSE
Team Project | Fall 2023
UX UI Design | Figma & IoT
T​EAM
MY ROLE
User Research, UX UI Design, and Video Editing
Muse is the B2C art visit assistant for the school art museum (UMMA). In this project, we utilized IoT sensors and RFID technology within an aesthetically pleasing overhead spotlight, emphasizing a blend of technology and design.
My role involved tackling common navigation and engagement challenges in art museums. Through Muse, We aimed to create an intuitive and enriching museum experience. The design process carefully balanced functional needs and aesthetic considerations, ensuring the technology-enhanced rather than intruded upon the museum experience.
KEY FEATURE 1
Intuitive Navigation
MUSE provides an intuitive navigation guide for multi-floor museum layouts, using an IoT cloud to transmit real-time geographic information to our app, allowing users to easily locate their desired art galleries.
KEY FEATURE 2
Interactive Art Appreciation
MUSE enhances art appreciation by using RFID readers to sync users' presence with the artwork they're viewing in the app. This allows interactive exploration, such as rotating views and audio descriptions, overcoming the challenges of crowded galleries and small text in traditional museum settings.
KEY FEATURE 3
After-Visit Report
As visitors exit the museum, MUSE automatically generates a comprehensive after-visit report. This personalized summary highlights key aspects of their experience, such as visit duration, favorite genres, and preferred artists. Designed to offer insightful reflections, it can be easily shared with fellow art enthusiasts, enhancing the appreciation of art.
Problem
At UMMA, visitors face challenges with unclear navigation and low engagement during and after their museum experience. These challenges undermine the overall quality of visits and detract from UMMA's mission to "create experiences that enrich understanding and foster joy."
Target Audience
"I've always enjoyed art but struggled to understand the meanings behind the pieces."
Pain Points
• Struggled to find the desired gallery
• The texts are too small to read
• Find the experience not engaged
Goals
• A more interactive visit experience
• An easier way to navigate
• Find our her art interests and genres
Project Goal
How might we enhance the UMMA tour experience to align naturally with art visitor habits, making it more intuitive and engaging?
Research Methods
1. Cultural Probe: To uncover specific challenges related to navigation and engagement at UMMA
2. Survey: What technologies and tools do visitors use to enhance their experience during a visit to art museums
Cultural Probe Findings
What factors limit a better experience at UMMA?
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Visitors face challenges in navigating complex routes and reading unclear maps
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Text descriptions are often either too small or too lengthy
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Visitors tend to forget the names and specific details of the exhibits after their visits
KEY INSIGHTS
1
Visitors face challenges navigating complex routes and reading unclear maps
“When I tried to visit the 'Hear Me Now' exhibition, I had a hard time finding it because the names on the map were inconsistent with those inside the gallery.”
2
Visitors desire more interactive elements and a stronger representation of thematic content
“Most exhibits in the museum do not allow touching. I feel that if there were more interactive elements, it would make the overall experience more profound and engaging.”
3
Some visitors use their phones to search for information because descriptions are either too small or too lengthy
“Whenever I want to read the descriptions, I need to walk up close to them, and the text is usually very small. I can't view the descriptions and the exhibits at the same time.”
4
Visitors tend to forget the names and specific details of the exhibits after their visits
“After visiting the exhibition once, I wanted to share photos of the exhibits with my friend, but I forgot to take pictures. It took me a long time to find that particular exhibit online.”
CULTURAL PROBE FINDINGS
What factors limit a better experience at UMMA?
1. Visitors face challenges in navigating complex routes and reading unclear maps
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2. Text descriptions are often either too small or too lengthy
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3. Visitors tend to forget the names and specific details of the exhibits after their visits
SURVEY FINDINGS
What contributes to a better art visit experience?
Among the 31 responses we collected, most visitors desire museums to provide interactive media to enhance their experiences. Meanwhile, a clear navigation is needed to ensure no exhibitions are missed.
Insight 1
Digital devices including museum apps, screens, audio, and QR codes are naturally adepted
Insight 2
Visitors seek a more interactive experience
Insight 3
A clear, user-friendly navigation system within the museum can greatly enhance the experience
Among the 31 responses we collected, we found out
80%
of respondents have utilized a museum’s app
68%
of respondents prefer to have interactive exhibits
Which interactions or devices enhance the experience with artworks?
Screen
58%
60%
of respondents expect to have clear information & guide
Audio
54%
QR code
48%
8/10
Occasionally miss out on exhibits due to unclear navigation cues
XR
41%
Design Solution
Integration of IoT and the mobile phone app
To align with visitors' natural museum habits and ensure an uninterrupted experience, we envisioned the integration of IoT technology with overhead spotlights. This approach is designed to work seamlessly with our phone app, enhancing the overall visit without intrusion.
Phone app
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Integration of IoT with overhead spotlights
How we tackle the users' main pain points
1
Problem: Unclear Navigation
Solution: Implement RFID technology to guide users to stairs/elevators for efficient multi-floor navigation
2
Problem: Limited Text Accessibility and Interactivity
Solution: Provide real-time synchronized descriptions of art pieces via the phone app
3
Problem: Incomplete Understanding of the Visit
Solution: Generate a detailed after-visit report, offering personalized recommendations and insights to deepen the understanding and enjoyment of the visit
Concept Testing
To evaluate the effectiveness of the design solution and IoT integration, we conducted tests simulating two typical scenarios: evaluating indoor navigation with a 3D-rendered model and simulating art pieces using perfume bottles.
Actions we took after receiving feedback
1. Enhance user engagement by introducing interactivity with 3D art pieces
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2. Improve the navigation system, potentially by drawing inspiration from Google Maps to better align with user mental models
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3. Include a feature for visit history, enabling users to track and reflect on their journey through the museum
PROTOTYPING
Wireframing
We initiated the prototyping process by sketching out key pages such as the home page, art piece page, navigation page, and others, laying the foundation for our app's design structure.
3. Enable users to track their journey
1. Users can interact with 3D art pieces
Home page
Direction
Art Appreciation
Navigation
360 Model
Visit Report
2. Align with users' familiar navigation system
Style Guide
In alignment with UMMA's established visual identity, our team has chosen blue as the primary color and yellow for accents. As the UI lead, I established the main components and visual effects, including shadows and background blur. This color scheme and design approach foster a user interface that is clean, friendly, and welcoming.
Hi-fi
Navigation System
Our system addresses unclear navigation by transforming indoor museum navigation using RFID technology for seamless guidance. It detects mobile devices and sends real-time location data to our app, providing users with an intuitive and precise indoor navigation experience akin to Google Maps.
Not missing out on an exhibition anymore
Assistance with multi-floor navigation by accurately directing visitors to the appropriate stairs or elevators.
Hi-fi
Art Appreciation
As visitors approach artworks, our system uses RFID readers to detect tags in their devices, automatically sending updated art information to their phones. This enhances the art appreciation experience by providing dynamic content directly to users, addressing issues of text accessibility and interactivity, and reducing reliance on printed descriptions.
Audio
Text descriptions
The app will synchronously update exhibition information as visitors approach
Visitors can interact with 3D pieces via their phone
Hi-fi
After-visit Summary
Our system boosts art appreciation by using RFID tags to track the time visitors spend on each artwork. It calculates the duration between successive tag readings to offer a detailed visit summary, identify visitors' favorite pieces, and provide a comprehensive recap that broadens their understanding.
Receive personalized Recommendations to enhance art knowledge
Share the report with friends on social media
After visit report
Reflection
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Feedback from UX Professionals: After showcasing Muse, we received appreciation for its user-focused design and identified areas for improvement. Our next steps include refining user engagement metrics and broadening our approach beyond merely measuring time spent per art piece to increase accuracy.
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Business Potential: Muse could extend beyond B2C applications by aiding art curators in tailoring exhibitions to visitor preferences, showcasing its possibility in business contexts.
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Broader Impact: Muse's success at UMMA could serve as a model for other art museums, showcasing our commitment to innovative, user-centered design solutions.