unTold: Pen pals-based collective art website
Mariia Semenova
How might we combine a digital platform and traditional art-making in one service?
Brief
Over the past year, I developed unTold – a pen pals-based collaborative art program that aims to bring people together for meaningful, personal conversations.
- From concept validation to user testing, I wanted to create a service that combines a digital website and in-person mailing systems in a linear, comprehensive experience.
My Role
- UX Research
- UI/UX Design
- Brand & Visual Design
Deliverables
- A comprehensive & interactive website prototype
- Mail art & new connections made as a result of user research sessions.
Tools Used
- Figma (for website design & prototyping)
- Adobe CC (for branding & communication materials)
Inspired by loneliness epidemic, my goal was to create a service that directly challenges the key obstacles to social connection-building.
- Loneliness epidemic is a globally perceived increase in social isolation due to the lack of quality in personal connections.
Key Paint Points
- Culture of Individualism – that teaches us to be independent first and dependable second.
- Lack of Energy & Time – as growing family and job responsibilities can lead to limited time spent on oneself or with friends.
- Overreliance on Technology – that despite helping to discover and maintain connections can limit personal interactions.
Project Goals
- Collaborative Art Projects – that invites people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
- Guided Group Exchanges – with pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
- Support Materials for Various Art Mediums – that would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
User Journey
As seen below, unTold, is a collaborative art-making service, that invites users to connect through identified shared topics, and create shared artworks based on a given prompt.
User Research
Concept Validation
Based on a group of 4 participants with shared interests, I ran a test session:
- 4 rounds of postcard exchanges – 5 minutes each.
- In collaborative space – to test if connection-making is even possible when creating collaboratively.
- All materials provided (collage papers, pens, pencils, graphic tapes, etc.)
Positive Outcomes
- Participants enjoyed the process and felt they learned more about one another
- Everyone felt comfortable when creating based on the provided prompt & materials
Potential Concerns
- Some worried that distance can challenge connection-making
- A few spoke to potentially lacking incentive to participate consistently
Digital Prototype
Based on the research outcomes, I began working on a Figma prototype of the website, which at this stage consisted of low-fidelity wireframes of the key pages, such as:
People Finding
For users to view other members, filtered by shared interests & tags.
Prompt Review
Where users can write or view other members’ suggested creative prompts.
Group Preview
A group page for users to view their exchange members & track progress.
Discovery Research
To further continue refining the platform, I ran two separate research sessions – one being a remote, mail-based art exchange, and the other an in-person group workshop.
This helped me better understand the benefits and challenges of each, and identify which aspects my project should adapt.
Mail-a-Round
A group mailing where 3 people across Canada were recruited to mail each other postcard artworks based on the prompt given to them.
In-Person Workshop
An in-person, group art-making workshop that invited people to create together in real time.
Positive Outcomes
- All participants connected well despite different age or cultural groups
- Provided prompts were engaging, even though they covered limited topics
Potential Concerns
- Scheduling clashes due to lack of familiarity with mailing turnaround times
- Difficulties when combining mediums, such as traditional & digital art
Updated Digital Prototype
Using the key outcomes and concerns identified above as a guide, I continued developing the website prototype. Main design changes include:
Specialized Tags
Pre-determined list of tags, which would simplify the process of connection-making.
Tags would be based on hobbies or communities, through which participants find one another.
Level of Commitment
A scale that would filter people based on how much time they are willing to give, to ensure all group members are equally involved in the process.
“How to” Section
To make the combination of materials easier.
The page includes support materials, such as mailing templates and postcard addressing guides.
Platform Usability Testing
As I continued developing the website, each set of updates was followed by evaluative usability testing.
This was done to ensure that all new features made sense within the digital context as much as they did for the in-person sessions.
Key discovery: Information Architecture & Instructional Clarity
While overall all functions made sense in the context of the project, participants had hard time navigating individual stages of the process, as the system of artwork exchange was new to them.
To support the process, I created multiple tracking and guidance features (written & visual) to make the navigation process more linear.
The new features created to support this discovery were:
Step-By-Step Instructions
To make the process smoother and more comprehensive, they would be available on each group’s page for direct support.
Progress Tracker & Notifications
If scheduling issues occur, this would keep participants connected with each other’s process.
Final Website Design
UX & Functionality
Based on the insights discovered through the layering of discovery research and iterative user testing sessions, unTold became a comprehensive art pals system, that aims to bring communities together for the creative and collaborative exchange of their untold stories.
Collaborative Art Projects Based on Shared Interests
Profile Personalization within Registration Process
Group Finding Page – Filtered by Chosen Interests
Guided Group Exchanges and Collective Idea Sharing
Group Page with Participant Introductions & Guided Project Instructions
Community-Written Prompts
Guidance Tools & Support for Various Art Mediums
Home Page with Quick Overview Sections
“How to” Page with Mailing Guides & Creative Materials
UI & Branding
Through conversations lead with research participants during all the stages of the process – I developed the design system to reflect key aspects of unTold as a brand.
The visual presentation needed to feel creative, inviting and whimsical, and therefore I wanted to lean into somewhat childish, yet fun and almost magical aestehtic.
Through iterative user test sessions, users also indicated the colors and style choices they preferred seeing.
The more in-depth style guide with individual elements can be seen below.
Summary
Through thorough and layered research process, I developed a digital web-platform that support the creation of real-life connections through:
Collaborative Art Projects
That invite people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
Guided Group Exchanges
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
Various Art Mediums
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
