As lead designer, I developed a platform for Mbari to enhance accessibility to African art and literature. The project addressed challenges like content discoverability, user accessibility, and artist submission processes, resulting in a vibrant, user-centered website
The Challenge
Mbari's previous website faced challenges in meeting its audience's needs. The magazine aimed to boost engagement by offering an appealing platform with valuable resources tailored to its users.
Research and Insights
To understand user needs, I conducted user interviews with African art enthusiasts, artists, and magazine patrons. Additionally, I performed a competitive audit to evaluate similar platforms and identify areas where Mbari could stand out.
The research revealed three key challenges:
1. Discoverability: users struggled to find a reliable and centralized source for contemporary African art.
2. Accessibility: busy schedules and difficulty focusing limited engagement with written content.
3. Submission process: artists found the artwork submission system cumbersome and discouraging.
By analyzing these insights and benchmarking against competitors, I identified opportunities to design an inclusive, user-friendly platform that simplifies discovery, encourages engagement, and supports contribution to African art.
Design Process
Starting with mobile-first wireframes, I prioritized accessibility and engagement, adding features like an audio player and robust content filtering tools.
After creating wireframes and prototypes, I conducted usability studies to refine the design based on user feedback.
I also designed a new logo that aligns with the platform’s modern and culturally vibrant identity.
Key Features
The redesign introduced an audio player for accessibility, an intuitive toolbar for content discovery, a simple form to submit content and visually rich layouts to enhance user engagement.
Deliverables included user research, a competitive audit, a revamped website interface, and a cohesive new logo that embodies Mbari's vision.
Outcomes and Impact
The redesign resolved key user frustrations and created a seamless experience for both art enthusiasts and contributors. Positive feedback highlighted the improved navigation and accessibility. Insights from a competitive audit informed unique design choices, positioning Mbari as a standout platform for exploring and sharing African art.
A participant in the high fidelity usability study described the redesigned platform as 'perfect,' reflecting the effectiveness of the new features.
More Details
Want more details? View the full case study PDF.
Experience the platform’s features in the prototype.
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