Design

Overview

After researching what is already available and talking with our interview subjects, we determines what needs are not being met. We discussed and listed the features we wanted the site to contain and chose a set we felt complemented each other, was useful, and contained the right scope.

We then set about brainstorming and sketching ideas about what kind of virtual venue we wanted the site to be. Should it look like a room, a wall, a continuous loop? A virtual experienced untethered to the constraints of a “room” or a “wall?”

We then sketched and discussed possible ways in which paintings should be viewed, how many at a time could be displayed? How many could people collect from the site at all? We played with ideas about creating a micro economy where a virtual currency could allow you to acquire more paintings but decided it was too complicated and not the point of the site. We discussed how people would search for paintings and other galleries.

We then addressed the interaction between the user and their gallery wall and between the user and their paintings.

After sketching, discussing, ideating, and making critical decisions, we set about developing a navigation network that made sense and included all the features we wanted to include and created wire frames for the site. Through the whole process, we were continuously reevaluating our earlier decisions and changing or confirming the choices we had made.