Curator

This project is broken down into five defining parts: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. These five sections help define the process from beginning to where Curator stands now. This is not a live product yet, but with refinement, I do believe this project can compete with the current options in this market.

Empathize

Background / Problem

Attending fan expos or comic stores often leads to collectors buying, selling, or trading items, which can quickly expand collections. This growth can make it challenging to document and organize items for record-keeping, especially when tracking value for potential sales. Mislabeling or disorganized information can cause confusion about an item’s true worth, adding stress to the process.

Research Goals/ Methods/ Outcomes

By conducting user interviews, the goal is to understand how they currently catalog their collections and what is missed or overseen when creating vital information points in the documents they create. Once discovered, this will lead to a web based site that can help create catalogs that will help users define their collection easier and faster.

User Interviews

With interviews, the goal is to set a tone of what users currently do when keeping a record of their collections and asking them what improvements from their current methods can be discovered. Additional questions can be asked once they help mold new implementations on how a web based catalog system can be used by them.

Surveys

When defining the basic points of attention for this new topic, the survey will be the starting point on creating the bases of which the new web based catalog can be created from. Asking both positive and negative questions on current methods of documentation while adding questions about what uses might want when documenting their collections, will help establish how they might use this new way instead of their current way.

Interview debriefs

Overall, the presence of various methods of documenting collections is clear. These selected users and others across the collecting community, have their own methods and tools they use. The underlying pattern I picked up on during these interviews was the lack of customization when documenting collections. These participants wanted features that can create silos within the overall master list. They want their lists tailored to them, not in general. Another key takeaway was the lack of databases being in unison. This is a tricky situation because the market of buying and selling cards fluctuates based on multiple factors.

On the subject of finding events, I found that word of mouth and social media are the strong suits for them. They rely on a social community aspect to expand their collections. But they do wish it was more centralized and quicker to find events rather then search.

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Define

Now that I have gathered, documented, and organized all my information for this project, I was able to establish Point of View Statements and "How Might We" questions to further push the goals and objectives for my app.

POV Statements

• I’d like to explore ways to create master lists for users but then break them apart into sub lists for a better view on the collection.

• I want to find a solution on creating a strong infrastructure to help with real time data analysis of multiple items for collecting.

HMW Questions

• How might we figure which key documenting categories will be used for making a master list?

• How might we find a solution for creating a database that meets industry standards and can be a trusted source?

Personas

Creating the following Personas allowed me to get in the mindset of my target users and how I can solve the problem that Curator faced. These Personas essentially came to life when going through the design process and served as my guiding lights.

Ideate

Business & User Goals

Clearly defining what the Business Goals and user Goals for Curator allowed me to definite two paths that in turn had common goals that can help push Curator to the next level. The Business Goals served as the founding business plan while the User Goals would create the ideas that will attract and retain users to keep Curator going.

Site Map

This is the Site Map of Curator and the basic functions on how the app will flow for the User. This Site Map served as a great way to place my data and feedback into a map of where to place features from start to continuous use.

Task Flows

These two task flows allows me to think out the process of how a User will create their profile and adding an item to their collection. After feedback from Alan, my mentor, I was able to better understand the reasoning behind these flows and how to make them flow with ease.

Branding

With all initial user research completed, data compiled, feedback and revisions on the foundation ideas, I was able to start the branding process of Curator and form the look and feel of how it should be.

Prototype

Mid Fidelity Wireframes

With all I was armed with thanks to the user feedback from previous projects, I was able to finally create the bare bones of how the app could look and feel through mid fidelity wireframes.

High Fidelity Wireframes

The magic is starting to take place. The initial look and feel of Curator has come to life with these high fidelity wireframes. But testing is yet to come!

Test

Usability Tests

Goals‍

The goal for this usability test for Curator, were to have the participants see if they can navigate the proposed flows I felt are of high importance of the app. These tests helped me understand if I created a working user flow and gain insight of what to improve upon to better enhance the experience and usability of Curator.

Methodology

The test types I used were moderated tests through a video conference call. I had four confirmed participants. Each participant had different skill levels with technology and various backgrounds with collecting.

Task Flows

The task flows I highlighted in this test were having the user create a new profile from downloading the app, and adding a single item to a collection list.

Test Results

Initial tests from my participants were strong and produced enormous feedback for improvements on the flow of each process. Overall each participant found the tasks straight forward and easy. Design wise, I was able to make great feedback changes.

Revisions

Sign Up Revisions

Based on solid feedback from testing participants, I was able to condense screens down to the final amount here to ensure sign up was faster. Large text fields as well were left aligned to fit most info. Backgrounds were darkened to help increase visibility.

Add Item Revisions

With the feedback I received from my participants, I made buttons larger to help increase push capability. I left alighted the text fields to ensure fitment. I added a back button to ensure participants in the future can go back if they feel they want to make revisions.

Future Plans

I would not say I am fully at my final design but I can confidently say I feel prouder of the work I was able to accomplish based off valuable feedback and future testing for a working prototype.

For me, future plans are to work with my DesignLab mentor, Alan, to bring this app into the light as a working app for collectors to use. I know the hurdles I face and I am ready to take them head on. I believe in the potential power Curator has. I am ready to put in the work to build off where I am now and push it further.

For more final images, please see the image grid below.

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