colllab
Personal and inspirational project of a native IOS app that presents a digital platform for a creative community that allows users to balance income using their unique abilities during the pandemic.
Project Summary
My Role
Motivated by the global pandemic crisis and with friends directly affected by it, I embarked on this project to cater to the needs of creative individuals, including small businesses and self-employed workers, in the arts, entertainment, and recreation sectors. These sectors were among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis and presented the most pressing challenges.
My Work Included
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Research and interviews
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Comparative-Competitive analysis
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Primary persona
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Wireframing
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Visual identity
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Prototyping
Challenge
According to Statistics Canada, businesses in the arts, entertainment and recreation sectors are the most severely impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The project's challenge was to find a solution for a creative community that could still be economically active and profitable during the pandemic isolation period.
Solution
Establishing a platform dedicated to collaboration, skill-sharing, and inspiration for creatives and creators, aiming not only for profit but also to leverage technology and overcome global crises and geographical constraints.
Discovery & Research
Inspecting data and statistics from the Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, it became evident that businesses in arts, entertainment, and recreation were particularly impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
Focusing specifically on creative individuals, particularly small businesses, as the most affected segment within my scope, I initiated the project by conducting interviews with potential users. During these interviews, I clarified the needs, objectives, concepts, parameters, and fundamental requirements.
Upon completing the discovery phase, a high-level vision was established to guide the project, emphasizing key points:
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Continuing to create as a primary need
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Foreseeing and planning for the future of their industry
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Developing a replaceable source of income
87.1%
90.3%
negatively impacted by social distancing measures
87,1%
highly impacted by lower demand for their products or services
66,7%
report a decline in revenue greater than 20%
Data from Statistics Canada
Exploring and learning about how my participants feel, understanding their perceptions of the problem space, and identifying what they need to stay economically engaged, I observed core topics consistently arising during all my conversations with interviewees.
Create vs Share
All my creative interviewees expressed a commitment to continue creating, driven by an internal need even if there's no immediate audience to share with. While the priority may shift, it won't necessarily be revenue-related during such times.
100%
6 of 6 interviewees
Technology
Majority were convinced that technology is not only a tool for creation but also an effective channel for fostering collaborations in art and culture, it appears to have a beneficial impact on increasing such collaborations globally, transforming them into a unified performance space.
80%
4 of 6 interviewees
Adaptiveness
All participants in my interviews express a sense of uncertainty that significantly influences the industry. Despite this, they adopt a creative approach, thinking broadly to adapt themselves and their craft to the current reality.
100%
6 of 6 interviewees
Alternatives
All of them previously built their careers in physical spaces, and it served as their primary source of income. However, with current distance restrictions in place, this traditional approach seems less relevant. Therefore, individuals who wish to continue being active in their craft should remain attentive and be open to experimental solutions.
100%
6 of 6 interviewees
Core Topics
Leveraging insights and incorporating best practices from existing products, I condacted comparative-competitive analysis to aggregate comprehensive insights, laying the foundation for the next steps and a potential features list.
Comparative-Competitive Analysis
Drawing from insights gathered during my interviews, I crafted a primary persona amalgamating the needs, behaviors, motivations, and pain points of the actual users identified in the interview phase. This persona serves as a reference to ensure that my design decisions align with and contribute to the development of the future solution.
Primary Persona
Solutioning & Wireframing
Using the insights gained and best practices from the already existing products, I developed a set of vital segments and opportunities for intervention that would help aggregate the solution for creatives to be economically active and profitable during the pandemic.
I formulated a value proposition by bridging the gaps between user needs, and creating opportunities for them to balance their income through collaboration, skill-sharing, and inspiration on a dedicated platform for creatives and creators.
From core epics into user stories
Prioritizing a single task flow, I initiated my exploration of potential concepts, ideas, and layout variations. I translated my best ideation sketches into wireframes.
Task Flow
HOME
PROJECT
CATEGORIES
MUSIC
FORM
SHARE
Wireframed flow of creating a new project/group by existing member
Identity visualization, branding and style guide
In crafting the brand story, I curated a mood board by incorporating a list of adjectives associated with the art, culture and entertainment sphere. I infused nostalgic and retro aspects inspired by the user's feelings into the typography style, giving it a respectful and prominent role in shaping the visual design identity of the product.
Energetic • Artistic • Creative • Collaborative • Inspiring • Social • Cultural • Nostalgic • Eclectic • Electric • Net
Moodboard
The colour palette I integrated into the visuals is bold, artistic, and complex, aligning with the descriptive adjectives of the brand.
A style guide was developed as a crucial component of deliverables, serving as a fundamental tool to ensure consistency across all platforms and designs, including the app, marketing site for both desktop and mobile, and other collateral.
Wordmark- (collective lab- colllab)
Logo
Here is the final prototype, presenting a sequence of screens dedicated to the selected task.
The interface underwent significant changes over two rounds of user testing and visual identity decisions. In the final implementation phase, I opted to include an Intro screen to welcome and intrigue users.
The UI was tested to ensure compliance with the contrast requirements of WCAG, adhering to AAA contrast standards.
App Screens
Marketing Site
Marketing Site Flow