Project Banner - art is inclusive, representative and growth
2021

Grow with Art

A mobile platform promoting inclusivity in art to raise awareness of representation

In a world where inclusivity often takes a back seat, we set out to create an experience that harnesses art's power to raise awareness and promote representation.

Our mission was to celebrate the rich diversity of underrepresented artists, encouraging users to explore, learn, and share diverse narratives through art.

SETTING

Interactive Media Design at the University of Coimbra

CHALLENGE

Develop an inclusive digital platform utilising the Europeana repository to promote open knowledge and cultural diversity, addressing the lack of representation and awareness of underrepresented themes through art.

IMPACT

Raised awareness about historically excluded social groups through art. Contributed to inclusivity in the arts and promoted a deeper understanding of diverse cultural perspectives

UNWRAPPED JOURNEY

SDGs ALIGNMENT

  • Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education, represented by an open book icon on a red background.
  • Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality, represented by a gender equality icon on a pink background.
  • Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities, represented by an equalizer icon on a pink background.
  • Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions, represented by a dove and gavel icon on a blue background.
read more about each at https://sdgs.un.org/goals

01 Revealing Inclusivity

The Experience Begins

We noticed that many people lacked knowledge about artworks representing or created by artists from minority backgrounds. Through initial interviews, we found a strong interest in learning more about these artists and their creations.

A collage of four artworks created by female artists. It includes a still life of flowers, a sketch of a mother and child, a portrait of a seated woman in black, and a painting of a pregnant woman in a green room. This gallery celebrates the contributions of female artists to European art.
A collage showcasing four artworks depicting Black individuals in European art. Included are a portrait of a man in profile, a historical depiction of a Black man wearing a turban, and two group scenes featuring Black figures. This gallery highlights the representation of Black people in European art history.
A collage of four artworks focusing on the theme of disabilities. It includes a melancholic portrait of a man, a historical group portrait, a painting of a bedridden patient, and a scene of people around a table. This gallery sheds light on how disabilities have been represented in art.
A collage celebrating drag culture through art. Included are vintage photographs of drag performers, a promotional poster for a drag performance, and expressive visual imagery. This gallery explores the artistry and history of drag in Europe.
A collage showcasing LGBTQ+ themes in art, featuring a vintage poster of Audre Lorde, a sculpture of two intertwined male figures, a bold painting of a glamorous figure, and a photograph of a Black performer. This gallery highlights LGBTQ+ contributions and representation in art.
A collage featuring four artworks that reflect the theme of "mansplaining." Included are a historical portrait of a man and woman, a comic-like depiction of a man explaining something, and two satirical scenes of men dominating conversations. This gallery humorously critiques gender dynamics in historical art.

Gallery selection from the 'Grow with Art' app, showcasing inclusive themes from Europeana's collections

From ideas to Action

To address this, we:

  • Brainstormed ideas to create an inclusive platform
  • Conducted a thorough stakeholder analysis
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    Miro Brainstorming on Brainstorming and Stakeholder analysis sessions

    Sketching the story of inclusivity

    Facilitating the Workshop

    As the facilitator of our brainstorming session, I introduced methods to ensure we achieved our goal by the end of the meeting.

    A stick figure in a wheelchair faces a staircase, highlighting the accessibility challenges they encounter in public spaces. The figure wears a cap, and their wheelchair has orange highlights to symbolize movement or focus.
    The stick figure in a wheelchair approaches an art installation equipped with a digital interface. The interface is highlighted with glowing lines to emphasize interaction or accessibility features.
    A close-up of the digital interface on a mobile device. The screen displays "Today's ART" with a simple sketch of a figure and a short description below, showcasing the integration of accessible technology with art content.
    A zoomed-in view of a hand using the mobile interface. The screen shows a button labeled "SHARE the Diversity" with an upward arrow, symbolizing the action of sharing inclusive content.
    The stick figure in a wheelchair is now smiling under the sun, positioned in front of the staircase, symbolizing a moment of empowerment and inclusion after engaging with accessible art.

    Final storyboard design illustrating the journey of accessibility and art sharing

    Creating Story Sketches

    We sketched three different versions of the story we wanted to tell. Based on our professor's feedback, I combined these sketches into a mosaic, using colour to highlight key interactions and important parts of the story:

  • Frustration with daily lack of accessibility
  • Notification of today's inclusive art
  • The ability to share diversity
  • Ending in a better day for someone facing accessibility challenges

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    A set of hand-drawn sketches on paper arranged in storyboard format. The drawings depict a wheelchair user encountering stairs, interacting with an accessible art interface, and sharing the experience through technology. The final frame shows the character sitting happily under the sun. The sketches focus on accessibility challenges and solutions.
    A second version of the storyboard with refined hand-drawn sketches on paper. The drawings depict similar scenes to the first draft, with more emphasis on the character's interaction with a physical art installation and the use of technology for sharing art. The character's journey includes details like motion and interaction cues.
    A third version of the storyboard with hand-drawn sketches on paper. This version highlights the wheelchair user's journey from encountering barriers like stairs to successfully accessing and sharing art. The final frame depicts the character enjoying a sunny day, symbolizing inclusion and empowerment.

    Initial individual drafts of the storyboard, showcasing the development process leading to the final version

    02 Building Connections

    A Daily dose of awareness

    We planned an app that delivers a daily piece of inclusive art to users, encouraging them to:

  • Find inclusive artworks
  • Learn about them
  • Share them with others

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    promoting inclusive art

    Our goals were to:

    • Create an app that shares inclusive artworks from Europeana galleries daily
    • Promote awareness of diversity in art

    user-centric experience

    To ensure the app was accessible and engaging, we focused on:

    • Simple design
    • Easy exploration and sharing of inclusive art
    • Prioritising accessibility, aesthetics, and enjoyment

    content curation

    We chose content from Europeana galleries, aligning with themes that promote inclusivity and representation.

    Putting art at the centre stage

    To engage users effectively, we adopted a minimalist design approach. Simplicity and accessibility were our guiding principles, ensuring the art remained at the forefront. Our target users were individuals passionate about inclusivity and concerned about underrepresentation in art.

    03 Engaging Users Through Art

    Prototyping the App

    In the prototyping phase, I was responsible for:

    • Designing the navigational flow and functionality
    • Creating the low- and high-fidelity UX prototyping in Figma
    • Developing micro-interactions in Figma

    We used Figma to create an inclusive art experience, exploring layout options, navigation paths, and functionality. This marked the shift from abstract ideas to tangible digital designs.

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    A user flow diagram for the "Grow with Art" app. The flow starts with a login page leading to the daily art (home) screen. From there, users can navigate to their profile, favourites, settings, about, or help. The diagram shows a connection from the home screen to galleries, which branches into gallery view and all artwork. Users can also access artwork, proceed to sharing, and then view favourite artwork. Icons such as a lock, sun, and heart represent login, the home screen, and favourites, respectively. Arrows indicate the navigation paths across app features.

    User flow diagram, outlining navigation between features such as galleries, artwork sharing, favourites, and user settings.

    From Concept to Structure

    We sketched the app's foundational elements and created wireframes as a blueprint. This involved:

    • Deciding where each element would be placed
    • Planning how users would move through the diverse art world

    These early visuals ensured every design decision was user-focused and inclusive.

    Testing and Refining

    Using Figma as our canvas for quick prototyping, we conducted:

    • Cognitive walkthroughs
    • Heuristic evaluations

    These methods helped us refine each version efficiently. We found that users appreciated the straightforward and intuitive navigation, making it easy to explore inclusive artworks.

    Initial wireframes compared to their final high-fidelity counterparts

    Micro-interations

    To enhance the user experience further, I designed key micro-interactions, such as:

    • Dynamic login screen: Created an engaging login experience with loading animations for different social media options.
    • Saving an artwork to favourites: Simple animations provided visual cues, making changes more evident.
    • Interactive profile picture selector: I developed a fully functioning selector within Figma, allowing users to choose from seven faces from the galleries as their user photo.

    These features added depth to the user experience, supporting our mission of promoting inclusivity and representation in art.

    Highlighted micro-interactions

    Introducing Grow with Art

    Strengthening Inclusivity

    The final mobile app was sleek and user-friendly, seamlessly integrating with Europeana galleries to deliver diverse and inclusive artworks daily. Users could easily explore, learn, and share these treasures.

    Key Features
  • Minimalist design focusing on the art
  • Well-crafted micro-interactions improving user experience

    • Interactive Figma Prototype

    user experience questionnaire

    After deploying the interactive Figma prototype, we conducted a User Experience Questionnaire (UEQ) with 22 participants.

    Positive Outcomes
  • High scores in attractiveness, clarity, efficiency, control, and engagement
  • Users praised the simplicity and accessibility, noting it increased inclusivity
  • Some feedback indicated the app was considered too conventional in terms of innovation

    • Reflecting on the Journey

    This project was an experience of learning, creativity, and a commitment to inclusivity. It showed that art has the power to bridge gaps and create understanding. Inclusivity in art is not just an idea; it's a reality we can all contribute to.

    Key Takeaways
    Inclusivity Matters

    The project reinforced the importance of inclusivity in the art world. It highlighted that everyone should have the opportunity to connect with art, regardless of their background.

    Simplicity Speaks Volumes

    Keeping the user interface simple and accessible proved essential. By allowing art to take centre stage rather than complex features, we enhanced the user's connection with the artwork.

    Key Challenges
    Crafting Realism in Prototypes

    Creating an immersive experience is critical to user engagement, but working with a Figma prototype posed limitations. Learning and implementing micro-interactions was vital in overcoming these challenges.

    Navigating Cultural Sensitivities

    While celebrating the diversity of underrepresented artists, we had to be cautious to avoid perpetuating stereotypes, thus careful and respectful selection from Europeana's galleries was crucial.

    SAY HI AT

    felipermelhado@gmail.com
    Copyright © Felipe R. Melhado 2025
    Made with passion, creativity and a touch of magic
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