I was asked to work on The Knowd by Allie Bashuk, the main Project Director at the Goat Farm. While assisting artists to bring their projects from ideas to reality, Allie noticed that there was no efficient method for these artist to find people to collaborate with who appropriately fit their projects' needs.
01 Observations
Observing a need
The Goat Farm Arts Center is a collaborative workspace that assembles art, performance, science, design, and technology entities in developments that simultaneously operate as centers for contemporary art and performance. The center is housed in a 19th-century complex of industrial buildings and contains the studio space for over 450 artists, performers, designers, researchers, creative entities and small tech start-ups.
02 Context
What is the Goat Farm Arts Center?
03 Research Insights
04 Personas
Gabbi
About me
Age
Years at the Goat Farm
Current Job
Biggest Challenge
Biggest Need
27
1
Installation Designer
"I'm always experimenting with new materials and mediums. I am currently interested in Interactive Installation Design but have limited experience with technology."
"I graduated from SCAD a few years ago with a BFA in Interior Design. After graduation, I moved to Atlanta to work as an Installation Artist. About a year ago, I decided I would like to get more involved with Technology and have focused my work more on Interactive Installation Design. I have learned a lot since switching but have also realized I have more to learn. What I really need is to find people who can help bring my concepts to life."
"I need to be able to find people who have backgrounds in tech."
Mark
About me
Age
Years at the Goat Farm
Current Job
Biggest Challenge
Biggest Need
42
5
Design Director
"Finding the right talent based on our clients' needs."
"I've been working as the Design Director of an agency of about fifteen people. We typically hire contractors based on our current client needs. We have done work in UX Desing, Interactive Exhibit Design, Brand Marketing, and some Videography work. We are always looking to strengthen our network so we can effectively recruit talent and give our clients the best work possible."
"I need to be able to find people who can work contract depending on our current clients."
Jason
About me
Age
Years at the Goat Farm
Current Job
Biggest Challenge
Biggest Need
32
3
Technology Director
"My team's background is in engineering. We could use someone to help us with the physical design of our products."
"I studied Computer Science at Georgia Tech and worked as a developer for several years after. While in college, I always thought about starting my own company. About five years ago, I finally decided it was time. Since then, I have been working on a line of interactive products. My team and I need interactive design direction for our physical and digital products.
"We need someone who can give us product design direction."
05 Brainstorming
Initial Sketches
From our Generative Research, we a handful of scenarios where our users need to:
Search for others based on current need.
View another user's profile and skill set.
Message another user asking for help.
Initial Sketches
From our Generative Research, we a handful of scenarios where our users need to:
Recommend a user to a third user when they cannot fulfill a need but know someone who can.
Initial Sketches
From our Generative Research, we a handful of scenarios where our users need to:
Add a third user to the message.
Forward the message to the third user before connecting.
Initial Sketches
From our Generative Research, we a handful of scenarios where our users need to:
View the profile of the user that has been forwarded.
Message the user that has been forwarded.
Initial Sketches
From our Generative Research, we a handful of scenarios where our users need to:
View another user's profile and message them from the profile.
06 Initial Flow
Flow test 1
In this scenario, Gabbi is working on an interactive installation piece and needs someone who has experience working with circuits.Search for others based on current need.
Gabbi opens up The Knowd app and:
Searches for someone who has experiences with circuits.
Selects Mark's profile to view.
Begins a message with Mark.
Based on the previously stated scenarios, I created digital wireframes that would be used to test our initial concept and flow. The following screens and scenarios represent how we assume the user would complete each task.
These flows were then tested with a screen (card) sorting exercise.
Flow test 2
In this scenario, Mark receives a message from Gabbi asking if he could help her with some circuit work for one of her installation pieces. Mark feels as though his experience working with circuits is somewhat limited but thinks his friend Jason may be more helpful.
After reading Gabbi's message, Mark can use The Knowd app to:
Connect Gabbi and Jason by creating a new message between the two or...
Forward Gabbi's message to Jason so that Jason can view Gabbi's profile before connecting with her.
Flow test 3
In this scenario, Jason has received a forwarded message that contains Gabbi's initial message and an overview of her profile.
After reading the forwarded message, Jason can use The Knowd app to:
View Gabbi's profile and send her a message from there.
Send Gabbi a message directly from the messenger.
07 Flow Test
Testing Artifact:
To test the information architecture associated with each scenario, I performed a card sorting exercise on 10 of our users. In this test, I placed paper cutouts of each screen on a table, read each of the previously defined scenarios, and had users select and place the screens s/he would use to complete each task.
08 Flow Analysis
Testing Artifacts:
09 Revised Flows
10 Final Design
