The Vancouver Society for the Creation of Independent Art (VSCIA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local artists in Greater Vancouver. It hosts various events, including MiniComi, an annual art convention that connects artists with their community.

We conducted this case study for a senior UX and interaction design course at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Over 14 weeks, my team and I had the opportunity to research VSCIA using interviews, ethnography, participatory workshops, and various other resources. We aimed to identify pain points and intervene with a design solution.

My role in the team primarily consisted of co-conducting interviews and participatory workshops, and working on art/visual direction for our team’s presentations and web app.

From our first talk with the executive members of the organization, we understood that their goals for working with us were to 1) help artists feel supported through the preparation stages of MiniComi and feel connected to fellow artists at the convention, and 2) help VSCIA organizers foster a collaborative relationship with the MiniComi artists and support them to ensure a positive convention experience.

From there, we started our research.

Our research focused on understanding the perspectives of VSCIA stakeholders and the broader artist community.

The interviews (approximately 45 minutes each) provided valuable qualitative data:

Based on our research, we developed two personas to represent our target users. We also created a user journey map from the perspective of the primary persona to illustrate key pain points and opportunities for intervention.

To deepen our understanding, we facilitated two participatory workshops using Miro, an online collaboration tool:

Using activities such as the graffiti wall, H-forms, and card sorting, we were able to reaffirm our findings and narrow our scope.

The planning and preparation phase for MiniComi artists is challenging for newer artists due to the lack of support and resources, and time constraints. How might we make this process easier and more manageable?

For our final design solution, our team created a web application that provides artists with a planning dashboard with upcoming deadlines, to-dos, milestones, and resources.

Our app provides artists with a structured and user-friendly approach to prepare for MiniComi. By tracking their progress, milestones, and tasks across any device, artists can streamline the planning process. Additionally, the app’s Resources tab, curated by VSCIA executives, offers valuable guidance to address financial and logistical challenges throughout their journey. This solution not only simplifies preparation but also strengthens the support system between artists and VSCIA.

This project helped me understand the importance of qualitative research methods when creating informed design solutions. Interviews, surveys, and participatory workshops offered invaluable insights into the experiences and challenges of both artists and executives. These methods also allowed me to practice maintaining an unbiased perspective while engaging with real clients.

Despite the time constraints of the course, our team successfully delivered a design solution to aid artists. However, we recognize the potential for further refinement. With additional time, we would like to have iterated on our mock-ups to develop a fully functional prototype.