Case Study: Designing an end-to-end mobile application to improve access to theater education.
Case Study: Designing an end-to-end mobile application to improve access to theater education.
Students passionate about theater often face significant barriers to developing their skills. Many live in areas with limited access to education and resources, learn from instructors with general knowledge but little industry experience, or attend schools without a drama program.
Students passionate about theater often face significant barriers to developing their skills. Many live in areas with limited access to education and resources, learn from instructors with general knowledge but little industry experience, or attend schools without a drama program.
At the same time, most theater professionals end up changing careers due to the competitive industry and limited opportunities, despite investing considerable time and money into training.
At the same time, most theater professionals end up changing careers due to the competitive industry and limited opportunities, despite investing considerable time and money into training.
To help both theater students and professionals, I collaborated with two other designers to help a client design a mobile app that expands access to theater education and provides a platform for theater professionals to share and monetize their knowledge and experience.
To help both theater students and professionals, I collaborated with two other designers to help a client design a mobile app that expands access to theater education and provides a platform for theater professionals to share and monetize their knowledge and experience.
Summary
Summary
Skills:
Skills:
Competitive analysis, user interviews, wireframing, usability testing, prototyping
Competitive analysis, user interviews, wireframing, usability testing, prototyping
Tools Used:
Tools Used:
Figma, Notion
Figma, Notion
My Role:
My Role:
UX Designer
UX Designer
Project Duration:
Project Duration:
4 weeks
4 weeks
project background
Actor’s Pocket Guide (APG) is a platform originally designed to streamline theater productions.
Actor’s Pocket Guide (APG) is a platform originally designed to streamline theater productions.
Actor's Pocket Guide was launched in 2018 by a theater director and technology manager. The platform was originally created to streamline theater productions and resolve organizational and communication issues.
Actor's Pocket Guide was launched in 2018 by a theater director and technology manager. The platform was originally created to streamline theater productions and resolve organizational and communication issues.
The platform now supports actors, producers, and arts educators with features like show creation, cast and crew coordination, sheet music sharing, and task assignments.
The platform now supports actors, producers, and arts educators with features like show creation, cast and crew coordination, sheet music sharing, and task assignments.
We were asked to design a learning platform (called "Grow") for APG's mobile app to support theater students, educators, and professionals in their learning and career journeys.
We were asked to design a learning platform (called "Grow") for APG's mobile app to support theater students, educators, and professionals in their learning and career journeys.
I worked with two other designers to create a visually cohesive, user-centered design for APG’s new "Grow" learning platform that increases user engagement and improves access to theater education.
I worked with two other designers to create a visually cohesive, user-centered design for APG’s new "Grow" learning platform that increases user engagement and improves access to theater education.
APG aims to remove barriers of entry for theater students, support educators and production managers, and empower theater professionals by providing opportunities to share their expertise and monetize their experience.
APG aims to remove barriers of entry for theater students, support educators and production managers, and empower theater professionals by providing opportunities to share their expertise and monetize their experience.
This project focused on designing for APG’s mobile application, with plans to extend to the desktop platform once the mobile experience was fully developed.
This project focused on designing for APG’s mobile application, with plans to extend to the desktop platform once the mobile experience was fully developed.
Intended Outcomes of "Grow"
Intended Outcomes of "Grow"
1
Increase access to quality theater education. High costs, limited availability, or instruction from educators lacking specialized theater expertise creates learning barriers for many students.
Increase access to quality theater education. High costs, limited availability, or instruction from educators lacking specialized theater expertise creates learning barriers for many students.
2
Create opportunities for theater professionals to share and monetize their experience. Most theater professionals pivot to careers outside the industry, despite dedicating years to mastering their craft.
Create opportunities for theater professionals to share and monetize their experience. Most theater professionals pivot to careers outside the industry, despite dedicating years to mastering their craft.
3
Improve efficiency of theater operations. "Grow" will enable managers to assign learning materials to performers in advance, freeing up rehearsal time for more productive and creative tasks.
Improve efficiency of theater operations. "Grow" will enable managers to assign learning materials to performers in advance, freeing up rehearsal time for more productive and creative tasks.
4
Drive user engagement and become go-to theater education platform. APG aims to expand its reach and become the go-to resource for theater students, educators, and theater professionals.
Drive user engagement and become go-to theater education platform. APG aims to expand its reach and become the go-to resource for theater students, educators, and theater professionals.
research
Analyzing existing online learning platforms to better understand their features, strengths, and opportunities for improvement.
Analyzing existing online learning platforms to better understand their features, strengths, and opportunities for improvement.
Researching several direct and indirect competitors to "Grow" helped us identify key features to explore and incorporate into our future designs.
Researching several direct and indirect competitors to "Grow" helped us identify key features to explore and incorporate into our future designs.
My part: I researched 3 of the 7 total competitors in our analysis.
My part: I researched 3 of the 7 total competitors in our analysis.
A few of our key findings from competitive research include:
A few of our key findings from competitive research include:
Gamification is a powerful tool for driving user engagement, with many online learning platforms utilizing features like badging, levels, certifications, and leaderboards.
Gamification is a powerful tool for driving user engagement, with many online learning platforms utilizing features like badging, levels, certifications, and leaderboards.
Accessibility and student privacy are essential considerations for learning platforms. Features like text-to-speech, audio, and other accessibility tools are crucial to support diverse learning needs. Equally important is safeguarding student privacy and protecting personal information.
Accessibility and student privacy are essential considerations for learning platforms. Features like text-to-speech, audio, and other accessibility tools are crucial to support diverse learning needs. Equally important is safeguarding student privacy and protecting personal information.
Consider including a community aspect. We found that some learning platforms include a messaging platform, social media group, or other features for connecting with other students and educators.
Consider including a community aspect. We found that some learning platforms include a messaging platform, social media group, or other features for connecting with other students and educators.
Direct and indirect competitors of "Grow" explored during competitive research:
Direct and indirect competitors of "Grow" explored during competitive research:
We interviewed several theater students, educators, and professionals to learn more about their experiences in the industry.
We interviewed several theater students, educators, and professionals to learn more about their experiences in the industry.
We conducted interviews with four former high school theater students and three theater educators who also have professional experience.
We conducted interviews with four former high school theater students and three theater educators who also have professional experience.
My part: I interviewed 1 theater student and 2 professionals for this project.
My part: I interviewed 1 theater student and 2 professionals for this project.
Interviews revealed several insights into the needs and challenges faced by theater students and aspiring professionals, including:
Interviews revealed several insights into the needs and challenges faced by theater students and aspiring professionals, including:
There is a clear need for guidance and resources from industry professionals in theater programs. Many programs are self-managed or led by individuals without relevant expertise, often due to time and resource constraints.
There is a clear need for guidance and resources from industry professionals in theater programs. Many programs are self-managed or led by individuals without relevant expertise, often due to time and resource constraints.
Theater classes and workshops are often inaccessible to many students. Voice, singing, and dance lessons tend to be prohibitively expensive. The availability of classes is also often limited, especially for those in smaller cities.
Theater classes and workshops are often inaccessible to many students. Voice, singing, and dance lessons tend to be prohibitively expensive. The availability of classes is also often limited, especially for those in smaller cities.
Mentorship and receiving feedback is critical for growth, but hard to find.
Mentorship and receiving feedback is critical for growth, but hard to find.
Interview participants also shared several desired resources for an online theater learning platform:
Interview participants also shared several desired resources for an online theater learning platform:
Group and individual acting, voice, and singing classes
Group and individual acting, voice, and singing classes
Ability to record and submit content online for feedback
Ability to record and submit content online for feedback
Videos, interviews, and other learning materials from theater professionals
Videos, interviews, and other learning materials from theater professionals
Meditation, breathwork, and other body exercises
Meditation, breathwork, and other body exercises
Improv exercises for building creative muscles
Improv exercises for building creative muscles
Scripts, show guides, monologues, character descriptions, and other audition materials
Scripts, show guides, monologues, character descriptions, and other audition materials
We condensed our research findings into two guiding questions to anchor our designs and kickstart brainstorming.
We condensed our research findings into two guiding questions to anchor our designs and kickstart brainstorming.
“How might we design an inclusive educational platform that equips students and theater professionals with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to develop their skills and advance their career in the theater industry?
“How might we design an inclusive educational platform that equips students and theater professionals with the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to develop their skills and advance their career in the theater industry?
“How might we design a learning platform that fosters connection among theater students, educators, and industry professionals, enabling them to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop their theater skills?
“How might we design a learning platform that fosters connection among theater students, educators, and industry professionals, enabling them to collaborate, share knowledge, and develop their theater skills?
We created two personas, one for a student and one for a professional, to ensure users’ goals and needs remained at the forefront of future design solutions.
We created two personas, one for a student and one for a professional, to ensure users’ goals and needs remained at the forefront of future design solutions.
Persona 1: Theater student
Persona 2: Theater professional
design
We first redesigned APG's mobile navigation to include "Grow" and emphasize the platform's core features.
We first redesigned APG's mobile navigation to include "Grow" and emphasize the platform's core features.
Added "Grow", Community forum, and Profile navigation to the tab bar for higher visibility and easier accessibility. Discussions with the client and users highlighted the importance of the Community Forum and Profile.
Added "Grow", Community forum, and Profile navigation to the tab bar for higher visibility and easier accessibility. Discussions with the client and users highlighted the importance of the Community Forum and Profile.
Moved Chats and Notifications to the top of the screen to make room for higher priority elements and align with familiar design patterns.
Moved Chats and Notifications to the top of the screen to make room for higher priority elements and align with familiar design patterns.
We then outlined 4 key task flows to determine the screens to design, build, and test with users.
We then outlined 4 key task flows to determine the screens to design, build, and test with users.
My part: I created 3 of the 4 task flows in this project.
My part: I created 3 of the 4 task flows in this project.
The prioritized and tested flows for this project included:
The prioritized and tested flows for this project included:
Creating an account and onboarding. We revamped the account creation and onboarding process to help users receive content that best suited their needs and preferences.
Creating an account and onboarding. We revamped the account creation and onboarding process to help users receive content that best suited their needs and preferences.
Enrolling in a course and completing checkout. We prioritized designing and testing the process for enrolling in online courses to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Enrolling in a course and completing checkout. We prioritized designing and testing the process for enrolling in online courses to ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience.
Uploading a file for feedback. Users shared that receiving feedback was critical for developing their theater skills. We designed a way for students to easily upload files for feedback from theater professionals.
Uploading a file for feedback. Users shared that receiving feedback was critical for developing their theater skills. We designed a way for students to easily upload files for feedback from theater professionals.
Completing the "Daily Challenge". To support the client’s goal of increasing user engagement, we introduced and tested a gamified “Daily Challenge” concept, designed to encourage consistent participation and interaction on the platform.
Completing the "Daily Challenge". To support the client’s goal of increasing user engagement, we introduced and tested a gamified “Daily Challenge” concept, designed to encourage consistent participation and interaction on the platform.
Task Flows
From these task flows, we created several wireframes to visualize each step and test with users.
From these task flows, we created several wireframes to visualize each step and test with users.
My part: The team designed approximately 75 key screens for this project. I was responsible for designing 25 of these screens, including the flows for onboarding, course enrollment, and home screens of each tab.
My part: The team designed approximately 75 key screens for this project. I was responsible for designing 25 of these screens, including the flows for onboarding, course enrollment, and home screens of each tab.
We presented users with two options for the navigation structure to see which layout they preferred.
We presented users with two options for the navigation structure to see which layout they preferred.
Option A
Option B
Users told us that some labeling was unclear and that they preferred to access Chats from the tab bar.
Users told us that some labeling was unclear and that they preferred to access Chats from the tab bar.
Key navigation adjustments included:
Key navigation adjustments included:
Modified labels for Feed, "Grow", and Showspaces. Users found these navigation labels confusing, so we clarified their intended function.
Modified labels for Feed, "Grow", and Showspaces. Users found these navigation labels confusing, so we clarified their intended function.
Moved Chats to the tab bar and Profile to the top of the screen. Users said the Chat feature was important for communicating with students and educators.
Moved Chats to the tab bar and Profile to the top of the screen. Users said the Chat feature was important for communicating with students and educators.
Users tested each task flow to help identify gaps and areas for improvement or clarification.
Users tested each task flow to help identify gaps and areas for improvement or clarification.
My part: I conducted usability testing with 1 student and 1 professional.
My part: I conducted usability testing with 1 student and 1 professional.
We conducted usability testing with 5 participants (3 theater students and 2 theater professionals) to evaluate the overall user experience of the "Grow" learning platform.
We conducted usability testing with 5 participants (3 theater students and 2 theater professionals) to evaluate the overall user experience of the "Grow" learning platform.
High-priority suggestions from users:
High-priority suggestions from users:
Simplify the onboarding process as too many steps might prevent users from completing their profiles.
Simplify the onboarding process as too many steps might prevent users from completing their profiles.
We reduced the number of steps, allowed users to add information later, and added a progress bar.
We reduced the number of steps, allowed users to add information later, and added a progress bar.
Improve process for submitting feedback. Users found the process tedious and repetitive.
Improve process for submitting feedback. Users found the process tedious and repetitive.
We streamlined the steps for uploading work to create a smoother, efficient experience.
We streamlined the steps for uploading work to create a smoother, efficient experience.
Add structure to the Community forum to helpusers more easily find posts and information of interest
Add structure to the Community forum to helpusers more easily find posts and information of interest
We added sections, tags, and sorting/filtering options to improve readability and navigation.
We added sections, tags, and sorting/filtering options to improve readability and navigation.
Relocate button for initiating a feedback request to create a more targeted experience.
Relocate button for initiating a feedback request to create a more targeted experience.
We updated the theater professional’s profile design to include a feedback request button.
We updated the theater professional’s profile design to include a feedback request button.
We applied the APG branding and integrated user feedback into our final high-fidelity mockups and prototype.
We applied the APG branding and integrated user feedback into our final high-fidelity mockups and prototype.
My part: I created the style tile below for this project.
My part: I created the style tile below for this project.
Below is the UI Kit we created to improve design efficiency.
Below is the UI Kit we created to improve design efficiency.
My part: I was responsible for creating 10 of the components in the UI kit below.
My part: I was responsible for creating 10 of the components in the UI kit below.
final thoughts
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
We presented the final working prototype to the client and walked through each of the 5 task flows tested with users. The client handed the designs off to a development team, and we agreed to meet again at a later date to discuss the performance of the new "Grow" learning platform.
We presented the final working prototype to the client and walked through each of the 5 task flows tested with users. The client handed the designs off to a development team, and we agreed to meet again at a later date to discuss the performance of the new "Grow" learning platform.
After conducting a competitive analysis, interviewing users, and testing our designs, we are confident that our solutions will help APG realize their vision of creating an online educational platform that enhances access to theater education and empowers theater professionals.
After conducting a competitive analysis, interviewing users, and testing our designs, we are confident that our solutions will help APG realize their vision of creating an online educational platform that enhances access to theater education and empowers theater professionals.
Due to project time constraints, we prioritized developing the core features for the MVP. Below are a couple of features we set aside for future iterations.
Due to project time constraints, we prioritized developing the core features for the MVP. Below are a couple of features we set aside for future iterations.
A creator platform for educators and professionals. Due to time constraints, we prioritized designing "Grow" from the learner’s perspective. Future iterations will include features allowing educators to create learning modules and educational content.
A creator platform for educators and professionals. Due to time constraints, we prioritized designing "Grow" from the learner’s perspective. Future iterations will include features allowing educators to create learning modules and educational content.
Designs for the desktop platform. Based on client discussions, we prioritized designs for APG’s mobile application. Future iterations will include designs for APG’s desktop product as well.
Designs for the desktop platform. Based on client discussions, we prioritized designs for APG’s mobile application. Future iterations will include designs for APG’s desktop product as well.
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