An app designed for artists to harness and stretch creative boundaries
An app designed for artists to harness and stretch creative boundaries
Impromptu is an app that harnesses creativity through the use of prompts and cultivates a diverse, worldwide artistic community. This project came to life in a little over 48 hours, and achieved 4th place in the 2024 Design at UCI Design-a-thon.
I worked alongside Maylin Armitage, Megan Rhree, and Yan Amy Zhou on research and design. I was the lead designer and was responsible for designing the discover and spotlight pages, arranged the color palette, and largely contributed to prototyping and animating.
Impromptu is an app that harnesses creativity through the use of prompts and cultivates a diverse, worldwide artistic community. This project came to life in a little over 48 hours, and achieved 4th place in the 2024 Design at UCI Design-a-thon.
I worked alongside Maylin Armitage, Megan Rhree, and Yan Amy Zhou on research and design. I was the lead designer and was responsible for designing the discover and spotlight pages, arranged the color palette, and largely contributed to prototyping and animating.
The Problem
Dealing with artist’s block is very common and difficult to overcome without the right things to inspire an artist.
Dealing with artist’s block is very common and difficult to overcome without the right things to inspire an artist.
To dig deeper in this problem, we conducted research to better understand our target users.
To dig deeper in this problem, we conducted research to better understand our target users.
99%
99%
99%
of survey respondents feel that seeing other artists’ work is inspiring to them
of survey respondents feel that seeing other artists’ work is inspiring to them
97%
97%
97%
of people shared that connecting with similar artists would enhance their creative process
of people shared that connecting with similar artists would enhance their creative process
76%
76%
76%
of respondents say that they have a moderate to very hard time finding inspiration for their creative endeavors
of respondents say that they have a moderate to very hard time finding inspiration for their creative endeavors
Competitve Analysis
Competitve Analysis
Considering the current market, there seems to be a gap in an inclusive social media app tailored to artists looking to gain inspiration and share their personal narrative.
Considering the current market, there seems to be a gap in an inclusive social media app tailored to artists looking to gain inspiration and share their personal narrative.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
How might we create an art-tailored platform for creatives to find inspiration from similar artists while uplifting voices and narratives worldwide?
How might we create an art-tailored platform for creatives to find inspiration from similar artists while uplifting voices and narratives worldwide?
How might we create an art-tailored platform for creatives to find inspiration from similar artists while uplifting voices and narratives worldwide?
How Might We Meet Users' Needs?
Here are the solutions impromptu provides to the broader art community
Here are the solutions impromptu provides to the broader art community
Share artwork with others
Share artwork with others
According to our survey, 41% of people expressed a desire for a place to share their creations
Inspire artists through prompts
Inspire artists through prompts
66% of our users said that prompts could increase their creative inspiration
Spotlight artists worldwide
Spotlight artists worldwide
86% of respondents shared that they are interested in seeing art from around the world
Design Process
Sketches
Sketches
Our collaborative sketches acted as our roadmap for the design direction, functionality, and to maintain visual consistency once we began designing.
Our collaborative sketches acted as our roadmap for the design direction, functionality, and to maintain visual consistency once we began designing.
Design Process
Sketches
Our collaborative sketches acted as our roadmap for the design direction, functionality, and to maintain visual consistency once we began designing.
User Flow
Main components of the app's functionality.
Prompts
users receive their prompt and can submit their artwork
Discover
explore and react to other artists' response to prompts
Spotlight
uplift artists and celebrate the diversity of creativity
User Flow
Main components of the app's functionality.
Main components of the app's functionality.
Prompts
users receive their prompt and can submit their artwork
Discover
explore and react to other artists' response to prompts
Spotlight
uplift artists and celebrate the diversity of creativity
Lo-fi to Hi-fi Overnight
In one long night, we worked out the functionality and design system in low-fidelity wireframes and prototyped, tested the user flow, and iterated until we finalized our high-fidelity screens.
In one long night, we worked out the functionality and design system in low-fidelity wireframes and prototyped, tested the user flow, and iterated until we finalized our high-fidelity screens.
Design System
Vibrant colors, a legible sans serif font, and friendly characters were used to created an approachable, encouraging, and sophisticated brand.
Vibrant colors, a legible sans serif font, and friendly characters were used to created an approachable, encouraging, and sophisticated brand.
Our collaborative sketches acted as our roadmap for the design direction, functionality, and to maintain visual consistency once we began designing.
In one long night, we worked out the functionality and design system in low-fidelity wireframes and prototyped, tested the user flow, and iterated until we finalized our high-fidelity screens.
We created low-fidelity wireframes based on our sketches and slowly added details and our design system throughout the process. Once we reached the high-fidelity stage, we began prototyping and testing the app numerous times to ensure a natural flow between screens.
Lo-fi to Hi-fi Overnight
What is impromptu?
A creative-oriented social media platform that provides weekly prompts that encourages users to get inspired, express themselves authentically, and generate unique artistic interpretations.
A creative-oriented social media platform that provides weekly prompts that encourages users to get inspired, express themselves authentically, and generate unique artistic interpretations.
Conclusion
With over 60 submissions, Impromptu was recognized in the top 10 best designs of the competition and was awarded an honorable mention (4th place).
Going through the entire design process in one weekend made me more confident in myself as a designer, the decisions I make, and my ability to design under pressure. Achieving such a high rank was the icing on top that made our hard work even more worth it.
Weekly Creative Prompts
Users receive prompts to foster creative exploration
As an incentive, artists can only view others' responses after they submit their own artwork to the prompt
Artwork of any medium is accepted and encouraged to maintain personal creative expression
Users receive prompts to foster creative exploration
As an incentive, artists can only view others' responses after they submit their own artwork to the prompt
Artwork of any medium is accepted and encouraged to maintain personal creative expression
Community Engagement
The discover feed provides inspiration for artists to leverage
Engage with fellow artists through liking, commenting, and critiquing work
The discover feed provides inspiration for artists to leverage
Engage with fellow artists through liking, commenting, and critiquing work
Creator Spotlight
Increase artists' worldwide visibility
Uplift underrepresented voices and narratives
3 spotlight categories:
Heritage and awareness months
Artist of the week
Voices around the world
Increase artists' worldwide visibility
Uplift underrepresented voices and narratives
3 spotlight categories:
Heritage and awareness months
Artist of the week
Voices around the world
Conclusion
With over 60 submissions, Impromptu was recognized in the top 10 best designs of the competition and was awarded an honorable mention (4th place).
Going through the entire design process in one weekend made me more confident in myself as a designer, the decisions I make, and my ability to design under pressure. Achieving such a high rank was the icing on top that made our hard work even more worth it.