Project overview
As my end-users for this product were Photographers, I chose a group of photographers and had an interview with them. I asked them about their experiences of using other photography applications with open-ended questions and collected their responses for my research.
The main issue that came up was the security of uploaded photos. They wanted to have copyright applied to some or all of their Artwork. Then some of them told me about their difficulty in terms of getting professional feedback on their work to make them do better next time. Another issue was the lack of a good community of different genres of photography. They mentioned connecting with people who work in different genres in the community and being able to connect with them is possible in other applications but it would be great if there was a specific one just for photographers all around the world. An app that is easy to use, with a support system to protect their art and make a safe and friendly community.
Goal:
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Design a secure app for photographers to share their work and receive professional feedback.
Objective
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Provide a user-friendly platform for showcasing portfolios.
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Ensure accessibility in low-bandwidth environments for global reach.
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Focus on simplicity and security to foster a global photography community.
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Enable photographers to connect with experts and receive valuable insights.
Design Progress:
The first step in bringing this app idea to life was developing a set of personas. These personas served as a guiding framework throughout the design process, ensuring alignment and a shared focus among the team. By understanding the needs, motivations, and preferences of our target audience, we were able to make informed decisions regarding the website's design and user flow.
Personas:
![- Persona [Template] (1).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_a2eb3fa733684049a38f8debcb2d26b0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_389,h_218,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_a2eb3fa733684049a38f8debcb2d26b0~mv2.jpg)
![- Persona [Template].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_88a64c7217434815975d66c074e223cd~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_389,h_218,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_88a64c7217434815975d66c074e223cd~mv2.jpg)
To better understand my end users and their needs, I developed a problem statement, story boards and user journey map. This foundation helped me design an efficient and practical user flow for the app, providing a clear and user-friendly experience for my audience throughout the project.
User flow:
![Portfolio Project 1 - Case study slide deck [shotplus] (1).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_f99799508524427c9ded92dd57ce4fae~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_291,h_163,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_f99799508524427c9ded92dd57ce4fae~mv2.jpg)
![Portfolio Project 1 - Case study slide deck [shotplus].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_234862a96275456197914d03aec5059d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_291,h_163,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_234862a96275456197914d03aec5059d~mv2.jpg)
![Problem Statement [Template] (1).jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_1a61bfa907ff44748cd5ed280c0f37d5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_291,h_163,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_1a61bfa907ff44748cd5ed280c0f37d5~mv2.jpg)
![Problem Statement [Template].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4c2c3d_626cd6548f79465581fd88998ff5bfe4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_299,h_168,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/4c2c3d_626cd6548f79465581fd88998ff5bfe4~mv2.jpg)
Wireframe & low-fidelity design:
The goal was to create a comprehensive app tailored to photographers, focusing on ease of use, safety, and educational value. All the preparations, including creating personas, user journeys, problem statements, and user flows, were essential before starting with a lo-fi design. This approach allowed me to quickly map out the core structure and functionality of the app. By simplifying the process early on, I was able to concentrate on the user experience, ensuring the app would be intuitive while incorporating features to help photographers learn and manage their work safely.
Click to visit the low-fidelity prototype
Usability study & the UX research
To make sure the app really worked for photographers, I ran a usability study and did some hands-on UX research. I watched users as they tried out key features, took in their feedback, and noted any challenges they faced. These insights helped me fine-tune the design, keeping it easy to use and genuinely helpful for photographers. After analyzing the usability results, I made some changes to improve the original design.
Before usability study
After usability study
Key Learnings and Insights
This being my first app design project, I learned a lot about the full design process, from defining user needs to refining each feature.
Diving into this project taught me essential steps in problem-solving, user research, and creating user-friendly designs. Along the way, I gained insights into how each design decision impacts the overall experience and learned how valuable user feedback is for shaping an app that genuinely meets its goals. I’m grateful for the chance to build my skills through this project and for everyone who contributed their time and feedback to make it a success.
