Mina

UXUI Designer & Front-end Developer

mina.systems

  • mina.systems⬈

    2022 – 2023

  • Case Study

    Designing and developing a website for artist Mina System. Upgrading from an HTML based platform (Cargo Collective) to a PHP based platform (WordPress)

    Duration

    12 Months

    Key Skills

    Product design, ideation, sketching, information architecture, user interface design, interaction design, prototyping, website development

  • “I want an easy way to switch languages on my site.”

  • Problem

    I, Mina System, am an artist with a website on an HTML based CMS, Cargo Collective. Having relied on multiple domains, and the limitations of an HTML CMS, I was ready to explore further options.

  • Vision

    Facing limitations of their current CMS, I needed a new way to approach their website. The final product would need to be able to switch between English and Japanese, showcase 3D models, and have the ability to create a custom footer.

  • Brief

    I took on the challenge of renovating my art practice web presence. I began with conducting research on competitor artist sites, and building a solid understanding of best practices in terms of usability and accessibility. Designing and prototyping were done on Figma. The site was built on WordPress utilizing custom PHP, JS, CSS, and HTML.

  • “I work a lot with 3D objects and animation. How can I showcase my talents better?”

  • Research

    Competitive Analysis

    I conducted competitive analysis with several professional artists with web presences that were successful.

  • Target Audience Analysis

    I conducted target audience analysis on Reddit, Craigslist, and Facebook. I analyzed posts from artists showcasing their websites for effective and impressive UXUI implementations. I also analyzed artist profile pages on renowned gallery websites for standardization.

  • Results

    The analyses were synthesized into trends and compiled into an overarching user problem statement.

  • I am looking for an artist, but i don’t know how to find someone with talent so:

    ・

    I will search on Google

    ・

    I will use social media platforms and their hashtags to find artists whose work I am drawn to

    ・

    I will find artists with professional web presences

  • I need an artist who makes good work consistently, so I look for these things on their website:

    ・

    A concise and impressive CV

    ・

    Thorough and professional documentation of artworks

    ・

    Just as thorough and professional documentation of exhibitions

    ・

    An artist’s statement

  • User Problem

    “I am looking for a talented artist, and I need assistance in finding one online.”

    Solution

    Mina System is the artist for your next group show, or even a potential new artist for your roster.

  • Features to Implement

    ・ Inviting landing page
    ・ Feature work on landing page
    ・ Easily navigable site menu
    ・ Artwork photo documentation galleries
    ・ Exhibition photo documentation galleries
    ・ Contact page
    ・ Artist Statement
    ・ CV

  • User Testing

    Goals

    Utilizing screenshots of the prototype on Figma with AI generated images and stock images, I was able to create a user experience test. Using this I gathered data regarding the usability and accessibility of the website.

  • Process

    User tests were conducted on specific demographics, including: graduate students entering the art world, gallerists looking for new artists, and university admissions professors. By focusing on these demographics and utilizing the prototype as the basis for the study, I was able to find crucial key points in improving the design of the site. The original HTML website can be viewed here.

  • Results

    By leveraging this prototype, I was able to gather valuable data pertaining to the website’s usability and accessibility. The test provided insights into how users interacted with the interface, how easily they could navigate through the content, and whether the design elements were intuitive and visually appealing. The results obtained from this user test will inform future improvements and optimizations to enhance the overall user experience of the website.

  • MVP/Wireframes

    Wireframes

    Wireframes were created to refine the MVP and affirm critical red routes.

    Prototype

    The prototype was refined to be closer to a high fidelity model.

  • “A UXUI redesign with critical elements like a dropdown menu and footer are essential.”

  • UI Design

    Style Guide

  • Implementation and Development

    Architecture

    The architecture of my website follows a user-centered design approach, ensuring a seamless and intuitive browsing experience for visitors. By prioritizing user needs and efficient information retrieval, the architecture of my website aims to create a user-friendly platform that effectively showcases my expertise and drives engagement.

  • Stack

    Platform: WordPress
    DB: MySQL
    Backend: PHP (WordPress Admin was used as a CMS.)
    Frontend: HTML / CSS / JS
    Digital Asset Management: WordPress Media Library

  • Integrations (plugins, etc.)

    Header/Footer/Post Injections by Stefano Lissa
    Responsive Lightbox & Gallery by dFactory
    Three.JS plugin

  • Search Engine Optimization

    SEO Integrations

    Yoast SEO was used to evaluate the SEO score of the website and changes were made to improve performance

  • Meta

    Artist | Contemporary Art | Studio Art | Video, Sculpture, Drawing, Installation and much more. – New York, NY & Brooklyn, NY.

  • Keywords/Phrases

    ・Art
    ・Artist
    ・Contemporary Artist
    ・Contemporary Art
    ・Gallery Artist
    ・Emerging Artist
    ・Studio Artist
    ・Artwork

    ・Art Portfolio
    ・Video Art
    ・Installation Art
    ・Drawing
    ・Painting
    ・Sculpture
    ・3D Art
    ・Animation

  • Outcomes

    Accomplishments

    A screen recording of the final product is viewable here.

  • Through my comprehensive web design, web development, and SEO work on the Mina System project, I achieved significant outcomes and accomplished key milestones. Overall, my efforts have contributed to positioning myself, Mina System, as a reputable, professional, and talented artist.

  • Web Presence Revamp

    Concerning web design, I created a visually appealing and user-friendly website that effectively showcases my artwork, exhibitions, and dossier. The seamless web development implementation ensured smooth navigation and optimal performance across various devices.

  • SEO

    My strategic SEO efforts led to improved search engine rankings, increased organic traffic, and enhanced online visibility for mina.systems, resulting in a broader reach and higher conversion rates.

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