Exhibizio - Exhibition & Journal App
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To design a better user experience, I analyzed two existing platforms: iDaily Museum and ArtRabbit.
IDAILY MUSEUM
A well-known app for discovering art exhibitions, but it has friction in navigation and lacks personalization.
Key findings
Pros
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Large database of exhibitions worldwide
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Simple UI with clear categories
Cons
-
No way to save or track past visits
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No personalization
-
No note-taking or check-in feature for users to engage with content
-
Overloaded exhibitions and difficult to choose
ARTRABBIT
Focused on museum lovers, but limited in scope beyond major institutions.
Key findings
Pros
Good integration with museum memberships and ticketing
Offers detailed artist bios
Cons
Lacks a discovery-first approach, making it harder to explore smaller galleries
No local-based recommendations
Users can’t create personal notes or mark visits
KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR APP
Improve retention
By allowing users to take notes and check-in at exhibitions
Better personalization
Provide tailored recommendations based on user history
Eazy exploration
Offer both local and global discovery without friction
The goal is clear
Bridge the gaps in existing solutions and create a platform that not only helps users find exhibitions but also keeps them engaged long-term.
Overall
Exhibizio is an app designed to help users explore, track, and engage with art exhibitions worldwide in three simple steps:
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Discover exhibitions based on location, preferences, or trending topics.
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Save and revisit exhibitions by logging visits and attaching notes or photos.
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Receive personalized recommendations related to their interests.
From the beginning, our goal was to create a centralised platform where users can easily discover and record their art journey, whether they are art lovers, casual explorers or industry professional.
My role
Product designer
Visual designer
Prototype
Design system
Platform
IOS
Android
Competitive Analysis
To design a better user experience, I analyzed two existing platforms: iDaily Museum and ArtRabbit.
iDaily Museum
A well-known app for discovering art exhibitions, but it has friction in navigation and lacks personalization.
Pros
-
Large database of exhibitions worldwide
-
Simple UI with clear categories
Cons
-
No way to save or track past visits
-
No personalization
-
No note-taking or check-in feature for users to engage with content
-
Overloaded exhibitions and difficult to choose
ArtRabbit
Focused on museum lovers, but limited in scope beyond major institutions.
Pros
-
Good integration with museum memberships and ticketing
-
Offers detailed artist bios
Cons
-
Lacks a discovery-first approach, making it harder to explore smaller galleries
-
No local-based recommendations
-
Users can’t create personal notes or mark visits
Key Takeaways for App
Improve retention
By allowing users to take notes and check-in at exhibitions
Better personalization
Provide tailored recommendations based on user history
Eazy exploration
Offer both local and global discovery without friction
The goal is clear
Bridge the gaps in existing solutions and create a platform that not only helps users find exhibitions but also keeps them engaged long-term.
USER INSIGHTS & PERSONAS
1:1 Interviews
Surveys
Journey Mapping
AFFINITY MAPPING
DISCOVERING EXHIBITIONS: THE INITIAL SEARCH
"I often struggle to find exhibitions that match my interests."
"I wish there was one platform instead of using instagram and take screenshots or websites."
"Sometimes I don’t know what’s happening nearby until it’s too late."
"Filters like date or type of art would make my search much easier."
"I want to discover smaller, or new artists exhibitions, but they’re hard to find."
"It’s frustrating when I can’t see exhibitions happening outside my local area."
TRACKING VISITS: KEEPING MEMORIES ALIVE
"I like taking notes on exhibitions, but using my phone’s Notes app feels disorganized."
"I wish I could track the exhibitions I’ve visited in one place."
"Saving artist names and details would help me visit their work later."
"It would be great if I could add photos to my saved visits."
"I want to compare exhibitions to understand trends or differences."
"Sometimes I forget where I’ve been because my notes like a mess"
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND SHARING
"I’d love to share exhibitions I find interesting with my friends easily."
"Sometimes I discover exhibitions through word of mouth, but it’s inconsistent."
"A community or recommendations from other users would be helpful.
"I want to see what’s trending among people in my city."
"Being able to invite friends to an exhibition directly through the app would be great."
ADDITIONAL INSIGHTS
"The information on exhibitions is often incomplete. Details like ticket prices."
"It’s overwhelming when there are too many options and no way to organize them."
"Finding time for exhibitions is tough. I wish I could plan better using an app."
"I wish I could see all the details like ticket prices and parking options in one place."
"It’d be helpful to get suggestions based on what I’ve visited or saved before."
"It would help if the app could sync with my calendar to avoid missing events."
USER PERSONAS
Art enthusiast
Needs:
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Track visits and compare past/present exhibitions.
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Discover niche exhibitions beyond mainstream venues.
Behaviour
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Searches frequently while traveling.
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Takes detailed notes on artworks and curation.
Casual explorer
Needs:
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Quick discovery of nearby exhibitions.
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Minimal effort to save and revisit events.
Behaviour
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Uses location-based filters for last-minute plans.
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Rarely tracks visits systematically.
Industry professional
Needs:
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In-depth artist/gallery insights and networking tools.
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Link notes to exhibitions for professional reference.
Behaviour
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Researches exhibitions thoroughly before attending.
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Compares artists across galleries.
PAIN POINTS & DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES
Pain Points in Exhibition Discovery
85%
72%
68%
74%
70%
62%
88%
81%
78%
65%
74%
88%
User Behaviour Distribution
Fragmented exhibition discovery
Issue
Many users struggle to find exhibitions they care about.
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85% feel overwhelmed by scattered information across platforms like social media, event sites, and blogs.
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72% say they’ve missed exhibitions they would have attended due to inefficient workflows.
Problem
The current solutions doesn’t give users a clear starting point. The lack of a centralised system leads to cognitive overload and frustration, while limited search options make it harder to find relevant exhibitions.
Solution
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Centralize Information: Let’s create one place where users can discover exhibitions without hopping between platforms.
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Make Searches Smarter: We can introduce filters by location, date, and art style, helping users quickly narrow down options.
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Simplify the Experience: Trending and local exhibitions can be featured right on the homepage, with an option to dive deeper.
Ineffective post-visit tracking
What’s Happening?
Users love visiting exhibitions but often lose track of the details afterward.
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68% forget key information, like artist names or specific artworks.
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74% rely on fragmented tools like notes apps or screenshots, which feel clunky and disorganized.
Why It’s a Problem?
This disconnect makes it harder for users to reflect on their visits or share them with others. Manually tracking these details doesn’t feel intuitive and disrupts the overall experience.
What We Can Do?
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Automate Where Possible: A simple post-visit prompt like “Would you like to add notes?” can help users keep track without extra effort.
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Visual Timelines: Let’s design a chronological view where users can see their saved and visited exhibitions at a glance, enriched with photos and notes.
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Flexible Organisation: By adding hashtags (e.g., #Impressionism, #WeekendTrips), users can categorise visits and retrieve them easily later.
Demand for an integrated platform
What’s Happening?
Users want simplicity - a single tool that does it all.
88% say they’d prefer one platform to discover, track, and reflect on exhibitions.
81% would use an app that integrates these features.
Why It’s a Problem?
Right now, there’s no such solutions offered in market.
What We Can Do?
Exhibition pages could link directly to artist profiles, similar events, and past works.
KEY UX PRIORITIES
Unified Platform
Merge discovery, tracking, and note-taking into one tool.
Smart Filters
Enable search by location, date, artist, or niche interests.
Personalization
Recommend exhibitions based on saved preferences and visit history.
Navigation
Simplify switching between global/local views without losing context.
User Insights & Personas
1:1 Interviews
Surveys
Journey Mapping
Affinity Mapping
User Personas
Art Enthusiast
Needs:
-
Track visits and compare past/present exhibitions.
-
Discover niche exhibitions beyond mainstream venues.
Behaviour
-
Searches frequently while traveling.
-
Takes detailed notes on artworks and curation.
Casual Explorer
Needs:
-
Quick discovery of nearby exhibitions.
-
Minimal effort to save and revisit events.
Behaviour
-
Uses location-based filters for last-minute plans.
-
Rarely tracks visits systematically.
Industry Professional
Needs:
-
In-depth artist/gallery insights and networking tools.
-
Link notes to exhibitions for professional reference.
Behaviour
-
Researches exhibitions thoroughly before attending.
-
Compares artists across galleries.
Pain points & Design Opportunities
Pain Points in Exhibition Discovery
78%
65%
74%
88%
User Behaviour Distribution
Fragmented Exhibition Discovery
Issue:
85% of users feel overwhelmed by scattered exhibition info; 72% miss events due to inefficient discovery.
Problem:
Current platforms lack a central starting point and effective search options.
Solution:
Centralize information, offer smarter search filters (location, date, art style), and simplify the discovery experience.
Ineffective Post-Visit Tracking
Issue:
68% forget exhibition details; 74% rely on messy notes or screenshots.
Problem:
Difficult to reflect on or share exhibition experiences.
Solution:
Automate tracking prompts, offer visual timelines with notes/photos, and allow flexible categorization through hashtags.
Demand for an Integrated Platform
Issue:
88% prefer a single comprehensive platform; 81% would use an integrated app.
Problem:
No existing market solution provides this integration.
Solution:
Connect exhibition pages directly to artist profiles, related events, and past works.
Key UX Priorities
Unified Platform:
Merge discovery, tracking, and note-taking into one tool.
Smart Filters:
Enable search by location, date, artist, or niche interests.
Personalization:
Recommend exhibitions based on saved preferences and visit history.
Navigation:
Simplify switching between global/local views without losing context.
Prioritisation
Project Goal
While the business goals focused on attracting as many users as possible by clearly showcasing the platform's functionality, my vision went deeper into understanding user needs. This allowed me to identify key overlaps between business objectives and user desires, ensuring the app delivers value while meeting strategic goals.
Features Roadmap
After drafting the initial P1 features for Exhibizio, I realised the need to focus on essentials for the MVP. I narrowed it down to core features like signup, search, and visit tracking, while also including personalised recommendations and artist profiles to deliver meaningful value without overcomplicating the experience.
Site Map
I designed site map from scratch to align with the app's core functionalities and user needs.
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User mental model clarity: The map reflect how users naturally search, save, and engage with exhibitions.
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Experience structure: They provide a clear blueprint for the app's navigation and feature integration.
User Scenarios & Task Flows
SCENARIO 1: PLAN A VISIT
Max
Max wanted to quickly find a nearby exhibition after get off work. He opened the app, typed in "Impressionism", and immediately found a free exhibition within 5 km, which he could save and share with friends.
Task Flow
Discover → Search → Nearby
Discover → Map
SCENARIO 2: TRACK A VISIT
Alex
It’s a quiet Sunday afternoon, and Alex has just visited a local Impressionist exhibition. The colors and paintings left a strong impression, and they wants to check the exhibition’s detail while it’s still fresh in their mind.
Task Flow
Profile → Visits → My Visits
SCENARIO 3: EXPLORE RELATED ARTISTS
Mia
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon, and Mia has just visited an exhibition showcasing modern abstract art. As she moves from one piece to another, one artist’s work stands out - a bold mix of colors and shapes that captures her imagination. She wants to learn more about the artist and explore similar styles.
Task Flow
Exhibition detail → Artist Bio → Similar Artists → Exhibition History
SCENARIO 4: REVISIT PAST NOTES
Angel
It’s a rainy evening, and Angel is sitting on the couch, scrolling through photos on their phone. A picture from an art exhibition they visited a few months ago catches their eye, sparking a memory of a painting that left a deep impression. Angel wants to revisit the notes they took during that visit to recall the artist’s name and the emotions the artwork evoked.
Task Flow
Exhibition detail → Notes
Design
Usability Test
I worked on all the UI and prototype elements for this project, focusing on creating a smooth and cohesive experience. Overall, the usability test was a success. The general flow worked well and was easy for users to navigate. I made some adjustments based on feedback to refine the flow further and ensure a smoother experience.
Iterations
To improve Notes experience, I’ve added Link Notes functions to help user link different exhibitions with similar ideas.
To improve Map experience, I’ve designed a new bar for user explore exhibitions nearby.
