Captivate: Exposure, Learning, and Networking
Captivate: Exposure, Learning, and Networking
Tag
Product Design and Design System
Role
Lead UI/UX Designer
Year
2024
Captivate App: Empowering Photographers with Exposure, Learning, and Networking
Overview
Summary: Captivate is a platform designed to support experienced and professional photographers by addressing challenges in gaining exposure, advancing skills, and building networks. Inspired by my own experiences as a photographer, I aimed to create a solution that fosters professional growth and collaboration.
Responsibilities: User research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and visual design.
Problem
Photographers often struggle with:
Limited opportunities for showcasing their work to targeted audiences.
Difficulty accessing advanced learning resources to stay competitive.
Challenges in building meaningful professional networks.
As a photographer, I faced similar barriers, which motivated me to create a platform that could make these aspects more accessible.
Goals
To understand the needs, challenges, and goals of experienced and professional photographers.
Research
Leveraged my personal experiences alongside interviews and surveys with professional photographers to identify core needs and pain points.
Methods:
Conducted surveys and interviews with photographers specializing in portrait, landscape, wedding, and fine art photography.
Usability testing with 7 participants aged 19–28, with varying industry experience from 7 months to 4 years.
Key Insights:
Photographers prioritize high-quality exposure tailored to potential clients, agencies, and galleries.
Advanced learning resources like tutorials, masterclasses, and industry updates are highly valued.
Networking and collaboration tools are essential for professional growth.
Customization and ease of use are critical for portfolio-building features.
Design Process
Prototyping:
Created an interactive Figma prototype that prioritized ease of use and visual clarity.
Designed features such as streamlined onboarding, portfolio customization, and intuitive navigation.
Usability Testing:
Conducted tests with 7 photographers specializing in various genres.
Key findings included:
Confusion in the login process.
Difficulty navigating the learning section.
Challenges customizing portfolios
Iterative Design:
Addressed usability concerns by simplifying navigation, improving the portfolio creation interface, and enhancing the contest submission process.
Solution
Captivate’s core features include:
Curated Exposure: Showcase work to potential clients, agencies, and galleries.
Advanced Learning: Access masterclasses, tutorials, and resources tailored for photographers.
Networking Tools: Facilitate collaboration and industry connections through events and directories.
Portfolio Builder Pro: Provide customizable templates for professional portfolios.
Contest Platform: Host themed photography contests to inspire creativity and offer recognition
Retrospective
Delivered a comprehensive usability report and prototype that demonstrated Captivate’s potential to empower photographers. The app received positive feedback for its relevance and user-friendly design, particularly for networking and exposure features.
This project was deeply personal and taught me the value of designing solutions that address real-world problems I’ve faced. It reinforced the importance of user feedback and iterative design in creating impactful products.
Captivate: Exposure, Learning, and Networking
Tag
Product Design and Design System
Role
Lead UI/UX Designer
Year
2024
Captivate App: Empowering Photographers with Exposure, Learning, and Networking
Overview
Summary: Captivate is a platform designed to support experienced and professional photographers by addressing challenges in gaining exposure, advancing skills, and building networks. Inspired by my own experiences as a photographer, I aimed to create a solution that fosters professional growth and collaboration.
Responsibilities: User research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and visual design.
Problem
Photographers often struggle with:
Limited opportunities for showcasing their work to targeted audiences.
Difficulty accessing advanced learning resources to stay competitive.
Challenges in building meaningful professional networks.
As a photographer, I faced similar barriers, which motivated me to create a platform that could make these aspects more accessible.
Goals
To understand the needs, challenges, and goals of experienced and professional photographers.
Research
Leveraged my personal experiences alongside interviews and surveys with professional photographers to identify core needs and pain points.
Methods:
Conducted surveys and interviews with photographers specializing in portrait, landscape, wedding, and fine art photography.
Usability testing with 7 participants aged 19–28, with varying industry experience from 7 months to 4 years.
Key Insights:
Photographers prioritize high-quality exposure tailored to potential clients, agencies, and galleries.
Advanced learning resources like tutorials, masterclasses, and industry updates are highly valued.
Networking and collaboration tools are essential for professional growth.
Customization and ease of use are critical for portfolio-building features.
Design Process
Prototyping:
Created an interactive Figma prototype that prioritized ease of use and visual clarity.
Designed features such as streamlined onboarding, portfolio customization, and intuitive navigation.
Usability Testing:
Conducted tests with 7 photographers specializing in various genres.
Key findings included:
Confusion in the login process.
Difficulty navigating the learning section.
Challenges customizing portfolios
Iterative Design:
Addressed usability concerns by simplifying navigation, improving the portfolio creation interface, and enhancing the contest submission process.
Solution
Captivate’s core features include:
Curated Exposure: Showcase work to potential clients, agencies, and galleries.
Advanced Learning: Access masterclasses, tutorials, and resources tailored for photographers.
Networking Tools: Facilitate collaboration and industry connections through events and directories.
Portfolio Builder Pro: Provide customizable templates for professional portfolios.
Contest Platform: Host themed photography contests to inspire creativity and offer recognition
Retrospective
Delivered a comprehensive usability report and prototype that demonstrated Captivate’s potential to empower photographers. The app received positive feedback for its relevance and user-friendly design, particularly for networking and exposure features.
This project was deeply personal and taught me the value of designing solutions that address real-world problems I’ve faced. It reinforced the importance of user feedback and iterative design in creating impactful products.