Open.Eyebeam
Creating an Archive for an Online Event Space
Creating an Archive for an Online Event Space
Open.Eyebeam is described to be Eyebeam's "digital gathering space." It is a DIY space for artists, technologists, and anyone willing to imagine a better digital world.
As a User Experience Design Intern at Eyebeam during the Summer and Fall of 2023, a part of my responsibilities involved redesigning Open.Eyebeam's web and mobile experiences.
Open.Eyebeam was initially designed for online event attendance for hybrid events and as an artist archival space.
Current Version of Open.Eyebeam on Desktop
> Allows users to attend events and explore artist studios through arrow key navigation.
> Displays Eyebeam's unique retro aesthetic with a brutalist influence on the web.
> Artists play a pivotal role in customizing their studios, contributing to a unique visitor experience.
Through user interviews, I was able to determine the primary concerns related to artists and visitors, and I created user profiles based on that information.
Primary concerns are...
> Artists are particularly concerned with preserving the content and discussions that occur during event talks.
> Artists seek customizable platforms that allow them to curate and showcase their art in a manner that aligns with their artistic vision.
> Beyond the artwork itself, artists are concerned with effectively promoting their events.
Primary concerns are...
> Users currently lack visibility into Eyebeam's past events and the artists who participated, hindering their knowledge of the organization's history and contributions.
Access to past events is confined to Eyebeam's Eventbrite and YouTube Channel—external platforms with restricted visibility within Eyebeam's primary digital channels.
> Increase user awareness of past events for an enriched experience.
> Ensure artists gain visibility through the platform.
> Establish a consistent visual language for a cohesive brand experience.
Successful achievement of goals leads to enhanced video visibility for users and increased traffic during events.
Structured my workflow around anticipated user interactions, considering both during and non-event times. The low-fidelity prototypes were crafted based on these assumptions to ensure a user-centric and intuitive design.
During my leadership in user testing, A/B testing was conducted on various low-fidelity prototypes to determine how to effectively draw visitors' attention to essential information and identify areas for improvement.
Key Findings Emerged:
1. Prioritize visual hierarchy for enhanced readability of event talks and details.
2. Ensure intuitive and flexible navigation to accommodate the dynamic nature of Open.Eyebeam's events.
Enhanced Visibility of Diverse Hybrid Events at Eyebeam:
> Designed to spotlight artists' work, events, and contributions to Eyebeam.
> Focused on increasing user awareness of Eyebeam's impactful endeavors through enhanced visibility of its diverse hybrid events.
> Prioritized readability in the design for better awareness of events.
> Developed an information card format for events, including the event talk name, involved artists, and its description.
> Designed with an awareness that a significant portion of information is derived from YouTube's API, ensuring a streamlined approach and minimizing upkeep efforts.
> Enhanced navigation through slider arrows, allowing for easy exploration and access to various talks.
> Introduced a customizable background, providing flexibility for event theme/branding.
> Implemented tabs to organize the date of talks, ensuring a structured arrangement for different events.
Due to the customizable nature of Open.Eyebeam, the development of a design system and component style guide was essential to maintain enduring brand consistency. Furthermore, this initiative will streamline future updates and modifications. Currently, it is undergoing the necessary adjustments and enhancements.
> Initial tests reveal a significant enhancement in the ability to retrieve information about past events on Open.Eyebeam.
> Formal evaluation of attendance and participation has not been executed due to the absence of recent events, and as a result, code updates have not been implemented.
> Early observations indicate that participants are likely to gain increased awareness of past events and a deeper understanding of Open.Eyebeam's purpose.
> CSS adjustments and information updates are required to align the design with the prototype before summer events.
