bridge the gap in learning in a classroom while utilizing museums as centers for experiential knowledge.
led the end-to-end design of a scavenger hunt app that reimagines museum visits as interactive, educational adventures. I conducted competitive analysis and in-person user research at the Whitney Museum to inform the design, ensuring it served educators, students, and casual visitors alike. By blending playful UX with institutional goals, I created a product concept that supports learning, engagement, and long-term member retention.
End to End feature designer co-working with an independent museum foundation and the Whitney Museum of American Art.
In an age where technology plays a central role in entertainment and education, museums often battle the problem of many museum-goers, especially younger visitors, finding traditional tours passive or overwhelming, leading to disengagement and missed learning opportunities.
Below outlines my design for ArtQuest, a mobile scavenger hunt experience that transforms museum visits into interactive clue driven journeys through art. By connecting education teams, teachers, and everyday visitors, it deepens engagement and supports membership retention through play.
I made a list of all the grievances the current process gave us. I also asked my colleagues on my team and in the call center what their ideal system looked like.
The research highlighted three main points to improve upon:
I conducted a deep dive into platforms like ClueKeeper and Scavify, as well as existing museum apps. This helped me understand the market landscape and where ArtQuest could stand out. I paid close attention to gaps in educational value, UX flow, and how much joy each app sparked in the user journey.
To better understand user behavior, I observed and interviewed museum-goers at the Whitney’s permanent collection. I mapped their needs and emotions using empathy maps, and tested rough prototypes to learn how they engaged with art in physical space. Their feedback directly shaped how I built clues and guided flows.
To guide user-centered decisions, I created three personas representing the diverse needs of ArtQuest’s audience. These personas helped ground the design process in empathy and ensured the experience would be relevant and engaging across educational, casual, and instructional contexts.
By focusing on a museum educator, a tourist, and an elementary school teacher, I captured a range of user goals and expectations to inform a more inclusive and adaptable experience.
By marrying the audio tour to the premise of a scavenger hunt experience, providing an immersive narrative that guides participants through exhibits, adding an extra layer of storytelling and engagement.
This setup allowed us to standardize incoming requests, reduce email clutter, and increase visibility across the team. It also made the process more trackable, since tasks were now organized in a shared digital space with deadlines, status tags, and assignment options.
This setup allowed us to standardize incoming requests, reduce email clutter, and increase visibility across the team. It also made the process more trackable, since tasks were now organized in a shared digital space with deadlines, status tags, and assignment options.
I aimed to reduce delays and miscommunication between the Visitor Services team and backend departments by creating a structured Microsoft Form connected through Power Automate. This allowed for faster, more consistent issue tracking and improved operational response times across teams.
I created hand-drawn illustrations throughout the case study to reflect the playful, exploratory spirit of ArtQuest. The mascot began as a simple oval shape in Figma, evolving into a friendly character inspired by the client's original concept. The final logo and visual identity blend academic curiosity with a whimsical tone, aligning with the product’s educational mission.
This setup allowed us to standardize incoming requests, reduce email clutter, and increase visibility across the team. It also made the process more trackable, since tasks were now organized in a shared digital space with deadlines, status tags, and assignment options.
This setup allowed us to standardize incoming requests, reduce email clutter, and increase visibility across the team. It also made the process more trackable, since tasks were now organized in a shared digital space with deadlines, status tags, and assignment options.
