Creative Connector: Disabled Creatives and Responsive Digital Accessibility
For modern artists, having a digital presence is crucial; however, disabled artists often face barriers to this due to inaccessible apps and websites. That's where Creative Connector comes in. As the UI/UX designer on the project, I collaborated with a cross-functional team to create and ship this accessible and responsive social directory web app designed specifically to help disabled artists grow their online presence and community.
Product
Responsive web app
Design system
Social directory
Tech Stack
Figma
Airtable
Miro
WordPress
Google Suite
Slack
Tech Team
UX/UI Designer (me!)
UX Researcher
Product Manager
Developer
Accessibility Expert
Client
Creative Users Projects is a nonprofit disability arts organization
Process
End-to-end design
Phases: Research, Analysis, Strategy, Design, Prototyping, Testing, Implement and Launch
Results
We successfully shipped the beta version in April 2023.
Creative Users Projects approached me to serve as the UI/UX Designer for their innovative app project focused on supporting disabled artists. I found the problem space fascinating because it demanded creative thinking, learning and careful attention to detail to design for a diverse range of disabled artists. Working with a cross-functional and collaborative team, we aimed to create a best-in-class accessible design to address the some of the following user groups’ problems:
The users:
Disabled, mad and d/Deaf artists, creatives and arts workers based in Canada.
The problems:
1. Disabled artists tended to be more creatively isolated and financially marginalized than their non-disabled peers.
2. For artists, digital presence and promotion are very financially and creatively significant. However, 97% of websites and apps don't pass basic accessibility checks, further marginalizing disabled artists.
Our goals:
1. Create a best-in-class accessible, responsive directory web app that effectively increases the visibility of Connectors among their peers, fueling art creation and collaboration.
2. Make it easier for disabled artists to access more opportunities in the art world.
Constraints:
As a non-profit, there weren’t a lot of resources to use to validate our ideas and build the app.
Our decision to adhere to an accessible design led to some pushback.
The Context: Before Creative Connector
Many user research insights led us to our solution. We found that many disabled artists required a platform that would allow them to establish a digital presence and showcase their talents. Additionally, many sought validation and belonging by connecting with fellow disabled artists within a supportive community framework.
Before I joined the team, the project had started as an events app prototype where disabled arts events are promoted, with accessibility information for venues.
We were tasked with making a new product. The events app idea was scrapped because:
Artists felt that they weren’t able to access an online presence due to the inaccessibility of digital social presence.
Artists tested reported to lack of confidence in going to events, putting on events and obtaining funding for events.
Disabled artists tend to have difficulty seeing themselves as legitimate artists, which prevents them from attending and putting on events. Ultimately, we need to address the issue of disabled artists not thinking that the arts are for them.
User Research Phase One: Conceptual
Method:
In user testing sessions conducted with 13 disabled artists, creatives and arts workers, we sought to gather feedback and insights to inform the direction of the app.
Testing techniques
Focus groups: Engaging members of our target user group to gather their insights and address the unique challenges they face in the arts community.
In-depth Interviews: Users evaluated sample lo-fi wireframes of our three options and used the think-aloud protocol.
Contextual Inquiry: Users navigated similar artist directories and used the think-aloud protocol. We explored three distinct options, each focusing on different aspects of the app's functionality and purpose.
Based on user perspective and needs gathered earlier, we presented users with three directions for our app:
Option 1:
Problem focus: It is difficult to find jobs and funding for disabled artists.
Possible solution: Start with a job/opportunity board.
Approximately 30% of the users tested expressed a strong interest in this approach, emphasizing the importance of financial prospects. However, concerns were also raised about the potential overshadowing of artistic and personal expression and the need for community support.
Option 2:
Problem focus: Hirers and funders tend to choose the same disabled artists who are already well known, since they don’t know about the larger disabled arts scene.
Possible solution: Make an artist directory focused on the user journey of those looking to hire and fund artists.
Approximately 60% of the users had reservations, feeling discomfort with the tension between how to present themselves to their artistic peers compared to potential employers. They emphasized the need for an authentic representation and community-building.
Option 3 (what we went with!):
Problem focus: Disabled artists can feel that the arts aren’t for them due to lack of access to a digital community and an online presence.
Possible solution: Make a directory privileging artists user journey and community-building.
The user testing sessions revealed a strong consensus regarding the importance of community-building. Over 80% of the participants expressed a desire for a platform that allows them to establish a digital presence, connect with fellow disabled artists, and find support and collaboration opportunities.
Based on the comprehensive user testing results, we made the decision to prioritize Option 3, which focuses on community-building in disability arts.
Note:
While Options 1 and 2 were acknowledged as valuable, they were deemed more suitable as additional components to be considered for future versions of the app.
User Research Phase Two: Refining our solution with usability testing
Method:
To refine our solution, we conducted user testing sessions with a diverse group of 15 disabled artists, creatives and arts workers. We made sure to include users with different levels of experience using technology, different disabilities and needs, as well as different assistive technologies.
Testing techniques
Task-based scenarios We conducted focus groups with members of our target user group to gather their insights and address the unique challenges they face in the arts community.
Think-aloud protocol: Users evaluated sample lo-fi wireframes of our three options and used the think-aloud protocol.
Focus groups: Users navigated similar artist directories and used the think-aloud protocol. We explored three distinct options, each focusing on different aspects of the app's functionality and purpose.
Takeaways:
Filtering options and finding the filters:
80% of users appreciated the checkbox filters provided for searching through profiles.
Users wanted to easily connect with like-minded individuals based on specific criteria, such as creative practice, location, or community.
Users found it convenient to select predefined options to narrow down their search results.
However, users often didn’t notice the filters when the search bar was in centred, while the filters were on the left side bar. We solved this by putting both the search bar and the filters in the left hand side bar. This not only helped users find the filters but made clearer the relationship between the two, as they can search using their own terms and use filters simultaneously.
Self-description:
75% of users expressed the need to describe themselves in their own words within their profiles.
Users wanted the freedom to provide a personalized description of their artistic journey, interests, or unique aspects of their work.
Search others in their own words:
70% of users desired the ability to search for other artists using their own keywords or specific phrases.
Users believed that searching profiles based on self-descriptions would allow for better matches and meaningful connections.
Anxieties about filling in profile:
70% of users wanted to be able to not have any aspect of their profile required to be filled out and were intimidated or uncertain what to write in certain sections of the profile.
Users wanted to be able to hide their profile from the rest of the site until they were satisfied with it.
Seeing profiles pre-scroll lessens cognitive load:
70% of users were confused when they didn’t visually see the directory pre-scroll. We made sure our designs changed so that users would be able to see part of a profile card before they started scrolling.
The MVP solution
Robust filtering and search options
Art practices first: our research showed users’ interpreted seeing art practices first as signalling that Creative Connector is a space for artists first and foremost.
“Is this a place to get work? Seeing services first makes me think this is like LinkedIn - I hoped this was for the community instead.”
Services (but lower in the hierarchy): Many disabled artists offer art services: ex. ASL, captioning, accessibility consulting. However, since it’s about artistry first, this category was given a lower hierarchical spot.
Communities: Users wanted to find others that share their identities.
“I want to find Deaf choreographers - I’ve never met another one!”
Control and autonomy: Users can use their search terms only or concurrently with Creative Connector’s filters.
Choice, control and cognitive load in profile creation
‘Share more’: At checkbox filtering sections of profile, users are invited to add their own words to describe themselves and just like the rest of the profile, filling in checkboxes is optional.
“This feels like a census checkbox list, I want to be able to describe myself on my terms.”
No profile section is required: making it completely optional as to how users choose to identify themselves.
Change profile at any time: Users can leave at any point in the profile creation process and easily save their changes
Profile creation is multi-step: This reduced cognitive load for users in the profile creation flow.
Private until made public: Users can choose to make it public or private at any time, but private is the default.
Prioritizing community-building
Centering and co-creating with the community: Regular consulting with disabled artist groups about community issues and usability sessions.
Fostering connection, community and belonging: Disabled artists can find others and be found through a larger digital presence. Creating a Slack channel so users can chat (as there wasn’t revenue to add chat capability for the MVP).
Best-in-class accessibility:
Meeting and exceeding WCAG and AODA guidelines:
Responsive, Accessible and Development-friendly Design System
In order to make sure that Creative Connector is consistent, accessible and responsive for all devices, I created and maintained a design system with styles, components, states and images.
Hi-fi Responsive Wireframes
All the hi-fi screens are responsive, below are different pages in their mobile and desktop versions. Tablet versions were created by altering the margins of the desktop design.
Next steps
Due to time and budget constraints, several potential features must wait for future iterations of the app. These include implementing a job/funding board, creating a user journey for arts organizations, partnering with other non-profit organizations to help with their digital accessibility, aiding artists in grant applications and profile enhancement, incorporating social log-ins, ASL videos, and adding a dark mode.
I hope our efforts will have a ripple effect, inspiring better digital accessibility practices beyond just the app we were working on.
Takeaways
To improve future projects, I intend to make decisive design system choices early on, facilitating consistency from the outset. Additionally, I plan to utilize auto-layout more extensively and create additional components to streamline the design process for both myself and the developer.
I learned to have more comprehensive discussions with developers about the designs. This helped address any potential challenges related to implementing crucial accessibility features.
Lastly, I would like to use interactive prototypes earlier in the process to effectively show desired interactions and visualize the appearance of designs across various devices for all stakeholders.
Acknowledgements
I am grateful to Lindsay Fisher and the Creative Users Projects board for their trust in me. Special thanks to Stacey Morten, our exceptional UX Researcher. Alex Tait wore so many hats, but I am most grateful for her invaluable guidance in Accessible UX. Thanks to developers Alex Ghattas, Allison Tarr, Eloisa Guerrera, and Chris Mendis for making this product real. I appreciate the UX mentoring from Julianna Rowsell. Lastly, thanks to all user testing participants for their assistance in creating an impactful product for disabled artists.