A mobile app to engage young adults with public art in The Hague
Designing a new mobile app from scratch to help The Hague Municipality with encouraging young adults to engage with public art
Role (Team of 5)
UX Designer
Employer
The Hague Municipality
Platform
Mobile-App
Duration
3 Months
There are over 600 works of art in The Hague, displayed throughout its streets, squares, and parks- ranging from statues and sculptures to memorials - collectively known as outdoor art
The purpose of public art in The Hague is to bring color to the city, invite residents to reflect on meaningful events from the past, and share unique stories that spark the imagination and strengthen the connection between people and their surroundings
Handful of outdoor art in The Hague - This is the official website of outdoor art in The Hague showcasing over 600 artworks
Unfortunately, public art oftenly goes unnoticed by young adults
Public art is meant to bring color to the city, reflect on history, and create a sense of connection among people. However, much of his art goes unnoticed, leaving it feeling empty and disconnected. There is an opportunity for young adults to re-engage with whese works and bring meaning to them.
Artwork in the "Grote Marktstraat" one of the most relevant shopping streets in The Hague
Artwork near the central library and town hall in The Hague
From 25 Concepts to 3 Concepts
We created 25 individual concepts (5 per person), allowing us to first diverge independently. We then converged around overlapping themes to develop 3 shared inspirational concepts and feedback led us to the final concept.
LoreWalker
A gamified app for young adults to explore public art through puzzles and reflection
Promo video for LoreWalker, during an Expo for students
Gamified exploration and interaction
Public art often lacks context, making it hard to connect with. Its static nature feels less engaging to a generation used to interactive experiences. Combined with an outdated image and the tendency to blend into the background, it's easily overlooked by young adults
Social reflection, community engagement and multiplayer
Young adults often overlook public art and historic sites because they feel distant, passive and lacking personal relevance. Without engaging stories or interactive elements, they're easy to ignore in a fast-paced world. These topics also don't come up in conversations
Rewards features + Customization
An incentitive to increase the retention of young adults with the app, by offering them rewards that they can use in real life.
Accessibility features
An accessible user experience has a higher number of potential users. We want to include everyone to use the app
The PO of The Hague municipality is interested in developing the app
Final Feedback
Our PO was very satisfied with the outcome of our work. She did not have any negative remarks and was generally impressed with our effectiveness and our ability to realise the goals that we set out for ourselves.
My process wasn't perfect, this is what I learned
Initial Missteps in User Story Definition:
During early sprints, many user stories were too broad or vague, which hindered progress. The team refined these stories over time, creating actionable tasks.
Underestimation of Time and Effort
Tasks, such as building the design system and integrating features, often took longer than expected due to underestimation during sprint planning.
Motivational Challenges:
The team experienced dips in motivation, particularly toward the end of the project, compounded by university workloads and the extended duration of the project.
Design and Technical Challenges
Some tools (e.g., ProtoPie) were not scalable for the project’s scope, requiring adjustments mid-development. Additionally, user testing revealed areas requiring redesign or refinement, which added to the workload
