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CreativCatalyst
Enhancing productivity, sparking creativity, and fostering connections among creatives, the Creative Project Catalyst app seeks to inspire and support users in various creative fields. This research aims to gauge the demand for this app by understanding the creative habits and motivations of potential users
Prototype
Client:
Self Project
Role:
UX Designer
Date:
Fall 2023
Duration:
4 months
Boosts Productivity
Motivates your Creative Drive
Connects you with your Creative Tribe
Boosts Productivity
Motivates your Creative Drive
Connects you with your Creative Tribe
74% of data and analytics decision makers said that collaborative work management tools have become very important
to the success of innovation and team agility.
74% of data and analytics decision makers said that collaborative work management tools have become very important
to the success of innovation and team agility.
PROBLEM
Understand Habits
What can we learn about user demand by understanding the creative habits and motivations of potential users?
What can we learn about user demand by understanding the creative habits and motivations of potential users?
2.
2.
Identify Needs
How can the Creative Project Catalyst app meet the diverse needs of users in creative fields?
How can the Creative Project Catalyst app meet the diverse needs of users in creative fields?
1.
1.
DISCOVERY
During background research, I wanted to understand how people engage with creativity in their daily lives—beyond professional settings. This led me to explore their habits, inspirations, and blockers. I noticed recurring gaps in structured support, especially when facing creative blocks or looking to collaborate.
That raised key questions:
What creative activities do people already engage in?
Are they aware of existing tools that offer creative prompts?
Do they work alone or with others?
I also wanted to explore how they find inspiration and whether they’d be open to receiving guided help.
Finally, I tested interest in my app idea by asking what features users would value—such as prompts, collaboration tools, or a platform to showcase or sell their work.
To deeply understand the creative journey of potential users, I engaged with a diverse set of participants from both academic and professional spheres:
Creative students at the Academy of Art University balancing school with side projects.
Part-time student artists juggling work, studies, and passion projects.
Freelancers and professionals navigating creative careers in fast-paced environments.
Full-time art and design students with a strong drive to explore and create.
Conducted online to gather insights on participants’ creative routines, motivations, blockers, and early reactions to the Creative Project Catalyst concept.
Conducted online to gather insights on participants’ creative routines, motivations, blockers, and early reactions to the Creative Project Catalyst concept.
40%
40%
engage daily & 40% engage several times a week in creative activities.
engage daily & 40% engage several times a week in creative activities.
53%
53%
have not heard of or used apps that provide creative prompts or support for creative activities.
74%
74%
would be open to receiving guidance and prompts to overcome creative blocks.
would be open to receiving guidance and prompts to overcome creative blocks.
87%
87%
would be open to receiving guidance and prompts to overcome creative blocks.
would be open to receiving guidance and prompts to overcome creative blocks.
53%
53%
will likely use an app like Creative Project Catalyst, which offers creative prompts, collaboration features, and a platform to showcase and sell your artistic work.
will likely use an app like Creative Project Catalyst, which offers creative prompts, collaboration features, and a platform to showcase and sell your artistic work.
Held one-on-one interviews to explore and analyze users’ deeper needs, preferences, and emotional connection to the idea—uncovering what truly sparks and sustains their creativity.
Thinks
Recognizes the potential for work to serve a greater purpose or cause.
Thinks of collaboration challenges such as schedules, artistic approaches, etc.
Views success as a gradual journey and finds motivation
in goals.
Embraces living in the present in her daily life and aspires to step out of her comfort zone.
Feels
Finds motivation in goals and sees success as a
gradual journey.
Thrives on motivation from others' reactions to her creative work.
Struggles with
finding inspiration
and overcoming creative blocks.
Experiences difficulty managing and prioritizing a multitude of creative ideas.
Does
Actively generates fresh content ideas and remains forward-thinking.
Regularly participates in web design, app development, and pottery.
Commits to daily writing and shares weekly progress videos with a friend.
Utilizes visualization techniques in her creative process.
Says
Expresses a desire to share her work with others, emphasizing building connections.
Values feedback and aims to be open to constructive input from others.
Prefers tailored prompts for specific interests, emphasizing the importance of personalized support.
Acknowledges the limitations of working alone and actively seeks collaboration to overcome them.
Key pain points included creative blocks and idea overload, while gains centered on collaboration, everyday inspiration, and the desire for diverse input.
I created 3 task flows to directly address key pain points and fulfill user needs identified during research
Document your creative process - Task Flow for an existing user
Document your creative process - Task Flow for an existing user
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
Connects & messages a like minded creative people - Task Flow for an existing user
Connects & messages a like minded creative people - Task Flow for an existing user
DESIGN
In the design phase, I used the task flows to guide low-fidelity wireframes, ensuring each screen solved a specific user need—like finding inspiration, collaborating, or showcasing work.
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
Document your creative process - Task Flow for an existing user
Document your creative process - Task Flow for an existing user
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator -Task Flow for an existing user
To validate early ideas, I conducted paper prototype testing with users to observe how they interacted with core flows and gather quick feedback on usability and clarity.
I also conducted digital prototype testing to validate interactions and visual hierarchy. Feedback led to refining UI clarity, button placements, and smoother task transitions.
The UI follows a dark mode aesthetic with high contrast for visual clarity. The primary color, Soft Indigo, adds a creative, calming energy, balanced by the secondary Graphite Black for depth and focus.
Component Library
Generate & Save a New Project in Timeline Estimator
Document your creative process
Message like-minded creative people
Designing for creativity taught me the power of simplicity, iteration, and user-centered thinking.
Balancing Priorities
Understanding which issues are priorities and which can be deferred is crucial in delivering a focused and effective user experience.
User-Centric Iteration
Prioritizing user feedback and addressing priority issues significantly improved the usability and user experience of the Creative Project Catalyst app.
Continuous Improvement
User testing and feedback loops are essential for ongoing improvements, ensuring the
app remains aligned with user
expectations and needs.
Diverse User Needs
The creative community has diverse needs, from collaboration to self-promotion, and the app should cater to these varied requirements.
