MCA Guide
Enhancing museum engagement
MCA Guide is a mobile app designed to help Museum of Contemporary Art visitors explore more intentionally. I worked on this app with a team, and our goal was to create a calm, intuitive digital experience that enhances a visit without being overwhelming.
Role
UX Researcher & Designer
Team
3 other UX Designers
Timeline
10-week academic project
Methods
User Research, Prototyping, Testing
Problem
Navigational gaps and limited engagement
We started with the assumption that museum visitors struggle with navigation and basic information gathering.
Our research revealed that while 50% found museums confusing, their real frustration wasn't the map. It was the noise, crowds, and lack of emotional connection.
How might we provide helpful guidance and educational context without "gluing" visitors to their phones and ruining the ambiance?
Process
Understanding users
Interviews
We interviewed 6 diverse users, from frequent "art-lovers" like Osman to busy parents like Charlotte.
Key Insight: We discovered that ambiance was the top request. Users didn't just want to know where the art was - they wanted to feel a sense of wonder.
User Personas
Based on our interviews, we defined two distinct personas:
SOLUTION
MCA Guide: A personalized museum experience
Create a personalized tour
Scan a QR code to learn more about artwork
RESEARCH
???
Research Questions:
-
How do people currently navigate museums?
-
What motivates exploration?
-
What information feels helpful vs. overwhelming?
REFLECTION
Designing for both spontaneous and structured visitors taught me how to balance simplicity with depth. The process reinforced how powerful emotional impact goals can be when shaping an experience. Most importantly, I learned that museum tools must support curiosity, not interrupt it.