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ArtCenter community app

An art community concept about discovering something worth keeping — and finding it again.

Client / context
Concept Project
Timeline
2019
Role
Product Designer
Status
Concept
ArtCenter 2026 interaction proposal showing discovery, the account gate, and saved references

2026 concept iteration · UI study and interactive demonstration below

At a glance

From finding inspiration
to keeping it close.

A mobile art community concept, revisited through one focused interaction: saving a reference without losing your place.

Explore the interactive concept
Collaboration
2019 original: Independently created the feature map, user flow, wireframes, illustration, and interface design.
2026 portfolio iteration
A working demonstration of discovery, account context, saving, and retrieval.
Status
Self-directed mobile community concept; not a live platform.
Services
  • Feature Map
  • User Flow
  • Wireframes
  • Illustration
  • Visual Design
  • Mockups

A 2019 concept for looking, learning, and sharing

ArtCenter began as a self-directed mobile community concept for creators and people collecting visual references or learning a new technique. I developed the feature map, user flows, wireframes, illustration, and interface design. The original scope brought publishing, conversation, collections, and creator profiles into one experience. In this revisit, I focus on the connection between discovering a useful reference and finding it again.

A broad community map becomes one focused return journey

The original flow chart connects account and visitor entry to the feed, post interactions, personal collections, publishing, and messages. Collections already has a place in that structure; the 2026 revisit does not invent it. Instead, it selects the discovery-to-collection path from a wider concept so the account boundary and the return visit can be examined together. Publishing and messaging remain visible in the historical map, while the working exploration below stays focused on saving and retrieval.

2019 ArtCenter flow chart connecting visitor entry, the feed, collections, publishing, and messages
2019 flow chart · The original map places collections alongside discovery, publishing, and messages. Open the source image to follow individual branches.

Artwork stays central from structure to final UI

A reference needs more than an attractive thumbnail. The wireframes connect an artwork post to comments, related work, and the creator’s collections, so people can understand both the finished piece and the context around it. The final UI carries that hierarchy through warm color blocks and white space. Pink controls establish the action layer while artwork keeps the largest visual area.

2019 ArtCenter wireframes for artwork posts, comments, and creator collections
2019 wireframes · Artwork detail, conversation, and creator collections establish the content hierarchy before styling.
2019 ArtCenter mobile feed, artwork detail, collection, and profile screens
2019 final UI · Post, comments, and profile screens carry the same hierarchy into a warm visual system.
2019 ArtCenter account and visitor path screens
2019 entry screens · An illustrated welcome introduces the community alongside account and visitor entry.
2019 ArtCenter password recovery, social login, and artwork discovery feed screens
2019 final UI · Account recovery and alternate sign-in sit beside the discovery feed; the artwork grid gives browsing a distinct visual priority.
2019 ArtCenter saved collection and profile screens
2019 collections and profile · Saved work has a dedicated destination beyond the feed.

2026 iteration: browse first, ask at the moment of intent

The iteration narrows the experience to browse → open artwork → save → sign in when needed → return to collections. Visitors can explore and view artwork detail without an account. The account gate appears when saving, carrying the selected artwork context into the sign-in step and then back to a confirmation state. This keeps discovery open while making continuity a clear reason to join.

2026 interaction prototype / product direction

Make saving a creative habit.

A focused continuation of the 2019 concept: discover a reference, understand its context, and keep it close enough to return to later.

Designed around
Discover → understand → save → return
Product question
How might a visitor save without being stopped by an account wall?
Status
Concept interaction prototype; no live platform or account data

Interactive demo 2026 exploration

artcenter

Tuesday, 07:42

Find your next reference.

Quiet studies, generous process notes, and people worth following.

ExploreArtworkProcess notesTutorials
For your studioCurated today
ArtCenter communityConcept product / 2026

Try the stage buttons or follow the path in the phone. This local demo uses sample artwork and creator names, with no credentials or account data. Click an artwork image to open it at full size.

A smaller scope makes the next test more useful

I chose one complete loop over adding more social features. Messaging, recommendations, and publishing are outside this iteration, leaving room to resolve the account boundary and recovery states. There is a tradeoff: asking for an account can still interrupt someone who only wants a temporary bookmark. A guest collection is a useful alternative to compare next, especially if the gate feels disproportionate to the task. The first evaluation would ask people to select a reference, decide whether to continue at the gate, recover from a failed save, and find their choice again. I would observe where they hesitate and whether their explanation of the saved state matches the interface.

Product Design
UX/UI Design
Visual Design
Product Design
UX/UI Design
Visual Design