UX Research

Brand name: Stagecrafters at Baldwin Theater

Industry: Performing arts

Website: www.stagecrafters.org

Project Type: Responsive web design

Role: UI/UX Designer

Background:

Stagecrafters, a not-for-profit community theatre, provides opportunities for members of the community to develop their talents and to volunteer their time to create an enriching, quality theatrical experience through its Main Stage, 2nd Stage, and Youth Theatre productions. Founded in 1956, Stagecrafters has been named "Best Community Theatre" by Hour Detroit Magazine readers, and "Best Place for Live Local Theatre" by Detroit Metro Times readers. Recently, the 2nd Stage show "Trevor" won awards at the 2017 Michigan AACTFEST in the categories of Outstanding Featured Actor, Outstanding Actor and the Golden Truck Award.

Design problem:

The information on Stagecrafters website needs to be completely reorganized to allow a more efficient experience for the user.

• The event info does not display well on mobile.

• The navigation links are hard to tap on smaller screens.

• Information are overlap and become hard to read on mobile.

• Some texts are unnecessarily large, while others are too small. Potential

Potential solution:

• Restructure the website that maximizes user flows.

• Build in responsive web design for access on different devices.

Competitive analysis

Point Of View statements:  

1. I would like to help theater patrons who frequently attend shows, to do easily find and purchase tickets online because many users report frustration with complicated navigation and lengthy booking processes on existing theater websites. 

2. I would like to help first-time theatergoers, to do discover upcoming performances and learn about the theater experience because new users often feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to expect, which can deter them from attending. 

3. I would like to help families looking for entertainment options, to do quickly find family-friendly shows and activities because parents are often pressed for time and need a straightforward way to assess whether a show is suitable for children. 

4. I would like to help theater enthusiasts who want to stay updated on events, to do receive timely notifications about performances and special events because they want to be engaged and not miss out on the latest happenings but struggle to find relevant information. 

How Might We statements: 

1. How might we create a user-friendly ticketing process that minimizes steps and enhances the user experience for patrons? 

2. How might we design an engaging and informative landing page that caters to first-time theatergoers, making the experience less intimidating? 

3. How might we implement a filtering system for family-friendly shows, allowing parents to easily find suitable performances? 

4. How might we incorporate a notification system that keeps theater enthusiasts informed about upcoming events and promotions without overwhelming them?