Overview
March 2025
Figma, interaction design, wireframing, mobile and web design
I chose the Venice Biennale as my focus for a project on creating immersive experiences. I created a series of physical and digital touch points to not only help visitors not only navigate the exhibition but also connect with the artwork and fellow visitors throughout the course of their visit.
Process
Problem Statement
Create digital and physical items that facilitate connection between the guest and the museum, other guests, and an artifact.
Background
The theme of the 2024 Biennale, “Foreigners Everywhere,” effectively
describes the challenge of creating connections among visitors who
come from all over the world.
Some of the barriers to connection at the Venice Biennale include:
Language barriers
Limited time to engage with artwork, busy schedules
Ephemeral artworks, time and site specific
While a handful of individual countries’ exhibitions attempt to create international connections (Seychelles invited visitors to add a strand of
thread to a collaborative piece that was color coded to their nationality),
there aren’t many opportunities for guests to connect outside of the
exhibition spaces.
"Nesting" by Juliette Zelime in the Seychelles Pavilion
There is currently no app for the Venice Biennale. The exhibition sprawls across the city with, a huge amount of events at the main Biennale sites (Giardini and Arsenale), as well as collateral events all around Venice. An app could be very helpful for visitors, not only for navigation and information, but also as a way to connect with others and make the most of their experience.
Outside the US Pavilion in the Giardini
I was able to attend the 2024 Venice Biennale through a study abroad program with the Miami Art History Department. It was a very meaningful time for
me, and I wanted to think about how my experience could have been further enhanced through various touchpoints.
Concepts
For the overall look and feel, I created a mood board of bright, open imagery while integrating the iconic red and the typefaces of current biennale branding.
My goal for this was to create something that felt clean and modern while also seamlessly integrating with the established biennale look.
Wireframes
After sketching, I created some higher fidelity wireframes in Figma. I focused on the layout of the content and starting to develop a visual style.
Building out screens
Splash screen and home screen
National Pavilion pages
Map and Events pages
Connecting with the Biennale
I added a feature that allows people to explore past exhibitions in each pavilion. This connects visitors to the history of the event and understand the context of the show that they are attending.
Connecting with other guests
A collaborative photo gallery is one way this app allows guests to connect with others. Each photo could be tagged with the person's name and their country, as well as the time and date of the photo.
Designing for connection: Stamp Rally
I was inspired by a multi-layer stamp rally in Japan where visitors collect the stamp layers, which are scattered around the temple grounds.
I created a stamp rally that, when completed, shows all of the flags of the countries that have pavilions in the Giardini. Guests can have fun collecting stamps while they're at the Biennale, and they leave with a meaningful artifact connected to their experience.
Additionally, strategically placing the stamp checkpoints around the expansive park could encourage organic exploration, especially for first-time Biennale goers.
Deliverables
The final products include a mobile app, website, and stamp rally, all aimed at enhancing visitors' experience at the Venice Biennale.
Insights
For designing an experience like this, I learned how important it is for the digital interfaces to complement the experience. Physical and digital elements must be balanced.
Touch points should never distract from the event or encourage people to be on their phones but instead provide a purposeful way for visitors to connect with the experience and each other.
"A designer tries to make an object as naturally as a tree puts forth a leaf." BRUNO MUNARI