Arco
A scanner-based digital tool inspires architecture fans and students.
Project Type
UX Case Study
Solo Project
Duration
6 weeks
Dec 10, 2023 –
Jan 22, 2024
Role
UX/UI Designer
Branding / Art Director
Motion Designer
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe AfterEffects
Adobe Premiere Pro
Arco makes a new experience for architecture students and fans.
The project was started from a personal interest in architecture and developed from in-depth research with students and industry professionals. After I witnessed the existing problems in the architecture education field, I organized the problems from the perspective of a product designer.
Lord Richard Rogers (1933 – 2021)
The Lord Rogers of Riverside is a British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs in high-tech architecture. Rogers is perhaps best known for his work on the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Lloyd's building and Millennium Dome both in London, the Senedd in Cardiff, and the European Court of Human Rights building in Strasbourg.
Concept
If architecture students can access information about a building through a gamified user experience in person, it will get them to visit buildings directly and help with inspiration.
The community is full of architectural inspiration
Arco invites users to share their building photos and explore architectural wonders. Arco aims to shape the future of creative exploration.
Extensive Architecture Database
Arco archives thousands of architectural data, from architects and styles to detailed location information. Our database provides accurate architectural details to users.
Arco is the world's first architecture scanner.
With Arco, the city is filled with your inspiration. Arco's scanner feature brings architecture students off campus. You can easily get the information by only scanning the buildings with the arco app.
You can mark, collect, and explore with Arco's advanced camera interactive map.
Explore and get inspiration from the countless architectures of the city. From scanned structures to those you want to visit, you can conveniently save them in Arco's map features.
Swipe the Arco key (Scanner icon) up to use the Camera Interactive feature.
The 2D Top view map will change to the real-time live camera. Now, you can get architectural inspiration while walking around the city.
Explore the city full of inspirations with Arco
Background
As a big fan of architecture and architects, This world and city are full of architectural fantasies and mysteries.
But, what do we know about them?
Target Audience
Primary Target : Architecture Students
Specifically targeting students enrolled in architecture programs, typically ranging from late teens to early twenties, residing in urban areas where architectural landmarks are prevalent.
Secondary Target : Architecture Enthusiasts
Specifically targeting individuals who are passionate about architecture and actively seek information about buildings while visiting major cities.
Potential User Research
Understanding the Architectural Perspectives of Students and Enthusiasts
Research Implication / PainPoints
The Challenge of Finding and Collecting Architectural Inspiration
The research has discovered a significant gap in the resources available to architecture students and fans. Despite the wealth of architectural information and inspiration that exists, there is no centralized platform that caters specifically to their needs. As a result, they struggle to find comprehensive and reliable information about buildings, leading to a fragmented and frustrating user journey.
Inefficient Architecture Searching Experience
The overall user journey for finding and collecting architectural information is inefficient and frustrating, impacting the user experience negatively.
Limited Access to Inspirational Content
There is a gap in the availability of platforms that provide both informational and inspirational content tailored to the interests of architecture enthusiasts.
The Struggle to Explore Urban Architecture
In the dense urban jungles of cities, architecture enthusiasts struggle to navigate and explore the architectural wonders around them.
User Persona
Lilly is an Architecture Enthusiastic from Paris
She is a passionate sophomore architecture student from Paris, eager to explore New York City's architectural diversity during her vacation.
Goals
Real-world experience
Architectural exploration
New Inspirations
Frustrations
Lack of exposure
Inadequate understanding of architectures in NYC
Difficulty in searching for architectural information
User Journey Map
Lilly is eager to explore New York City's architectural diversity
Design Opportunity
How might we develop a user-friendly digital tool that empowers architecture enthusiasts to effortlessly discover and engage with architectural wonders from around the world?
Technical Background
By leveraging Google Cloud’s Image Processing API, Arco’s features can provide users with detailed, real-time architectural information
Google Cloud’s Vision AI suite of tools combines computer vision with other technologies to understand and analyze video and easily integrate vision detection features within applications, including image labeling, face and landmark detection, optical character recognition (OCR), and tagging of explicit content.
Key Design Takeaways
In memory of Richard Rogers
Incorporate Neon Pink
Innovative Navigation
Use of Flexible Curves
1. Incorporate Neon Pink
This design decision of neon pink as Arco's signature color is a tribute to Rogers' iconic palette, celebrating his pioneering approach to bringing vitality and character to architectural designs.
The design decision is more than aesthetic
In Arco, neon pink isn't just a color; it's a tool. Inspired by the innovative use of color in Richard Rogers' architecture, I've integrated this vibrant hue into our app's key technical features.
This bright color highlights analyzed parts and makes buildings stand out from the city background. It's a simple yet effective way to enhance the app's usability and make exploring architecture more fun.
2. Innovative Navigation
The Centre Pompidou was designed by Richard Rogers and is a prime example of the high-tech architectural style. The building is renowned for its exposed skeleton of structural elements on the outside, and its transparent escalators and large glass circular surfaces.
Unique Navigation Design inspired by Roger's innovative approach
Inspired by Rogers' innovative approach to architecture, I designed the app's navigation in a way that is intuitive yet unconventional.
I've highlighted the central button for the architecture scanner, challenging traditional design and focusing on the app's unique function. This 'Innovative Navigation Design' provides users with a direct and engaging way to explore architecture.
3. Use of Flexible Curves
I Incorporated the flexible curves and emphasis on rounded shapes into the design decision. This design choice can soften the app's visual impact, making it more approachable and user-friendly.
This design choice can soften the app's visual impact, making it more approachable and user-friendly
It aligns well with the modern aesthetic and could enhance the overall user experience by making the interface feel more fluid and less rigid. It's a great nod to Richard Rogers' architectural style, which often includes fluid lines and forms to create dynamic spaces.
Design Development Process
In this project, the most crucial goal was to solve real problems with my own imagination through a product that is not in the world. I went through countless trials and errors in the process.
Design System
All designs were created according to a consistent design system as a tool to perform its core functions most efficiently and perfectly.
Of the numerous design details, the most devoted part is definitely the camera scanner. The unique design of the Navigation Bar is designed to make it most accessible and most manageable for users to use arco's core features.
Advertising Campaign
Architecture Hunt / Card
ARCO held an event around New York City for the launch of their first architecture inspirational app. For the event, ARCO created 6 different transparent cards with ARCO’s scan graphic printed on it.
These cards were handed out to people around the city, encouraging them to actually find the building and the angle that matched the random card they received. When the building is found, they can share the photo on social to have the chance to win a prize.
