RUSTIC
An Indian Art Awareness app | UI/UX Design Project
The goal of this project is to design an interface for an app named "Rustic" that has a mobile-first approach, having a user-centric design, allowing users to learn various traditional Indian art-forms and enabling the local artists to promote and sell their artwork on the platform. Using the app, a user can enrol themselves for workshops and even take up the lessons customised for e-learning. Whereas, an artist can use the app to list their workshops and also sell and promote their artwork on the app.
How it all began:
While recently to switching to organic clothing did I realise that there are numerous styles of craft and art that exists in India. I was mind-boggled upon reading that there used to exist over a thousand different styles at one point in the country, out of which very few exist now. These art styles are practiced by families, traditionally passed on generation after generation. However, due to various reasons, these arts have submerged and are near end. The newer generation have started venturing into cities, looking for means to take care of their livelihood which otherwise would not have been possible by selling art alone.
It pains me to see their beautiful art dying. I decided to create a platform where a regular user can learn from the comfort of their homes various styles of Indian art. It would also address the concerns of finding the right content because Rustic would use customized e-learning courses to deliver lessons. At the same time, a local artisan can leverage the platform to list their workshops and also promote and sell their artworks, allowing their hard-work reach various parts of the world!
An elephant has been an extensively used subject of Indian artworks traditionally. This particular icon is inspired by the Warli art of Maharashtra that uses basic geometry. The idea behind using basic shapes to create the logo was also to convey that everything in the existence has a geometry and is a combination of various shapes. It was also to convey that learning art is easy as drawing the most basic shapes.
The scope of this project: Given the current pandemic situation when lessons and studies are pivoting online, an app that is a complete go-to solution for studying art can gather huge traction. New hobbies are being explored; new techniques are being discovered and new ways of doing things are being encouraged. In a situation like that, if an app can provide a packaged solution for learning, it could go a long way in reviving a dying culture.
I then conducted a user survey - both qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis. Here are the results of the survey:
The unique features of the app are as follows. The users can access:
Sitemap:
User Flow 1 - Choosing Kalamkari Lesson
User Flow 2 - Purchasing a workshop
Wireframe:
Final screens:
Rustic app will have custom e-learning modules. I designed one such video content using Animoto. I first sketched the storyboard and then began prototyping.
Final video content:
View the prototype here:
This project involved a lot of research. I am passionate about art and would love to see this app out in the market, enabling revival of the great Indian tradition. The future stages of development and enhancement of this app would involve integrating craft lessons with art as well. Currently, only 4 types of artworks are available on the app. I would extend this many more art forms such as Kerala murals, Mata Ni Pachedi, Warli, Tanjore, Mysore, Kalighat, etc.
View a 3D mockup of name plate here:
Thank you for viewing my work!
