Project Info
Feature design
Solo project
8 weeks
Solo project
8 weeks
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Photoshop
Learning to navigate digital art apps can be daunting.
The abundance of features and options often makes them overwhelming for beginners. Procreate, for example, stands out as a thoughtfully designed graphic design app known for its intuitive interface.
However, it falls short when it comes to supporting users who need more than just documentation—particularly those new to digital drawing.
The abundance of features and options often makes them overwhelming for beginners. Procreate, for example, stands out as a thoughtfully designed graphic design app known for its intuitive interface.
However, it falls short when it comes to supporting users who need more than just documentation—particularly those new to digital drawing.
People want to learn digital drawing via trial and error
Novice digital artists and hobbyists were interviewed to gain valuable insights into their learning experiences and challenges.
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Insight # 1 :
People want to learn via trial and error
People want to learn via trial and error
Users prefer hands-on learning over reading documentation—exploring and experimenting with the app themselves proves to be the most effective approach.
Insight # 2:
Signage is difficult
Signage is difficult
Signage and interface design in digital art apps often lack intuitiveness for non-graphic artists.
These systems and layouts are heavily influenced by established graphic design platforms, making them challenging for beginners to understand without prior experience.
These systems and layouts are heavily influenced by established graphic design platforms, making them challenging for beginners to understand without prior experience.
The steep learning curve and the lack of centralized learning resources makes Procreate intimidating to learn.
How might we address this?
After brainstorming, three main solution spaces were considered:
1. Scaled Signage System
This will allow users to indicate their signage familiarity, and the signage will adjust accordingly. Labels and more in-depth descriptions will help users understand which symbols do what.
2. Social System
A feature to help users learn and get inspired from other users, using Pinterest and Deviantart as precedents. Co-learning via tool history paths and chatting will speed up learning.
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3. Interactive Tutorial
Interactive, "coloring book" templates which will allow users to get familiar with workflows, gestures and tools so that Procreate will be learned in full, via "trial-and-error". Attached documentation.
I decided that the social system was a little out of scope.
I pursued the Tutorial Templates and Signage System solutions instead. My approach would have to be comprehensive, and address accessibility for novices and experts alike.
I pursued the Tutorial Templates and Signage System solutions instead. My approach would have to be comprehensive, and address accessibility for novices and experts alike.
Designing for accessibility for all
experience levels
The base idea was to accommodate learning through repetition and habit-building, through a repeated base flow of base prompt, tool prompt, and a use prompt. And throughout, the scaled signage system would facilitate this mode of learning.
The base idea for it is below, in GIF form (wait for it)
The base idea for it is below, in GIF form (wait for it)
Explore the initial prototype user flow below:
User testing revealed that the prototype was missing in its approach to entry points and accessibility.
Users must be able to find information whenever, wherever they are in their use of Procreate. In lieu of this, the following changes were made:
Users must be able to find information whenever, wherever they are in their use of Procreate. In lieu of this, the following changes were made:
Visual Design System
In order to create a new feature to the existing product, the visual design system was studied and reproduced.
After many redesigns, the latest onboarding process focuses on making the interactive tutorial accessible, and the learning experience facilitated through repetition.
Explore the latest prototype below:
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Signage Difficulty Feature
Interactive Tutorial Walkthrough
Tutorial Entry Points
Moving Forward
There’s immense potential to improve the onboarding process—ranging from designing specific feature tutorials to conducting more user testing to pinpoint necessary UX and UI changes for a smoother learning experience in Procreate.
Beyond visual and kinesthetic tutorials, exploring alternative learning approaches—such as aural, social, and collaborative methods—could be equally effective.
Additionally, rethinking how users access documentation could simplify learning without requiring fully interactive tutorials. I’m excited to continue exploring these opportunities further to make digital art more accessible for all.
Beyond visual and kinesthetic tutorials, exploring alternative learning approaches—such as aural, social, and collaborative methods—could be equally effective.
Additionally, rethinking how users access documentation could simplify learning without requiring fully interactive tutorials. I’m excited to continue exploring these opportunities further to make digital art more accessible for all.