During my visit to Ferens Art Gallery, I carried out field research to help inform the design of a competitor app for Urban Arts, a new art gallery planned for Hull city centre. The purpose of the visit was to observe how visitors interact with the gallery space and identify areas where a mobile app could improve the overall visitor experience.
One of the first things I noticed was the atmosphere of the gallery. The space felt quiet, calm, and visually appealing, with a bright and natural lighting style throughout most rooms. One exhibition room used a projector which created a blue light effect on the floor, making the environment feel more immersive and creative. Sound travelled easily throughout the gallery because of how open and empty the spaces felt. Although this created a peaceful atmosphere, it also made the gallery feel slightly empty and disconnected at times.
The gallery mostly attracted older visitors, many of whom were visiting either alone or in pairs. I noticed that people moved slowly between rooms, often floating around the exhibitions rather than following a clear route. This was mainly because the gallery layout felt confusing and maze-like. There were no visible maps or clear directional systems available for visitors to use. Instead, rooms were identified only by signs on doors showing gallery numbers. Although these signs helped identify spaces, they did not explain where rooms connected or help visitors plan where to go next. This appeared to make navigation more difficult, especially for first-time visitors.
During my visit there was a limited-time exhibition called “Fixing For Our Future”, alongside a mixture of other art forms and media including paintings, installations, and interactive displays. This variety showed how galleries often contain multiple styles and experiences at once, which highlighted the importance of organisation and accessibility within the visitor experience.
I photographed features such as numbered gallery signs, visitors viewing artwork, and informational displays to document how information was presented throughout the space. From my observations, one of the gallery’s strengths was its aesthetic and calm atmosphere. However, the lack of navigation tools and directional support was a major weakness and a missed opportunity to improve visitor engagement.
These observations will strongly influence the Urban Arts app design. The app will include an interactive gallery map to reduce confusion and help users navigate the space more easily. I also plan to include a personalised checklist feature where users can save exhibitions or artworks they want to visit. The app will follow a modern but creative and professional style to reflect the atmosphere of a contemporary gallery while also improving usability and accessibility for visitors.
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