unTOLD: PEN PALS-BASED COLLABORATIVE ART PROGRAM
unTOLD: PEN PALS-BASED COLLABORATIVE ART PROGRAM
unTOLD: PEN PALS-BASED COLLABORATIVE ART PROGRAM
How might we combine a digital platform and traditional art-making in one service?
How might we combine a digital platform and traditional art-making in one service?
BRIEF
BRIEF
Over the past year, I developed unTold - a pen pals-based collaborative art program that aims to bring people together for meaningful, personal conversations.
Over the past year, I developed unTold - a pen pals-based collaborative art program that aims to bring people together for meaningful, personal conversations.
From concept validation to user testing, I created a service that combines a digital website and in-person mailing systems in a linear, comprehensive experience.
From concept validation to user testing, I created a service that combines a digital website and in-person mailing systems in a linear, comprehensive experience.
My Role
UX research
UI/UX design
Brand & visual design
UX research
UI/UX design
Brand & visual design
Deliverables
A comprehensive & interactive website prototype
Mail art & new connections made as a result of user research sessions.
A comprehensive & interactive website prototype
Mail art & new connections made as a result of user research sessions.
Tools Used
Figma (for website design & prototyping)
Adobe CC (for branding & communication materials)
Figma (for website design & prototyping)
Adobe CC (for branding & communication materials)
Inspired by loneliness epidemic, my goal was to create a service that directly challenges the key obstacles to social connection-building.
Inspired by loneliness epidemic, my goal was to create a service that directly challenges the key obstacles to social connection-building.
Loneliness epidemic is a globally perceived increase in social isolation due to the lack of quality in personal connections.
Loneliness epidemic is a globally perceived increase in social isolation due to the lack of quality in personal connections.
Key Pain-Points
Key Pain-Points
Product Goals
Product Goals
Culture of Individualism
Culture of Individualism
That teaches us to be independent first and dependable second.
That teaches us to be independent first and dependable second.
Collaborative Art Projects
Collaborative Art Projects
That invites people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
That invites people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
Lack of Energy & Time
Lack of Energy & Time
Growing family and job responsibilities can lead to limited time spent on oneself or with friends.
Growing family and job responsibilities can lead to limited time spent on oneself or with friends.
Guided Group Exchanges
Guided Group Exchanges
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
Overreliance on Technology
Overreliance on Technology
That despite helping to discover and maintain connections can limit personal interactions.
That despite helping to discover and maintain connections can limit personal interactions.
Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
User Journey
User Journey
As seen below, unTold, is a collaborative art-making service, that invites users to connect through identified shared topics, and create shared artworks based on a given prompt.
As seen below, unTold, is a collaborative art-making service, that invites users to connect through identified shared topics, and create shared artworks based on a given prompt.
User research
User research
Concept Validation
Concept Validation
The first step was concept validation research, done to ensure that the model is functional and has potential for further work.
The first step was concept validation research, done to ensure that the model is functional and has potential for further work.
Based on a group of 4 participants with shared interests, I ran a test session:
Based on a group of 4 participants with shared interests, I ran a test session:
4 rounds of postcard exchanges - 5 minutes each.
In collaborative space - to test if connection-making is even possible when creating collaboratively.
All materials provided (collage papers, pens, pencils, graphic tapes, etc.)
4 rounds of postcard exchanges - 5 minutes each.
In collaborative space - to test if connection-making is even possible when creating collaboratively.
All materials provided (collage papers, pens, pencils, graphic tapes, etc.)
Positive Outcomes
Positive Outcomes
Participants enjoyed the process and felt they learned more about one another
Everyone felt comfortable creating based on the provided prompt & materials
Participants enjoyed the process and felt they learned more about one another
Everyone felt comfortable creating based on the provided prompt & materials
Potential Concernes
Potential Concernes
Some worried that distance can challenge connection-making
A few spoke to potentially lacking incentive to participate consistently
Some worried that distance can challenge connection-making
A few spoke to potentially lacking incentive to participate consistently
Digital Prototype
Digital Prototype
Based on the research outcomes, I began working on a Figma prototype of the website, which at this stage consisted of low-fidelity wireframes of the key pages, such as:
Based on the research outcomes, I began working on a Figma prototype of the website, which at this stage consisted of low-fidelity wireframes of the key pages, such as:
People Finding
People Finding
For users to view other members, filtered by shared interests & tags.
For users to view other members, filtered by shared interests & tags.
Prompt Review
Prompt Review
Where users can write or view other members’ suggested creative prompts.
Where users can write or view other members’ suggested creative prompts.
Group Preview
Group Preview
A page where users can view their created art exchange group & track progress.
A page where users can view their created art exchange group & track progress.
Discovery Research
Discovery Research
To further continue refining the platform, I ran 2 separate research sessions - one being a remote, mail-based art exchange, and the other an in-person group workshop.
To further continue refining the platform, I ran 2 separate research sessions - one being a remote, mail-based art exchange, and the other an in-person group workshop.
This helped me better understand the benefits and challenges of each, and identify which aspects my project should adapt.
This helped me better understand the benefits and challenges of each, and identify which aspects my project should adapt.
Mail-a-Round
Mail-a-Round
A group mailing where 3 people across Canada were recruited to mail each other postcard artworks based on the prompt given to them.
A group mailing where 3 people across Canada were recruited to mail each other postcard artworks based on the prompt given to them.
In-Person Workshop
In-Person Workshop
An in-person, group art-making workshop that invited people to create together in real time.
An in-person, group art-making workshop that invited people to create together in real time.
Positive Outcomes
Positive Outcomes
All participants connected well despite different age or cultural groups
Provided prompts were engaging, even though they covered limited topics
All participants connected well despite different age or cultural groups
Provided prompts were engaging, even though they covered limited topics
Potential Concernes
Potential Concernes
Scheduling clashes due to lack of familiarity with mailing turnaround times
Difficulties when combining mediums, such as traditional & digital art
Scheduling clashes due to lack of familiarity with mailing turnaround times
Difficulties when combining mediums, such as traditional & digital art
Updated Digital Prototype
Updated Digital Prototype
Using the key outcomes and concerns identified above as a guide, I continued developing the website prototype. Main design changes include:
Using the key outcomes and concerns identified above as a guide, I continued developing the website prototype. Main design changes include:
Specialized Tags
Specialized Tags
Pre-determined list of tags, which would simplify the process of connection-making.
Tags would be based on hobbies or communities, through which participants find one another.
Pre-determined list of tags, which would simplify the process of connection-making.
Tags would be based on hobbies or communities, through which participants find one another.
Level of Commitment
Level of Commitment
A scale that would filter people based on how much time they are willing to give, to ensure all group members are equally involved in the process.
A scale that would filter people based on how much time they are willing to give, to ensure all group members are equally involved in the process.
“How to” Section
“How to” Section
To make the combination of materials easier.
The page includes support materials, such as mailing templates and postcard addressing guides.
To make the combination of materials easier.
The page includes support materials, such as mailing templates and postcard addressing guides.
Platform Usability Testing
Platform Usability Testing
As I continued developing the website, each set of updates was followed by evaluative usability testing.
This was done to ensure that all new features made sense within the digital context as much as they did for the in-person sessions.
As I continued developing the website, each set of updates was followed by evaluative usability testing.
This was done to ensure that all new features made sense within the digital context as much as they did for the in-person sessions.
Key discovery: Information Architecture & Instructional Clarity
Key discovery: Information Architecture & Instructional Clarity
While overall all functions made sense in the context of the project, participants had hard time navigating individual stages of the process, as the system of artwork exchange was new to them.
While overall all functions made sense in the context of the project, participants had hard time navigating individual stages of the process, as the system of artwork exchange was new to them.
To support the process, I created multiple tracking and guidance features (written & visual) to make the navigation process more linear.
To support the process, I created multiple tracking and guidance features (written & visual) to make the navigation process more linear.
The new features created to support this discovery were:
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step-By-Step Instructions
To make the process smoother and more comprehensive, they would be available on each group’s page for direct support.
To make the process smoother and more comprehensive, they would be available on each group’s page for direct support.
Progress Tracker & Notifications
Progress Tracker & Notifications
If scheduling issues occur, this would keep participants connected with each other’s process.
If scheduling issues occur, this would keep participants connected with each other’s process.
Final Website Design
Final Website Design
UX & Functionality
UX & Functionality
Based on the insights discovered through the layering of discovery research and iterative user testing sessions, unTold became a comprehensive art pals system, that aims to bring communities together for the creative and collaborative exchange of their untold stories.
Click on any of the images for a closer look into the some of the final screens.
Based on the insights discovered through the layering of discovery research and iterative user testing sessions, unTold became a comprehensive art pals system, that aims to bring communities together for the creative and collaborative exchange of their untold stories.
Click on any of the images for a closer look into the some of the final screens.
Collaborative Art Projects Based on Shared Interests
Collaborative Art Projects Based on Shared Interests
That invite people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
That invite people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
Profile Personalization within Registration Process
Profile Personalization within Registration Process
Group Finding Page - Filtered by Chosen Interests
Group Finding Page - Filtered by Chosen Interests
A system based on shared creative projects, that would allow people to find one another and create social groups based on either their interests or personal identities, or picked manually, using a filtering system.
A system based on shared creative projects, that would allow people to find one another and create social groups based on either their interests or personal identities, or picked manually, using a filtering system.
Guided Group Exchanges and Collective Idea Sharing
Guided Group Exchanges and Collective Idea Sharing
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
Group Page with Participant Introductions & Guided Project Instructions
Group Page with Participant Introductions & Guided Project Instructions
Group Page with Participant Introductions & Guided Project Instructions
Community-Written Prompts
Community-Written Prompts
The artwork creation would be supported by communally written prompts – topics of discussion given to the art-making groups, based on the identified shared interests.
Prompts would act as a starting point for the creative process, and a point of connection between participants, alleviating the pressure to find those shared topics.
The artwork creation would be supported by communally written prompts – topics of discussion given to the art-making groups, based on the identified shared interests.
Prompts would act as a starting point for the creative process, and a point of connection between participants, alleviating the pressure to find those shared topics.
Guidance Tools & Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
Guidance Tools & Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
Home Page with Quick Overview Sections
Home Page with Quick Overview Sections
Home Page with Quick Overview Sections
Home Page with Quick Overview Sections
From digital connections to mail-based exchanges.
Users will be given tools and support to take their art exchange offline, such as guided group lists with participant bios for the initial introduction, progress tracking and step-by-step guidance.
From digital connections to mail-based exchanges.
Users will be given tools and support to take their art exchange offline, such as guided group lists with participant bios for the initial introduction, progress tracking and step-by-step guidance.
User Journey
User Journey
All the screens seen above, come together into a linear art-making process that allows users to connect, create and exchange stories and ideas.
All the screens seen above, come together into a linear art-making process that allows users to connect, create and exchange stories and ideas.
UI & Branding
UI & Branding
Through conversations lead with research participants during all the stages of the process - I developed the design system to reflect key aspects of unTold as a brand.
Through conversations lead with research participants during all the stages of the process - I developed the design system to reflect key aspects of unTold as a brand.
Creative
Creative
As the basis of the entire project is creative collaboration, that was the first and most important identity aspect, which is now seen in the logo and process illustrations.
As the basis of the entire project is creative collaboration, that was the first and most important identity aspect, which is now seen in the logo and process illustrations.
Warm, Inviting & Whimsical
Warm, Inviting & Whimsical
To make participants more comfortable in a group exchange setting that invites them to share personal experiences, I wanted to lean into somewhat childish, yet fun and almost magical aesthetic. Through the iterative user test sessions, users also indicated their preference for this visual direction.
To make participants more comfortable in a group exchange setting that invites them to share personal experiences, I wanted to lean into somewhat childish, yet fun and almost magical aesthetic. Through the iterative user test sessions, users also indicated their preference for this visual direction.
The more in-depth style guide with individual elements can be seen below.
The more in-depth style guide with individual elements can be seen below.
Summary
Summary
By analyzing the gaps in the existing website content & incorporating feedback of those who rely on these resources directly, I created website guides that:
By analyzing the gaps in the existing website content & incorporating feedback of those who rely on these resources directly, I created website guides that:
Collaborative Art Projects
Collaborative Art Projects
That invite people to share experiences and stories by creating collaboratively.
Guided Group Exchanges
Guided Group Exchanges
With pre-determined art prompts, that allow the focus to fall on the quality of connections.
Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
Support Materials for Various Art Mediums
That would allow people to explore different methods of art collaboration, and make the process smoother and easier.
Mariia Semenova ©2026
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