Usability Study on the User Interface of Arts and Culture Activity Platforms

Abstract

Cultural and artistic activities are thriving, and leisurely exploration of events has become a habit and a popular trend for many citizens around the world. According to the 2021 Taiwan Cultural Content Consumption Trends Survey by the National Academy for Educational Research, approximately 30% of the population participated in performing arts events in the past year, with the average number of exhibition visits on the rise. However, the current content on various cultural platforms is complex and lacks organization, making it difficult for users to find what they need and thus resulting in a poor user experience. Among these factors, the usability of the platform interface in accordance with user experience is a crucial key. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to enhance the user experience of cultural activity platforms to increase participation in events. The study will propose improvements and suggestions for information architecture pertinent to user interface design based on experimental results that align with user experience.In this research study, experiments were conducted to help analyze the information architecture and functionality of three existing cultural activity platforms. Smartphones were used as experimental devices, and a usability experiment design for task operations was implemented. The study also involved observing and recording participants' operational behaviors and task performances. Finally, the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Questionnaire for User Interaction Satisfaction (QUIS) were also employed, along with semi-structured interviews, to help understand the strengths and weaknesses of the cultural activity inquiry system and to derive conclusions and recommendations.The results and recommendations of this study are as follows: (1) It is important to provide operation methods that align with users' mental models. (2) The platform's information architecture should be designed with shallow layers as well as a clear and concise hierarchical structure. (3) The design consistence regarding colors, icons and buttons should be maintained during the operation process. (4) It is necessary to optimize the site-wide search by providing visible and meaningful icons, enabling users to quickly locate information. (5) It is vital to provide clear and understandable feedback strategies to enhance the pleasure of user interactions.

Keywords: Art and cultural activity platform, Interface usability, User experience, Mental models

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005437