Designing the Future of Museum Experiences: Creating the Fashion History Museum App Prototype
HLOs: 
By Bhagyashri Sisodia, Digital Business Management student
In our E-Business Information Systems and Technology (BUS 3003) course, we had the incredible opportunity to step into the world of UX design and create an app prototype for the Fashion History Museum’s Fall 2024 exhibit.
As Digital Business Management students, our task was to develop an app prototype focused on user experience, incorporating insights gained from analyzing the ROM Mobile Tours app during our visit to the Royal Ontario Museum.
This hands-on project challenged us to hone our design thinking and UX skills through a multi-step process—from research and ideation to virtual presentation—while learning how to turn ideas into something tangible.
Step 1: Exploring the ROM and Taking a Million Screenshots
The project kicked off with a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), where we analyzed the ROM Mobile Tours app to understand user needs and pain points. We explored the app, noted its strengths, and identified areas for improvement. This critical evaluation became the foundation for our approach to the Fashion History Museum app, guiding us in identifying key features related to usability, design, interactivity, navigation, and overall performance.
Step 2: Research, Ideation, and Scribbling Our Way to Lo-Fi Sketches
After analyzing the ROM app, it was time to brainstorm! Each group created 2–4 user personas representing the target audience for the Fashion History Museum. We defined the app’s scope and primary purpose, outlining key features and functionalities such as exhibit navigation, interactive elements (e.g., augmented reality), and social media integration.
Next, we moved on to creating lo-fi sketches during class. We sketched each screen, focusing on the app’s core functionalities and user flow. This stage was all about deciding what features would make the app both useful and easy to navigate while visualizing how users would interact with it.
Step 3: Diving into Figma + It’s Showtime!
With our lo-fi sketches ready, we jumped into Figma (new skill alert!) to create the digital version of the app. From positioning buttons to incorporating a “Scan Me” feature, we spent hours brainstorming, testing ideas, and tweaking details.
We focused on making the app user-friendly by addressing issues we noticed with the ROM app, such as improving navigation and adding more engaging features. Since the app’s primary goal was to help users navigate the fashion history exhibit, we included separate pages for different exhibits and enabled users to scan QR codes for detailed descriptions of displayed objects.
We also added interactive map elements, accessibility features like language settings, and a “Contact Us” section, ensuring every detail met the needs of both the museum and its visitors.
A week before our final presentation, each group had a boardroom meeting with our professor, Hanadi Alnawab, who provided valuable feedback and suggested modifications to enhance usability and overall user experience.
The final step was presenting our app prototype online. We gave a virtual walkthrough of our design, sharing the journey from initial sketches to the final product. Each team member explained their part of the process, and it was incredibly rewarding to see all our hard work come together!
Lessons Learned
This project was a fantastic hands-on experience that taught us the importance of user-centered design. We learned how to apply UX principles to create meaningful digital experiences and collaborate effectively as a team. It also helped us integrate key design thinking concepts—empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test—allowing us to think from the user’s perspective and continuously improve our ideas based on feedback.
