Theory Background
The walkthrough method is grounded in the principles of Actor-Network Theory (ANT), as a specific aspect of STS (science and technology studies). ANT foregrounds a relational ontology according to which sociocultural and technical processes are mutually shaping.
The core of this method involves the step-by-step observation and documentation of an app’s screens, features and flows of activity – slowing down the mundane actions and interactions that form part of normal app use in order to make them salient and therefore available for critical analysis. The researcher registers and logs into the app, mimics everyday use where possible and dis- continues or logs out while attending to technical aspects, such as the placement or num- ber of icons, as well as symbolic elements, like pictures and text.
Chosen Review
The app being reviewed here is from the art website ArtRabbit.
https://www.artrabbit.com
Statements from the Provider
Turning Art on its head
ArtRabbit is a global digital platform and mobile app for the promotion, discovery and appreciation of contemporary art.
It’s a unique guide to the contemporary art scene, connecting thousands of art spaces, exhibitions and events to artists, art professionals, collectors, students and art-interested people alike.
.app Screens
Branding
Bond worked with the team at ArtRabbit to establish a new logo and brand language – creating a bold and simple logotype with the distinctive graphic rabbit head ‘R’ – turning Art on its head!
https://bond-agency.com/project/artrabbit/
A brand-driven creative agency
Basic Usage
The Website is an online social networking facility and database of art exhibitions, conferences, performances, screening and other events and galleries from across the world. You can access the Website either as a visitor or by registering with the Website and becoming a member and/or a venue owner (hereafter collectively referred to as “Users”). As a Member and/or Venue Owner, you can create your own profile for the purpose of using the Services and the Website, which is made available to other Users .
What you can do as a basic user
- See the ArtRabbit to Find up-to-date information on contemporary art exhibitions and events, large and small, current and upcoming.
- Explore ArtRabbit’s interactive map of events, near you and around the world
Search listings for exhibitions, venues, artists and event types - Get recommendations from leading artists, curators and art world insiders
- Follow your favourite artists, project spaces and galleries to have their upcoming shows sent directly to your email inbox
- Plan ahead – compile lists of exhibitions you’d like to attend and track what you’ve already seen
- Get directions to exhibitions close to where you are
- Share events with your friends and network, via email and other social channels
- Get a handy overview of what shows are all about
- Travel with the art crowd – ArtRabbit keeps tabs with the busiest cities at any time, so you’ll know what’s happening around the world
For the artist
Make the most of your artist page
Your artist page is a free spot of advertising for you and your practice. Add a description about yourself, your medium and achievements, as well as links to your portfolio and social media accounts. The popularity of events and people on ArtRabbit is driven by clicks, so make sure you keep your artist page and event listings up-to-date.
Get listed!
Not listed yet? Then join ArtRabbit and get listed now. Artist pages are created when events are added to ArtRabbit, so next time you feature in an exhibition or contemporary art event, pop it on the site. Make sure you add yourself as an artist when prompted, then claim your artist page and show the contemporary art world what you do!
Follow your favourite project spaces and galleries, curators and artists, save events you’re interested in, and ArtRabbit does the rest. We’ll let you know what’s coming up from places and people you follow, and tell you about other events we think you’ll like. You never need to miss another exhibition, preview, performance or launch event.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Information that you provide by filling in forms on our site www.artrabbit.com (Website). This includes information provided at the time of registering to use our Website (which may be directly through the Website, or through third party service providers, and in the case of the latter, we will obtain the personal data you have provided to the third party service provider), purchasing an item, posting material or requesting further information or services. We may also ask you for information when you report a problem with our Website.
If you contact us, we may keep a record of that correspondence. We may also ask you to complete surveys that we use for research purposes, although you do not have to respond to them.
Details of your visit to the Website, including products viewed or searched for, page response times, lengths of visit, transactions you carry out through our Website and of the fulfilment of orders
We may disclose your personal information to any member of our group, which means our subsidiaries, our ultimate holding company and its subsidiaries, as defined in section 1159 of the UK Companies Act 2006 (where applicable).
The user Contract
You shall not submit to appear on the Website through your use of the Services, any information, comments, images, third party URL links or other material whatsoever in any format (“User Submissions”), whether on your Profile or elsewhere on the Website, that may reasonably be deemed to be offensive, illegal, inappropriate or that in any way:
- promote racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any group or individual;
- harass or advocate harassment of another person;
- display pornographic or sexually explicit material;
- promote any conduct that is abusive, threatening, obscene, defamatory or libellous;
- promote any illegal activities;
- provide instructional information about illegal activities, including violating someone else’s privacy or providing or creating computer viruses
- promote or contain information that you know or believe to be inaccurate, false or misleading;
- engage in or promote commercial activities and/or sales, including but not limited to contests, sweepstakes, barter, advertising and pyramid schemes, without our prior written consent;
- or infringe any rights of any third party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we reserve the right to:
accept or reject your application to register for any reason; and
refuse you access to the Services and/or Website (partly or wholly) if you breach any of the provisions hereunder.
Unless otherwise expressly set out to the contrary herein, your Contract with us shall remain in force:
Revenue
Advertise on ArtRabbit
In addition to our free event listing service, ArtRabbit offers access to its audience via integrated banner advertising on the site, in the weekly newsletter and across our social media channels. Spaces can be bought separately or as a package.
Audience
ArtRabbit’s engaged audience is made up of curators, artists, arts professionals and enthusiasts. Our rich, diverse database represents over 6000 art organisations and venues in over 60 countries who have hosted more than 60k contemporary art events, and listed over 13k artists and 1k curators to date.
ArtRabbit is used by leading art museums, galleries, art organisations, art fairs, biennials, foundations and project spaces. Our growing user-base in Europe, North America and Asia consists of 40% art professionals and 60% art lovers: an international, socially- and creatively-engaged audience, with many working in the cultural and creative industries.
It encourages the interaction and advertising to all users for art events and forums and exhibitions. The basic reward for this is a self-promotion page for yourself.
Promote themselves as a modern social media website
ArtRabbit has a strong presence on all social media websites: Web platform, Smart phone iPhone and android, TWITTER, Facebook,Instagram
ANT Review
The revenues for the site relies mostly on advertising for events and exhibitions from professional galleries and art organizations. The promotion of individual artist to the site helps sell the advertising so that the target audience are mostly either art lovers or art professionals. The main target of advertising for art organizations.
The gender bias aims to be neutral. In my opinion the design seems 60-40 % feminine-masculine design. I would guess they have decided upon a gender neutral tone for the site.
The design and fonts are modern, clean and hip. The typography has been purposely constructed to feel gender neutral. It has a strong yet simple and clean layout. The feeling of space and whiteness is a modern design aesthetic
The Branding. Is so graphic design led clean and simple and easily to identify and remember the brand. I would say brand awareness is high. You will remember the logo and design aesthetic.
Going through the usage is of the .app is very easy u only have access to : openings , exhibition and events. All of the events in your area are shown on a mobile map.
You can explore the pin-points by clicking on each of them and going into detail on whats on offer. You will receive a brief summary of whats on offer and a link to the website for more information. U have 2 icons for to save favorites (a star) and to book mark ( an eye).
The use of icons. If you add a star to to something the site will remember this and send u details of all related starred events. It will remind u of the event as the event nears. An Eye events mean u have seen this event and it invites u to add a review of the event for the site. Social media icon U can instantly share events on social media. Map icon shows u where the event is on a google style map and gives u a route to the vent from where u are.
Overall opinion. I would say this is a artists site primarily. You have the opportunity to advertise you own exhibitions and promote them. People can follow you. U can link instagram and websites into the app so u get further promotion. Linked closely to this are the professional galleries that want close associations with artists and also curators.