Artify
Social meets sustainability
In a team of three product designers, we created Artify, a digital platform that helps art students exchange unused materials and access affordable resources. The platform reduces waste in art education and makes creative tools easier to obtain through peer-to-peer sharing.
USC Roski Sustainability Art competition
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"What if expensive art supplies didn’t go to waste, but instead fueled a cycle of reuse and creativity?"
[Overview]
USC Roski Design School strives to build an inclusive, eco-conscious community. The challenge: design an experience that promotes sustainable practices and ensures equal access to art resources.
[Problem Statement]
Roski students, especially freshmen, buy art materials in bulk to avoid repeated purchases, leading to unused items and unnecessary waste.
[Research & Insight]
150-student survey (18-26 y/o)
5.5/10 experience difficulties in acquiring course art materials
7.3/10 have purchased art materials and never finished using
“... I purchased a bulk package of smaller items when I only needed one, and it’s difficult disposing them” -Mandy Irwin
[Target Audience]
&
Potentially for those seeking for art supplies
[Persona A]
Jason Park
Pain Points
a) Has trouble finding specific, advanced art materials due to limited availability
b) High costs of art materials for advanced projects can be financially burdensome
c) To save money, Jason buys materials in bulk, but this often results in unused surplus
Goals
Jason seeks an affordable way to access hard-to-find, advanced art materials without overspending or wasting surplus supplies.
[Persona A]
Olivia Hill
Pain Points
a) Wants to choose sustainable art materials, but struggles to identify them
b) Has difficulty finding peers with the right tools for collaboration
c) As a non-art/design major, Olivia may feel unfamiliar with certain art materials required for her classes
Goals
Olivia wants to make sustainable material choices and collaborate with peers, but needs guidance navigating unfamiliar tools and supplies.
[Competitor Research]
Competitive audit: Ebay, Amazon, Etsy
Key Findings
[Design System]
[Design Solution]
1) College Email Verification
Account creation requires a valid college email, ensuring that all users belong to the same campus ecosystem. This builds trust and reduces safety concerns around unknown participants.
2) Safe & Effective Training
The platform ensures secure and smooth exchanges through verified listings, user ratings, and built-in messaging, promoting trust within the community.
3) Multi-Functional Platform
The hub fosters a space where users can exchange creative ideas while fulfilling core needs like trading art materials. This all-in-one approach removes the reliance on external platforms, streamlining the creative and learning experience for all users.
4) Insightful Eco-System
Users can view their environmental impact through visual metrics and badges, promoting awareness and motivating eco-friendly behavior.
[Key Takeaway]
Work In Progress
Artify began as an idea sparked by a simple question: What if art students didn’t have to waste so much to create? Through countless iterations and user insights, it became something much more—a platform that connects people through creativity and shared purpose. But meaningful design is never really finished. This is just one chapter in a longer story.
Reflections
By asking for feedback early, I learned to detach from imperfect ideas and to refine them faster.
a) Blending practicality with visual storytelling was harder than expected—but
b) Language and layout go hand-in-hand; good design can fall flat without the right words to guide it.
Opportunity for Growth
There’s potential to expand Artify’s impact by involving more types of users—from professors to community artists. Strengthening the research process with broader perspectives would push the app closer to being truly inclusive and scalable. And integrating deeper eco-impact tracking could better communicate the value of sustainable choices.