The Public Arts are becoming increasingly important in urban development. This project addresses public art as one of the major groups of elements in the built environment. The goal of this project was to design a digital platform through which citizens can co-create and discuss the urban built environment by sharing virtual artworks installed in urban spaces. More specifically, this design investigation explores how user experience design can facilitate civic participation in co-creating artworks within their environment. In fact, this investigation seeks to reach the highest level of citizen participation, which is citizen control. The sharing platform will encourage citizens to think about their surrounding environment and add artworks that make the space better. More important is the fact that these new works of art create a dialogue amongst citizens, and different social interaction may accrue around them over time.

These public artworks will be virtual, digital works. People can easily create them in various free software such as Google Sketchup. Through this sharing system, they can locate their very own virtual, digital artwork in places in the city and share it with other citizens. A smart-phone application is designed to facilitate different user groups and their experiences. This below system map shows how the digital platform operates for different user groups and affords different levels of participation.

This smart-phone application supports two main user groups that may have different experiences with the interface. First, there are regular users that have limited experience with the artworks. Second, there are users who are creators and want to share their work with other people. This user group needs features to add models and locate them in desired places in the city. Below diagram shows the information architecture of the smart-phone app.

Wireframe sketches of the mobile app user interface design.

The user may create  virtual artworks in various softwares that support 3D representation and have features for assigning different materials and lightning.

Artworks have a limited lifetime. Users of the app receive notification when an artwork is getting close to its end.

Uploading an artwork to system in pro version: The user first has to upload his virtual model to one of file hosting services that have cloud storage (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive). The app acquires the model form the hosting service and the user should then place it in a location in the city map. Areas that are highlighted in yellow color are places that users are not allowed to place any artwork. If user places an artwork in yellow areas, a push notification appears to inform user that placing an artwork is not allowed.

After placing the artwork, users will be able to see artwork’s page and all detailed information added by the creator. This page will be visible to all in the system. Through this page, other users can like or share the artwork, see information such as artist’s name, the title, the number of views, and a description.

Users also can write comments about an artwork in its page.

Users in a pro version can move their artwork on an X,Y, or Z axis.

Users in a pro version can rotate their artwork around an X,Y, or Z axis. In addition, a grid of (red lines) will show up in this step as a guide for the user.

User can swipe up or down to see how the artwork changes over a year. For example, the artwork might be in different color in winter.