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Print Connect

Print Connect (project name),
March - June 2022, Barcelona, SP

A service that connects photographers & artists, print service providers and buyers/patrons under one umbrella using emerging blockchain tech that enables secure data transfer.

INTENT 
A service that connects photographers & artists, print service providers, and buyers/patrons under one umbrella using emerging blockchain technology that enables secure data transfer.

We set out to create a future-facing project starting in Europe.

We were given a few initial constraints by the business and marketing units of the company to design and challenge during our research:
- Creating a go-to platform for established and upcoming photographers to sell their work.
- Leveraging the existing print service provider network by connecting creators to service providers.
- Enabling blockchain tech for security and assurance through the network.

PHASE 01 - EXPLORATION & RESEARCH

We began by assembling a group of 15 photographers/artists, 6 print service providers, and 9 customers who typically purchase art from those artists.

We conducted interviews over a period of three weeks, which consisted of conversational questions, interactive tools created on Miro, and visual provocations/artefacts that illustrated what the ideal service and its product could look like.

LEARNINGS : 

• Photographers needed a tool that integrates with their existing tools, not an additional app or website.
  
  
• Print Service Providers were excited to collaborate, but were unsure about the technical aspect of this service, as it would mean dedicating one printer for this service.
  
  
• The quality and price of the print were high priorities for the buyers.
  

UI sacrificial concept to trigger conversations with the users:

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PHASE 02 - INQUIRY (FORECASTING / BACKCASTING)

We started with reframing our inquiry:
What if an integrated tool could help produce, sell, and buy art securely across the globe, meeting the needs of all three stakeholders? 

We used the future timeline cone to work backward, creating a roadmap of achievable goals for the ideal product.
(*the detailed roadmap for the project remains confidential)

After conducting research in Phase One, we identified typologies for the different kinds of photographers/artists we interviewed. This helped us focus on what we needed to create now and for which user segment.

We presented the typologies and their findings to the business and marketing teams. According to the organisation's needs, we decided to focus the next iteration of the service on "The Classic" typology.

PHASE 03 - THE IDEAL SERVICE / PLATFORM

To design the right tool, we looked back at how things are currently being done.

We then created an ideal system map of our design.

One integrated platform brings together all three stakeholders. Leveraging the blockchain technology developed by the company, we were able to encrypt and secure original high-resolution photographs. This technology enabled us to send only the required print data for the printer to process and produce the artwork, without any intervention from the print service provider. This reduces their workload and printer activity.

Proposed platform for Photographers : "Limitedition"

PHASE 04 - TESTING FOR VALIDATION

After creating an integrated tool tailored to the needs of our "classic" user segment, we returned to our respondents to validate our service. We conducted interviews with a pool of 9 established and artistic photographers from the UK, Spain, Germany, USA, Hong Kong, and India. 

Current Status : The findings from the validation interviews were presented to the teams on Aug 2022. They are now working on creating and testing the final product for that user segment.

All Rights Reserved, AAKASH DEWAN (2025-2026)
Contact : dewan.aakash@gmail.com