The Purpose

Current art logistics involve major risks that threaten priceless cultural assets. Damage, misplacement, and loss of records often stem from human error, with 60% of art damage occurring during transit. At UXD Lab, I was tasked with creating the MVP for this EU-funded research project. By exploring blockchain applications, ArtTrack reduces the need to move fragile artwork while ensuring secure documentation and preservation of integrity

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The Research

To ground the design, I conducted preliminary interviews with archivists and online research across industry sources. The focus was on uncovering gaps in communication, oversight, and documentation that directly lead to damage or loss.

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Key Findings

• Understaffing leads to rushed handling and fewer checks.
• Miscommunication between staff and institutions causes errors.
• Outsourcing reduces oversight and introduces variability.
• Inconsistent archival methods disrupt transfers.
• Secrecy, outdated tools, and confidentiality block collaboration.
  

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The Approach

I designed ArtTrack as a mobile-first system for archivists to access real-time information on artworks. I created the user flow, wireframes, and interactive prototype to demonstrate how blockchain-backed custody management could function in practice.

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System Flow

1. Entry & Auth – Verified users access the dashboard.
2. Secure Access – Custody owners can edit, assign, or transfer; others view data only.
3. Monitoring – Sensor data logs conditions (temperature, humidity, time).
4. Transfers – Metadata updates, records, and custody assignments with full visibility.

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Design Outputs

• Wireframes of onboarding, documentation, custody, and monitoring workflows.
• Prototype simulating end-to-end flow from login to handoff.

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Sign Up

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Primary Screens

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Transfer Process

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Artwork Monitoring

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The Purpose

Current art logistics involve significant risks with the potential for major losses of culturally significant and priceless pieces. Artwork damage isn't just physical but is equally affected by misplacement, loss of records, and more due to human error. Within UXD Lab, I was tasked with creating the MVP for this EU-funded research project for proof of concept.

60% of art damage is due to transit, including art theft, loss in transit, and physical damage.

By exploring the potential applications of blockchain technology, ArtTrack aims to reduce the necessity of physically moving fragile and expensive artwork while still maintaining complete and secure documentation and preservation of art integrity.

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The Research

Though not in scope, I utilized my network and proximity to creatives for preliminary research. I wanted to ensure the flow of the process solved real existing challenges with prioritization of usability for non-technical backgrounds. A big importance was leveraging the security in blockchain while keeping the complexity in the backend.

The biggest issue revealed was not moving artworks, but the natural gaps of communication during handoff processes when outsourcing to third-parties. There ends up being too many cooks in the kitchen.

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Interviews

To uncover issues in art logistics, I interviewed two archivists with hands-on experience in gallery operations. Their insights revealed how serious the gaps in transit workflows are. These conversations exposed the hidden friction points that directly lead to damage or loss.

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Understaffing leads to rushed handling and fewer checks for proper transit.

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Frequent miscommunication between staff and institutions cause major errors.

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Outsourcing logistics reduces oversight and adds third-party variability.

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Inconsistent archival methods between galleries disrupt smooth transfers.

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Online Research

Articles like The Guardian’s revealed widespread secrecy, outdated systems, and a lack of modern tools. This helped validate that the issues weren’t anecdotal but systemic.

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Secrecy and distrust block collaboration and accountability.

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Intense confidentiality isolates carriers and institutions, limiting coordination.

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Outdated methods and tools weaken efficiency and tracking.

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Miscommunication and mishandling are frequent across shipping processes.

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The Approach

The ArtTrack app would serve as the primary touchpoint for archivists on the go, ensuring they always have access to real-time information on each artwork. Afterward, I wireframed and prototyped to showcase the primary features for buy-in.

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User Flow

The system is structured to simplify custody management, sensor tracking, and artwork documentation through clearly segmented flows. Each phase supports a core task with contextual branching based on conditions like login status or custody ownership.

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1. Entry & Auth

Verified users are directed to the dashboard where they can select and view artwork records.

2. secure access

Users with custody can edit details and assign ownership, while others can only view sensor data, timelines, and notifications.

3. Monitoring

Sensor data (temperature, humidity, time) and activity logs help users monitor artwork condition in real time.

4. Transfers

Update metadata, upload records, and assign custody. The transfer workflow includes status updates for full visibility.

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Wireframes

The wireframes visualize the core functionality of the ArtTrack system across onboarding, documentation, sensor visibility, and custody workflows. Each screen was designed with clarity and accountability in mind, prioritizing user roles and decision states.

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Sign Up

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Primary Screens

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Transfer Process

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Artwork Monitoring

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Prototype

The interactive prototype brings the system to life, demonstrating how users navigate key workflows. It showcases condition monitoring and documentation in action, allowing stakeholders to experience ArtTrack from login to handoff. This prototype was essential for validating the overall flow before refinement.