Building Support for Local Student Artists

UX Researcher

Event Designer

Duration

Role

Tools

Project type

Team

5 Weeks

1 Event Coordinator

Community Project

Adobe CC

Overview

Student artists often struggle to find ways to share and sell their work beyond the classroom. Many lack access to platforms where they can reach buyers, gain visibility, or even learn how to price their pieces. This project set out to understand those challenges and explore how thoughtful research could uncover opportunities to support student creators.


Research

I interviewed 30 students and 5 staff members.

To uncover why student artists struggled to sell their work, I used a mixed-methods research approach. I conducted one-on-one interviews to capture personal stories and pain points directly from students and staff. Surveys helped us validate these themes at a broader scale. I also ran a competitor analysis, looking at how existing marketplaces and campus programs supported artists, to identify opportunities. This combination of qualitative and quantitative methods allowed us to not only understand with students’ experiences but also ground our insights in data to guide practical solutions.

To uncover why student artists struggled to sell their work, I used a mixed-methods research approach. I conducted one-on-one interviews to capture personal stories and pain points directly from students and staff. Surveys helped us validate these themes at a broader scale. I also ran a competitor analysis, looking at how existing marketplaces and campus programs supported artists, to identify opportunities. This combination of qualitative and quantitative methods allowed us to not only understand with students’ experiences but also ground our insights in data to guide practical solutions.

Students

Students lacked resources and structured support to sell their work.

  • Galleries were limited and difficult to secure.

  • No direct systems for artists to receive payments through galleries.

  • Projects were often framed as academic exercises rather than professional art.

Staff

Staff felt stuck and unable to help students.

  • Unsure of how to receive student input.

  • No established framework for how to support students in selling and pricing their work.

  • Policies prevented the school from directly facilitating payments for student art.

I interviewed 30 students and 5 staff members.

It had to have digital and physical aspects.

Insights

Students

Students lacked resources and structured support to sell their work.

  • Galleries were limited and difficult to secure.

  • No direct systems for artists to receive payments through galleries.

  • Projects were often framed as academic exercises rather than professional art.

Staff

Staff felt stuck and unable to help students.

  • Unsure of how to receive student input.

  • No established framework for how to support students in selling and pricing their work.

  • Policies prevented the school from directly facilitating payments for student art.

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Solution

To best help, the solution had to be digital and physical.

Digital

To give student artists visibility beyond the campus, we created a website that served as a digital showcase for their work. The site allowed students to present their art in a professional format, making it easier for potential buyers to discover them and connect. By providing a centralized space for student artwork, the site bridged the gap left by limited gallery access and gave students a lasting platform to share their creativity with a wider community. The website included:

  • Profiles for the artists to display their work.

  • Ability to direct contact the artist and purchase their work.

  • Filter feature to find the medium, size, and price buyers may want.

Physical

In addition to the website, we organized a physical art market where students could display and sell their work in person. This gave artists the chance to engage directly with buyers, practice presenting their pieces professionally, and gain real-world selling experience. The market complemented the digital showcase by providing hands-on opportunities that boosted confidence and visibility for student creators. This market included:

  • Tables for artists to display their work.

  • QR codes with links to artists portfolio and payment methods.

  • Workshops leading up to the market allowed for students to learn skills like how to price their work and how to package their work for selling.


Results

The solutions helped students feel happier and supported.

The website and market had a measurable impact on student artists’ opportunities and success that can continue to grow with time and resources:

  • Customer Satisfaction (CSTAT) Score: 92% of participating students reported feeling more confident and supported in selling their work.

  • Average Earnings: Students earned an average of $240 per artist through the combined website and physical market.

  • Participation: 50 student artists showcased their work online, and 40 participated in the in-person market.

  • Qualitative Feedback: Students highlighted increased exposure, improved confidence, and a stronger sense of professional legitimacy for their art.

The website and market had a measurable impact on student artists’ opportunities and success that can continue to grow with time and resources:

  • Customer Satisfaction (CSTAT) Score: 92% of participating students reported feeling more confident and supported in selling their work.

  • Average Earnings: Students earned an average of $240 per artist through the combined website and physical market.

  • Participation: 50 student artists showcased their work online, and 40 participated in the in-person market.

  • Qualitative Feedback: Students highlighted increased exposure, improved confidence, and a stronger sense of professional legitimacy for their art.

Students felt happier and supported.