SAM: Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Artists and Art Centres

Since launching in 2011, SAM has grown in complexity with new functionality added in an ad hoc manner. This approach led to a feature rich platform with poor user experience. In 2023, faced with a large backlog and an aging technology stack, Desart commissioned Symplicit to redesign and redevelop SAM. The redesign set out to modernise SAM and was measured by 4-key outcomes; increase ATSI participation, enhance usability to improve art centre efficiency, incorporate accessibility to cater to a diverse user base, and build a scalable platform that reduces the cost of maintenance and management for Desart and art centres.

Tasked with modernising SAM, Symplicit undertook contextual research in the Central Desert Alice Springs region, home to many art centres. This immersion enabled Symplicit to appreciate the art centre environment and meet with Aboriginal users to understand their needs. Symplicit’s comprehensive design program entailed: SME interviews, heuristic and landscape reviews, analysis of data and analytics, and current-state process maps to understand baseline performance. Tree tests and card sorts to inform a navigation overhaul and improve findability. Rigorous and ongoing usability testing, with key tasks evaluated and designs iterated to ensure intuitive workflows and interfaces.

SAM’s redesign improves art centre efficiency through; simplified onboarding of new art centre workers, streamlined sales and invoicing process, seamless distribution of catalogues to galleries and potential buyers. SAM also offers access to vital reports which are used to secure government funds and inform research into ATSI stories and art. In FY23, SAM processed AUD41.9million in artwork sales and a further $7million in product sales. This income goes directly back to ATSI artists and their community art centre businesses. SAM has immense potential for global impact, with the possibility of benefiting Indigenous cultures globally.

SAM is designed to cater to a diverse range of users (~30% of current users identify as ATSI), this includes super-users and users with low digital literacy, numeracy and literacy skills. SAM workflows are streamlined to be simple for users with lower skills and at the same time cater to super-users, who can quickly and effortlessly execute more complex tasks. The SAM redesign features intuitive price breakdowns, that clearly articulate the revenue split between artist and art centre. For low numeracy users, these price breakdowns provide transparency, help art centres show artists how much they will receive from artwork sales, and improve financial literacy. Many art centres operate in remote regions with unstable internet. To overcome this, SAM makes use of tabs and progressive disclosure. This approach helps guide users through tasks, reduce page loads, and allow data to incrementally save in case of internet dropouts. Redesigned SAM provides an intuitive interface, enhanced functionality, and a seamless and inclusive experience for all users. The enhanced usability of SAM has removed a significant barrier to entry for low digital literacy people. New SAM also provides opportunity for more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s to engage in roles that require system proficiency.