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We’re delighted to announce that Symplicit’s collaboration with Desart Inc., a leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts organisation, has been recognised with not one, but two Good Design Awards! The awards are in recognition of the Social Impact and Digital Interface of SAM, their art centre management software. This dual recognition is a powerful testament to our shared commitment to creating innovative and impactful design solutions that support and empower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts sector.
Modernising SAM for enhanced impact.
Since its launch in 2011, SAM has grown in complexity with new features added organically over time. This resulted in a feature-rich platform, but at the cost of poor user experience. In 2023, facing a significant backlog and an aging technology stack, Desart commissioned Symplicit to redesign and redevelop SAM.
The redesign project was driven by four key outcomes:
- Increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) participation.
- Enhance usability to improve art centre efficiency.
- Incorporate accessibility to cater to a diverse user base.
- Build a scalable platform that reduces maintenance and management costs for Desart and art centres.
A human-centered design approach.
Tasked with modernising SAM, Symplicit began with immersive contextual research in the Central Desert Alice Springs region, home to many art centres. This invaluable experience allowed us to understand the unique art centre environment and directly engage with Aboriginal users to gain deep insights into their specific needs.
Symplicit’s comprehensive design program included:
- SME interviews, heuristic and landscape reviews, analysis of data and analytics, and current-state process maps to establish a baseline understanding of performance.
- Tree tests and card sorts to inform a navigation overhaul and significantly improve findability.
- Rigorous and ongoing usability testing, with key tasks evaluated and designs iterated to ensure intuitive workflows and interfaces.
Empowering art centres and supporting artists.
The SAM redesign has significantly improved art centre efficiency through:
- Simplified onboarding of new art centre workers.
- A streamlined sales and invoicing process.
- Seamless distribution of catalogues to galleries and potential buyers.
- SAM also provides access to vital reports used to secure government funding and inform research into ATSI stories and art.
SAM has immense potential for global impact, with the possibility of benefiting Indigenous cultures worldwide.
Recognition and gratitude.
We are incredibly proud to be recognised by Good Design Australia, the jury commented;
“We were particularly impressed by how the SAM redesign addresses social inequities and supports marginalised groups, preserving cultural heritage while providing a practical tool for empowerment. This project is a testament to how design can address social issues and facilitate cultural preservation.”
A huge thank you to the Desart Inc. team for their vision and unwavering commitment to creating a thriving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art sector in Australia. We are honoured that they placed their trust in Symplicit as their partner to bring this vision to life through SAM!
