Our Role and Scope
We were responsible for the full-stack website build, from design to deployment. A partner agency assisted in shaping the overall sitemap, but the implementation, UI/UX decisions, frontend architecture, and launch logistics were fully under our control.
Key responsibilities:
- UX/UI design aligned with branding guidelines
- Frontend development using Next.js
- Client training and documentation post-launch
- Short-term maintenance and final handoff
Design Objectives: Keeping Art Front and Center
The Singapore Art Museum had a clear brief — the website needed to:
- Provide an accessible and well-structured overview of the Biennale's exhibitions
- Present artworks and artists without visual clutter
- Help users navigate shows, schedules, and event locations with clarity
While we initially experimented with richer animations and transitions, user experience and content clarity were ultimately prioritized. Upon client review, we scaled back interactive effects to ensure the interface wouldn't detract from the art itself.
User Experience Strategy
With the branding guidelines firmly established, our core UX process revolved around layout clarity, information hierarchy, and audience flow. The Singapore Biennale attracts a broad range of users: casual visitors, art collectors, curators, students, and tourists. We needed to make sure each of these user groups could easily find what they needed.
Key Journey Highlights:
- Homepage: Quick overview of the theme and curatorial direction
- Artwork/Artist Pages: Visual-first layout with supporting descriptions
- Programme Listings: Date-based navigation with clear callouts
- Event Locations: Geographical browsing support for venue-based planning
Visual Design System
Our design team focused on a layout and typography system that echoed the modernity of the event while remaining understated. This included:
- High whitespace use
- Minimal color interference with artworks
- Responsive layouts optimized for tablet and mobile
- Accessible font scaling
Technical Stack
We selected NextJS for its performance-first framework and used Sanity Headless CMS to enable flexible, real-time content updates. This pairing allowed us to serve a fast, responsive site backed by a global CDN, while giving the client autonomy post-launch.
- Frontend: NextJS
- CMS: Sanity
- Design: Figma
- Hosting: Vercel
Constraints and Real-World Adjustments
One of the more interesting UX challenges was managing creative expectations. While dynamic elements were initially pitched to give the site a more immersive feel, the client made a strategic call to preserve simplicity — reducing motion to ensure attention stayed fixed on the artists’ works.
This required fast turnaround in removing and restyling several core UI elements late in the process while still delivering within our original timeline.
Outcome and Delivery
The website launched on schedule, aligned with the event’s announcement calendar. While we didn’t conduct broad-scale usability testing, limited internal tests and design reviews helped us validate core user flows.
Post-launch feedback from the client was positive — especially in relation to the clarity of layout and elegance of the design execution. We provided both documentation and live training sessions to help the client’s internal team manage and update the site once our maintenance period concluded.
Why It Matters
From a design and development standpoint, this project stands out in our portfolio for its clean, focused aesthetic. It represents the intersection of creative flexibility and real-world usability — a balance we believe is critical for modern event websites.
The Singapore Biennale website is a testament to our ability to respect artistic intent while delivering high-functioning digital products that serve broad audiences with clarity and intent.
