Public Art PDX is a free app for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch that showcases the rich and diverse collection of Public Art on display in and around Portland, Oregon, USA. The map view shows the location of more than 400 works of art in the metro area, from historic statues and fountains to photography, architectural integrations and murals created this year. High-quality images, details about the work, descriptions and artists’ statements are all just a tap away.
Targeted demographic (who is the app intended for?):
Citizens and visitors of all ages.
Who and what will be impacted by the app, and how?:
Residents and visitors will gain a deeper understanding of Portland's art.
What is the specific need that is addressed by the app?:
Learning about art while moving around town.
Anticipated usage of the app (by whom, under what circumstances, etc)?:
Citizens learning about art in their neighborhoods and along their commutes, travelers in town for leisure or to attend conventions, school kids on field trips.
How is information presented, that's not presented elsewhere; how is it unique?:
This puts information about the art in a format that is easy to use while touring art. Over time, it will aggregate data from different collections into one searchable database.
What are a few of the primary strengths of the design?:
The app aggregates data for multiple locations and present it as a single pin on the map, then opening to a list view for that location. In the initial release, there are 429 works in 204 locations. The app also allows users to participate by helping us improve the accuracy of art locations.
Discussion
The Public Art PDX free app sounds like a great example of ediscovery. It is amazing that they are able to store all of the data about the collection of Public Art on display in and around Portland, Oregon, USA. The map view is very convenient and very helpful. I love that it shows the location of more than 400 works of art in the metro area. That is a lot of data stored in one place!