the problems
1. The history of free jazz in New York is under-documented.
2. Existing archives are fragmented and hard to navigate.
3. There’s no centralized digital resource that connects locations, artists, and recordings in one
interactive experience.
process
I began with a UX research survey sent to the Arts for Art community to understand who
would use the archive and what they needed. We collected demographic data and feedback on
desired features, accessibility, and interface clarity. Insights from the survey shaped the
user experience — emphasizing simplicity, searchability, and visual immersion.
From there, I designed wireframes focused on spatial navigation, allowing users to explore the
city’s jazz history through an interactive map. Each pin opens a dedicated page with archival photos,
recordings, videos, and historical context.
Midway through the project, I recognized the need for long-term sustainability. To ensure the archive
could evolve beyond my direct involvement, I built a custom CMS into the website. The CMS allows researchers
to add, edit, and manage content without technical knowledge, supported by Firebase for data storage, AWS for
hosting, and a front-end built with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
