Streamlining art submissions with a flexible, user-friendly portal for galleries and artists.

Project timeline

This was a 12-month project that culminated in the successful launch of the new submission portal at the end of February. The deadline was set to coincide with two major open competitions, making the project timeline even more critical.

Features & technology

The new submission portal was built using Laravel for the backend with a MySQL database and a Next.js front-end. Key features include:

• Full customisability for gallery staff: The portal allows them to create and manage competitions, define submission criteria, and customise fields as needed.
• Members-only restrictions: Certain competitions are only available to members, and the portal offers the flexibility to enforce this.
• Judging Process Integration: The system allows the gallery to manage the judging process with custom workflows, ensuring a seamless experience.
• Responsive and Modern UX: The portal is not only functional but also features a clean, modern design with a focus on a fast, mobile-responsive user experience (UX).

Design & UX

A major goal of the redesign was to simplify the submission process while maintaining flexibility for Bankside Gallery’s specific needs. We focused on:

• Streamlining the user interface: We designed a user-friendly interface to reduce the complexity of the submission process, making it easier for users to submit entries.
• Responsive and Fast: The new system is optimised for performance, ensuring a smooth, fast experience across all devices.
• Reusable Portal Framework: While tailored to Bankside Gallery’s needs, the portal’s structure has been designed to be reusable, making it scalable for other art organisations in the future.

Challenges & solutions

One of the biggest challenges was creating a flexible, reusable portal that could still meet the specific requirements of Bankside Gallery. Throughout the development process, we had to strike a balance between customisation and reusability. The portal was designed to cater to Bankside’s needs, while also being adaptable for use by other galleries and institutions.

This approach not only solved Bankside’s current issues but also positioned the portal as a potential product for wider licensing to other art organisations.

Results

Since the launch, the new submission portal has received positive feedback for its ease of use and performance. Bankside staff have noted significant improvements compared to the old system, and submissions have been notably higher, validating the gallery’s initial concerns with the previous system. The new portal has made the process more efficient, contributing to a healthier flow of submissions and, in turn, increasing gallery revenue.

Collaboration with Bankside Gallery

Throughout the project, Bryter Digital worked closely with Bankside Gallery’s staff to ensure that the system met their expectations. From the initial problem identification to the final product, the gallery staff played a key role, providing valuable feedback during testing and recommending iterative changes that were implemented into the final version. This close collaboration was crucial for delivering a tailored solution that met Bankside’s needs.

Future plans

The new submission portal has not only addressed Bankside Gallery’s challenges but also positioned the product for future growth. The next stage is to license the portal to other galleries and organisations, allowing them to benefit from the same streamlined, customisable submission process that has been so successful for Bankside.

Key takeaways

• 12-month timeline, meeting a critical deadline.
• Custom Laravel & MySQL backend with Next.js front-end.
• Full customisability for competition creation and management.
• Improved UX/UI that simplified submissions and sped up the process.
• Positive feedback and healthy submission numbers post-launch.
• Scalable solution that is now being considered for licensing to other institutions.