Well-being through creativity : A collaborative online platform for hobby illustrators

Abstract: This project explores how interactive technologies can support digital collaborations between hobby illustrators in order to foster their mental well-being through creative exchange, with special regard to physical distancing. The exploration of the design concept builds upon four main areas of theory: social connectedness in times of physical separation, the impact of creativity on mental health, design for collaborations and creativity through collaboration. The design project resulted in a prototype for a smartphone application that enables hobby illustrators to find inspiration to create artworks and collaborate with other hobby illustrators while being physically distanced, as to be presented in the following chapter 0. This paper discusses the design process from research to design decisions and reasoning behind the features of the prototype. The outcomes contribute to Interaction Design research at the intersection of technology and artmaking and open considerations to design for creative collaborations in non-professional contexts, potentially extending to the broader field of arts.