BOA goes 2.0

A big claim, but backed up by just some of the amazing feedback from users/artists who have engaged with the site since its launch:

"I'd just like to say that your system of sharing art is a tremendous resource to the art community. This is a tool that will empower artists, dealers, collectors, art lovers, and the likes in many ways."

"…a pleasure to use, very easy and straight forward."

"This is fascinating, You have a wonderful site. It's wonderfully comprehensive and designed."

"Your gallery is extremely easy to navigate, I like that."

"I am so happy to have found Body of Art, what a wonderful resource for all artists everywhere. The Virtual Gallery is amazing."

"It is Amazing! Thank you for doing this. Love it! The coolest thing ever"

"Your website is really inspiring me to start and finish my personal projects."

"I'm totally in love with this site. So cool."

We worked hard together with the BOA team to produce a site that borrows from the real world experience of viewing art in a physical gallery, not just with the interactive Virtual Gallery system, which allows the user to view artwork in its very own virtual gallery space, but also in the main site gallery views, where users have the ability to zoom into the intricate detail of the art.

The site has been gathering momentum over the last few weeks but we felt that it was missing the social engagement side, that would ensure that the site would not only appeal to artists sharing and promoting their own work but also to art lovers who want to explore, follow, discuss and contact their favourite artists from all around the world.

The second stage due for launch in the coming weeks will see all kinds of amazing additions.

Activity feeds:
You will now be able to view at a glance the activity of the artists you are following. Who have they commented on, who are they following and when they have uploaded new work or galleries.

Virtual Gallery Arrangements:
Users who have over 5 pieces of artwork inside a gallery automatically appear in a virtual gallery. This defaults to the order of upload at the moment but with some clever Javascript, the new accounts section will allow users to drag and drop their artwork inside a plan of their gallery allowing them to edit their exhibition. Creatively, the order of how an audience views artwork is very important to the artist, so this was an important new feature.

Mail/Messaging:
This will allow you to be notified whenever someone comments on your work, emails you directly from your gallery or when they are interested in buying an artist's work. It may sound simple but this system needs to be bullet proof and all sorts of consideration is required to ensure it doesn't frustrate or spam the users.

Artists' profile addition:
Artists will now be able to update their status and make more of their profile page. This is their landing page URL and we want them to feel like it is more of a home page and route through to the rest of their work rather than just a biog. This page will also have its own activity feed so users can see what you are interested in.

Privacy settings:
With all these additions we realise that users privacy settings are going to be increasingly important. Whether they wish to receive email notifications, share their slideshows, share their activity etc. All of this will be available for them at the tick of a radial button.

Video!:
Oh yes, the site will soon open itself up to video content. We will not be hosting and serving video content but using Vimeo as our mashup site of choice. Artists can upload video art or maybe making-of documentaries about how they work. All content can be reported and policed by users or by the BOA team.

Generally, the rest of the new profile section will be far clearer and easier to use. Slideshows, image galleries and your favourites will all be housed in an easier to navigate interface.

Once launched, the site will fit well into the classic Web 2.0 model, allowing users to interact and collaborate with each other in a social media dialogue as creators of their own user-generated content.

If you take Facebook as the classic social networking model, it has what are referred to as 'Ties'. These are the different social networks that you are connected to, e.g. Uni friends, Work colleagues, Family members and Sports club friends would be examples of just four ties. Facebook is an amazing platform for this overall sharing of content, status and life updates to all of these ties of people and to an extend it does give you the ability to group these people and separate viewing permissions between them but BOA is a far tighter vertical tie. BOA is looking to bring together and engage only those who love art, produce art or are just looking for inspiration and an injection of creativity.

Sites like Facebook, although brilliant for bringing people together and networking, can feel disposable over time but BOA will look to keep its users engaged by simply staying pure to the art world and respectful of its audiences inspiring them with new artwork, art related news, events and resources as well as regularly evolving and improving its features.

Body Of Art has been produced for the love and by love. Its investor, Leon Coburg, (an artists and life model himself), simply wants to give back to the art community that he loves so passionately.

The site is based around minimal financial input from related advertising and an open donations model (like Wikipedia) but Body Of Art will forever stay pure.

We've had great fun designing these new social interface additions, and hope the BOA users will have equally as much fun engaging with them.

Be inspired on the Body Of Art website.