Hi [name]! Thanks again for your time and feedback. Before we begin, I am recording this interview purely for the purpose of taking notes. Could you confirm your consent to record this interview?

Thanks. My name is Mira and I’m working on my graduate Capstone in User Experience Design at Maryland Institute College of Art. I’m working on a new social networking platform (not social media!) for creatives of all disciplines to connect and collaborate with each other as well as post their work in a space that’s free from oppressive like systems and algorithms, called CHILLR - in partnership with Chill Mag. Chill Mag’s ethos is to take the “hustle culture” out of art-making, and for the purpose of my capstone project I’m exploring ways in which I can expand that ethos into the digital space. The purpose of this interview is to learn more about the potential user base of CHILLR and what users actually want, so I can avoid developing a redundant and poorly designed product.

The way this interview will work is I will ask you some open-ended questions. Please try to be descriptive, and elaborate on your answers to the best of your ability. There’s no such thing as a right or wrong answer, so feel free to speak your truth.

Do you have any questions for me? If not, let’s begin with the first question.

1. Tell me a bit about yourself.
   1. What do you do?
   2. Where are you from?
   3. How long have you been involved in the creative space?
2. Can you share some of your experiences with social media platforms for sharing your creative work and connecting with other creatives?
   1. Do you feel this experience is positive or negative?
   2. How does it affect you on a personal and professional level?
3. How do you perceive the impact of “like” systems and algorithms on your creative process when using social media?
4. Tell me about the last post you made on social media. Feel free to look it up right now. Tell me about how it did and how you personally feel, what you are experiencing as you look at it.
   1. How did it perform?
   2. How do you feel about its performance?
   3. How does having this information affect you creatively?
      1. Does it affect your confidence when sharing work on social platforms?
5. Have you observed any differences in the quality of interactions and collaboration opportunities on currently available social media platforms vs. in person opportunities?
6. Can you provide examples of how social media has influenced your creative journey or facilitated connections with other creatives?
7. When sharing your work on social media, how important is it for you to have a supportive and nurturing environment for feedback and interaction?
   1. What does a supportive and nurturing environment look like to you?
8. In your opinion, what features or elements would an ideal social media platform for creatives include to foster a more positive and authentic creative community?
   1. How do you envision the future of social media platforms tailored for creatives?
   2. What improvements would you like to see in this space?

Okay, that’s about all I have for you today. Thank you so much for your time and effort here today, you have given me a lot of good insights and feedback. Your $5 gift card will be sent to your email, so keep an eye out for that! Have a wonderful rest of your day!