Noak
This project was a work sample in digital design and was done in 2023. The brief from the client was: "Choose an area of interest and define its framework for digital design work. Develop a concept using research and creative exploration, utilizing tools and techniques to represent ideas through prototypes.”
Project
Work sample
Year
2023
Type
UI/UX
How can people more easily find and purchase furniture that fits their needs, style, and budget without feeling overwhelmed by the options? How can people be encouraged and supported to choose secondhand furniture over buying new, while feeling confident in the quality and durability of used items? How can people better visualize and ensure that the furniture they are considering will fit and look good in their homes before making a purchase?
In today's rapidly growing market for used quality furniture, there's a clear demand for platforms that offer both convenience and reliability. Recognizing this, I embarked on a project to develop an intuitive and user-friendly e-commerce app tailored specifically for purchasing used quality furniture. The aim was to design a seamless digital experience that addresses the needs of buyers while building trust in the quality and authenticity of the products.
To kickstart the project, I immersed myself in extensive research on the secondhand furniture market. I studied various e-commerce platforms and apps that facilitate furniture sales, identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This research was crucial in shaping my initial ideas and understanding the current landscape. I focused on understanding user needs, preferences, and pain points through surveys and interviews. This foundational work laid the groundwork for the design and functionality of the app.
I conducted a detailed survey using Google Forms, which gathered responses from 41 participants. Additionally, I held interviews with three potential users to gain deeper insights. The survey and interviews aimed to uncover users' experiences with buying used furniture online, their trust issues regarding quality, difficulties in finding the right items, and concerns about how well the furniture would fit in their homes. The data collected provided valuable insights into user behavior and expectations, guiding the design process.
Armed with the research insights, I began sketching the app's design, focusing on simplicity and ease of navigation. I aimed to address the key pain points identified:
Building Trust: To ensure users felt confident in the quality of the furniture, I integrated a review system where previous buyers could leave feedback and ratings.
Finding Furniture: To help users find the right furniture easily, I implemented a powerful search function with various filters.
Visualizing Fit: To alleviate concerns about whether an item would fit in a user's home, I added an Augmented Reality (AR) feature. This allows users to visualize the furniture in their space before making a purchase.
I utilized Figma to create an interactive prototype, focusing on a clean and straightforward interface with clear call-to-action buttons (CTAs). The prototype underwent several rounds of user testing, during which I collected feedback to refine the design.
Changes based on feedback included:
Changing the "saved item" icon from a star to a bookmark for better clarity.
Relocating the "bookmark" icon under the AR/Photo section to provide more space and improve usability.
The iterative design process, driven by continuous user feedback, resulted in a well-received prototype. Final user testing indicated that the interface was easy to understand and navigate. Users appreciated the trust-building review feature, the efficient search function, and the AR capability that allowed them to see how furniture would fit in their homes. Overall, the project successfully addressed the key pain points of potential buyers of used furniture, delivering a positive and seamless digital experience.
Through this project, I learned the importance of user-centered design and iterative testing. By focusing on actual user needs and continuously refining the design, I was able to create a solution that not only met but exceeded user expectations.