Overview
When decorating for new apartments, today’s tenants need a simple way to shop and filter through budget and style.
Photos and easy step-by-step guides provide a way to select cohesive bundles that best suit the user.
My Role & Timeline
Lead UX/UI Designer - Solo
1 Week: June 13th - June 20th, 2023
Problem
When moving into a new apartment, tenants want a one-stop shop to decorate and personalize their new place.
Solution
A retail website that showcases trending items that are part of a collection. Users can sort by apartment size, budget, style, and bundle type.
Project Goals
Build a website wireframe for new apartment dwellers to find the best solutions for them.
Create a way for users to sort through filter options to choose the best bundle for them.
Allow users to compare similar options with ease.
Approach: UX Process
Empathize - User Interviews
Define - Personas
Ideate - Brainstorm Solutions, End-to-End Experience Map, Crazy 8 Sketch, Storyboard, Wireframes
Prototype - Interactive Prototype
Test - Guerilla Usability Testing
Interview Synthesis
5 Remote Interviews were conducted via Zoom to assess how users go about searching and shopping for cohesive products when decorating. The users wanted all of the items in their new place to feel cohesive and harmonious. Most users mentioned having a budget and needing to find appropriate pieces for their home that are within that budget. The goal was to create an easy and concise way of helping users stay within budget and build a cohesive look for their apartments while making the process simple and user-friendly.
Interview Quotes
“I brought some stuff I already had. It was still pretty bare. I looked online and found some stuff but didn’t know how to recreate a style.”
“I don’t know how to make it all cohesive.”
"My budget is very important.”
“An ideal way would be to hire an interior designer. Someone who could put it all together. I don’t know how to make individual pieces work together.”
Persona
Based on the interviews that were conducted to better understand the user’s needs, a Persona was created to embody the interviewees. ‘Moving Macy’ wants simpler items that are budget-friendly, cohesive, and collective.
End-to-End Experience Map
After brainstorming possible solutions, an end-to-end experience map was created. Enabling a seamless experience was important, with a landing page followed by simple options for a user to smoothly navigate and filter choices that suit their aesthetic goals.
Lightning Demos
After looking through my competitors' websites, it became clear what would be important to bring BNB to life. One challenging concept was the checkout process. It needed to be simple and easy to use. Observing how other websites were able to accomplish a seamless checkout was hugely beneficial for the direction of BNB.
Standout Check-Out Screen
Ikea presents pictures in a simple grid. This stood out as a great way to showcase the product(s) to users. Not having to scroll to find different images makes the checkout process easy and engaging. Another thing to take note of is the checkout elements. All of the buttons and menu items are laid out in a user-friendly way for navigation and simplicity. Ikea was a big influence on BNB and how the check-out process would look and feel.
Crazy 8’s
A Crazy 8 sketch was drawn to quickly jot down a flow that felt best for BNB. Working within a limited time to ideate, this felt like the right route to be able to brainstorm quickly.
Solution Sketch
Creating a solution sketch was a great way to know exactly what the most important screen would be. This helped narrow down the end goal and what would be most important for the user.
Storyboard
To create a storyboard, the first step was to understand the flow of the app. The app had to err on the side of simplicity side for efficient and engaging use. Creating a step-by-step process seemed necessary.
Wireframe Prototype
The prototype for Bargain Nest Bundles was straightforward as was the goal in mind from the outset. BNB is meant to be an easy process for the user to find a solution quickly. With that in mind, the prototype is laid out as such. BNB is a step-by-step guide to finding a beautiful bundle that all users can enjoy within their budget.
Testing
For the first round of testing, 5 individuals at Trader Joe’s were asked to test BNB’s prototype. The prototype participants were between the ages of 25 and 55. Each participant was asked to do a series of tasks, complete them, and give feedback.
The first task that was given to them was to get started, choose a small apartment as an option, and select a budget between $150-$200.
In the second task, the participants had to choose the rustic style and bundle 1.
The final task was to complete the checkout process for BNB with their new bundle.
A few of the participants said that they were displeased by the price layout and one of the participants said, “It would be a little easier if it was a drop-down list.” Another problem that arose was that users were confused if they had to edit their item list or if it was just an option for them to skip. Another user mentioned when navigating the “Choose Apartment Size” screen they wished that they had to option to see square footage. That user also presented the possibility that some users wouldn’t know their apartment size.
These issues were great insights into fine-tuning BNB’s MVP.
2nd Round Wireframe Prototype
Screen 1 - Landing Page
Screen 2 - Choose Apartment Size
Screen 3 - Choose Budget for Interiors
Screen 4 - Choose Style
Screen 5 - Choose Bundle
Screen 6 - Choose Shopping Cart
Screen 7 - Checkout
Screen 8 - Order Confirmation
2nd Round of Testing
In the second round of testing, only 2 participants were tested due to the time constraints of the project. The interview participants were between the ages of 25 and 35. Both participants were asked to complete the same series of tasks and give feedback. The users both had an overall positive experience while using the wireframe prototype. One user did say “I wish there were more options for styles.”
Final Thoughts
Project Takeaways
The testing phase for the BNB website was restricted to just two participants in the final round, which is a small sample size for comprehensive user feedback.
Given more time, it would have been beneficial to create high-fidelity prototypes for testing. High-fidelity prototypes offer a more realistic user experience and can reveal deeper insights into usability and design.
Reflections
Bringing Bargain Nest Bundles into existence in 1 week was no small feat. Overall, I am proud of where it landed, but I wish there was more time to flesh out ideas and to test more in-depth.
Thank You!