House 2 Home
Platform
Web Application
Model
B2C
Category
E-commerce
Year
2023
Introduction
Context
This project aimed to improve a furniture and decor website by designing a dedicated desktop page for decorative kits. The target audience was young users, especially university students moving into studio apartments. A modified Google Ventures (GV) design sprint was used to create the solution.
What’s the problem
Research revealed that these users often feel overwhelmed by the buying process despite having clear style preferences from platforms like Pinterest. They struggle with selecting specific products and managing budgets, seeking quick and impactful decor solutions without major renovations.
Creating a specialized page
The design features a specialized page for decorative kits, recommending bundles based on a user’s style preferences identified through a 'style inquiry.' The bundles, showcased with coordinated photos, can be filtered by style, color scheme, price, and room type. A "View in Your Room" option allows users to see 3D models of the products in their space using a QR code scan.
Mapping the User Journey
To understand how users will interact with the new decorative kits page, I drafted a comprehensive map detailing the end-to-end experience. This map visualizes each step a user might take, ensuring a smooth and engaging process from the initial website visit to the final purchase. Here’s the user journey I envisioned.
By mapping out this user journey, I aimed to ensure that every interaction is intuitive and enjoyable, ultimately leading to a satisfying shopping experience that meets the user's needs and preferences.
Sketch Solution
Get Inspired
To start the design process, I conducted solo lightning demos, researching existing products for inspiration:
Crate & Barrel: Customer feedback photos with purchased product collections
Target: Target Style" community photos with product lists and social media posts; the “see in your room” feature of products.
West Elm: Home inspiration filters for product searches and labeled curated room photos
Sketch Possible Solutions Using Crazy 8s
I sketched eight solutions for the critical screen in the user journey
Product Search Page
Decorative products with filters and sorting options.
Style Test
Users select preferred room styles for personalized product recommendations.
Decorative Bundle Page
Curated room photos with purchasable product bundles.
Review-Based Recommendations
Bundles recommended based on top reviews.
VR Look in Your Room:
3D product models in the user's room using VR technology.
Detailed Bundle Page
Curated room photos with product lists, names, prices, and links.
Lifestyle Guide
Articles and images from decor experts with product links.
Social Media Integration
AI-driven personalized recommendations based on social media accounts.
Create a Solution Sketch
The user arrives at the decorative bundle page, displaying curated room photos showcasing different bundles.
1
2
3
Before the Critical Screen: Decorative Bundle Overview:
The user arrives at the decorative bundle page, which displays curated room photos showcasing different decorative bundles.
Critical Screen: Detailed Bundle Page:
Upon clicking a bundle photo, the user sees detailed information, including a list of all products with names, prices, links, and user reviews.
After the Critical Screen: Add to Cart Page:
The user can add the entire bundle or select specific products to add to their cart.
Storyboard
In order to transform sketches solution into a clear, actionable plan, I followed the insights gained from the sketch solution phase, where various ways to solve the user's problems are explored. The storyboard helps visualize the end-to-end user experience.
Usability Test
To evaluate the effectiveness of the prototype, I conducted usability tests with five participants. Here’s an overview of our process and key findings:
The Interview Process
Recruitment
Recruited five participants interested in home decor and online shopping.
Meetings
Conducted individual interview sessions with each participant. Walkthroughs of the prototype followed by structured questions.
Task
Participants navigated the website, completed the style test, browsed kits, selected a kit, viewed product details, used the "View in Room" feature, and added items to the cart.
The Interview Findings
Positive Feedback
Participants appreciated the personalization features and the refresh option. The visual representation of kits was both attractive and helpful, while product details, prices, and top reviews were highly valued. Additionally, the convenience of adding entire kits or selecting individual items was well-received.
Areas for Improvement:
Participants appreciated the personalization features and the refresh option. The visual representation of kits was both attractive and helpful, while product details, prices, and top reviews were highly valued. Additionally, the convenience of adding entire kits or selecting individual items was well-received.
END
END
Introduction
Context
This project aimed to improve a furniture and decor website by designing a dedicated desktop page for decorative kits. The target audience was young users, especially university students moving into studio apartments. A modified Google Ventures (GV) design sprint was used to create the solution.
What’s the problem
Research revealed that these users often feel overwhelmed by the buying process despite having clear style preferences from platforms like Pinterest. They struggle with selecting specific products and managing budgets, seeking quick and impactful decor solutions without major renovations.
Creating a specialized page
The design features a specialized page for decorative kits, recommending bundles based on a user’s style preferences identified through a 'style inquiry.' The bundles, showcased with coordinated photos, can be filtered by style, color scheme, price, and room type. A "View in Your Room" option allows users to see 3D models of the products in their space using a QR code scan.
Mapping the User Journey
To understand how users will interact with the new decorative kits page, I drafted a comprehensive map detailing the end-to-end experience. This map visualizes each step a user might take, ensuring a smooth and engaging process from the initial website visit to the final purchase. Here’s the user journey I envisioned.
By mapping out this user journey, I aimed to ensure that every interaction is intuitive and enjoyable, ultimately leading to a satisfying shopping experience that meets the user's needs and preferences.
Sketch Solution
Get Inspired
To start the design process, I conducted solo lightning demos, researching existing products for inspiration:
Crate & Barrel: Customer feedback photos with purchased product collections
Target: Target Style" community photos with product lists and social media posts; the “see in your room” feature of products.
West Elm: Home inspiration filters for product searches and labeled curated room photos
Sketch Possible Solutions Using Crazy 8s
I sketched eight solutions for the critical screen in the user journey
Product Search Page
Decorative products with filters and sorting options.
Style Test
Users select preferred room styles for personalized product recommendations.
Decorative Bundle Page
Curated room photos with purchasable product bundles.
Review-Based Recommendations
Bundles recommended based on top reviews.
VR Look in Your Room:
3D product models in the user's room using VR technology.
Detailed Bundle Page
Curated room photos with product lists, names, prices, and links.
Lifestyle Guide
Articles and images from decor experts with product links.
Social Media Integration
AI-driven personalized recommendations based on social media accounts.
Create a Solution Sketch
The user arrives at the decorative bundle page, displaying curated room photos showcasing different bundles.
1
2
3
Before the Critical Screen: Decorative Bundle Overview:
The user arrives at the decorative bundle page, which displays curated room photos showcasing different decorative bundles.
Critical Screen: Detailed Bundle Page:
Upon clicking a bundle photo, the user sees detailed information, including a list of all products with names, prices, links, and user reviews.
After the Critical Screen: Add to Cart Page:
The user can add the entire bundle or select specific products to add to their cart.
Storyboard
In order to transform sketches solution into a clear, actionable plan, I followed the insights gained from the sketch solution phase, where various ways to solve the user's problems are explored. The storyboard helps visualize the end-to-end user experience.
Usability Test
To evaluate the effectiveness of the prototype, I conducted usability tests with five participants. Here’s an overview of our process and key findings:
The Interview Process
Recruitment
Recruited five participants interested in home decor and online shopping.
Meetings
Conducted individual interview sessions with each participant. Walkthroughs of the prototype followed by structured questions.
Task
Participants navigated the website, completed the style test, browsed kits, selected a kit, viewed product details, used the "View in Room" feature, and added items to the cart.
The Interview Findings
Positive Feedback
Participants appreciated the personalization features and the refresh option. The visual representation of kits was both attractive and helpful, while product details, prices, and top reviews were highly valued. Additionally, the convenience of adding entire kits or selecting individual items was well-received.
Areas for Improvement:
Participants appreciated the personalization features and the refresh option. The visual representation of kits was both attractive and helpful, while product details, prices, and top reviews were highly valued. Additionally, the convenience of adding entire kits or selecting individual items was well-received.
END
END
House 2 Home
Platform
Web Application
Model
B2C
Category
E-commerce
Year
2023