House2Home
Challenge: House2Home is an eCommerce website that aims to facilitate the decoration of a home with great products on a budget. The design challenge was finding a way to create a smooth experience from start to finish, bringing comfort and happiness to users.
Solution: I created tailored "Starter Kits" designed to enhance user experience, simplifying style selection and curation. Employing a comprehensive UX design approach, I conducted thorough user research, crafted thoughtful designs, conducted rigorous testing, and seamlessly executed the implementation process.
My Role: Sole UX Designer
Project Overview
House2Home functions as an online store offering a range of small home decor items. Following a recent survey, it became apparent that customers often encounter challenges in decorating their new homes due to difficulties in finding suitable items. In response, my goal was to develop a solution that helps users feel assured when purchasing multiple items that fit seamlessly into their homes.
Process
Day 1
Mapping Out the Challenge
To better understand the issues at hand, I carefully examined the provided research findings and Interview provided by BiteSizeUX. This allowed me to define the problem more clearly and map out an improved user journey. I initiated the process of synthesizing interview findings using affinity mapping, fostering empathy and deeper insight into user perspectives.
Persona
Key Insights
Once I had the affinity map in place and delved into the user persona, I gained a clearer understanding of the user's needs and pain points. Some key insights were:
The want and need for professional help
Staying within a very specific budget while still decorating space as wanted
Easing of shopping anxiety
User mapping played a pivotal role in visualizing the journey a user like Ally would undertake while navigating the website. However, this was merely the preliminary phase of formulating solutions for the design challenge. On Day 2, I delved even deeper into this process.
Day 2
Solutions
Lightning Demos
Ikea
Ikea focuses on home essentials. On this particular page they are focusing on affordable options with images in a house environment so we see how it would look with other decorations we might already have in a home
Ideation
Houzz
Houzz uses augmented reality to show costumers what the product would look like inside of their homes. This is something that really grabbed my attention when thinking about the problem at hand.
Embarking on the journey of idea generation without any preconceived notions, I engaged in a process of unfiltered creativity. I explored multiple iterations by sketching out pivotal screens from various perspectives.
Day 3
Decide
Once I pinpointed the key screen of interest, I began shaping a red route around it. In this phase, my focus tightened as I delved into sketches. The red route I've outlined below encapsulates the customer journey: from entering the site, browsing options, conversing with a professional through the app's messaging feature, receiving a designer's starter kit suggestion, and concluding with a purchase.
Day 4
Prototyping
A Closer Look
Eureka! This marks the resolution to my Problem Statement. The dedicated "Starter Kits" page provides users with a selection of curated kits, encompassing the entire spectrum of accessories available on the site. For heightened convenience, these kits can be browsed according to the user's distinct priorities, whether it's Trend & Style, Budget considerations, or Apartment Size area.
Every kit offers complete personalization down to individual pieces, ensuring users retain full control over their choices and that their unique preferences are upheld. And for those seeking guidance or a starting point, a professional designer is at their disposal, adeptly assisting in every scenario.
Day 5
Testing
On the fifth day, I conducted product testing with a panel of five participants. These interviews were all facilitated through Zoom. The central question remains: Have I effectively addressed the core issue and achieved the intended goals? Yes, but additional work is required!
After conducting the tests, these were the standout revelations:
Making the chat box with designer available even when looking at different content / starter packs. Perhaps being able to minimize conversation and be able to go back to it whenever.
A function were the user can send photos to designer to give the professional a better idea if what the space looks like.
Order number available at checkout.
Quick delivery option available.
Main logo in the middle / button to talk to interior designer right location?
Next Steps
Looking ahead, the primary emphasis remains on maintaining a consistent trajectory of progress. This involves the integration of additional features, such as improving the capability to engage in real-time chats with professional interior designers. Furthermore, the strategic blueprint encompasses the expansion of screen interfaces, beyond the core red routes, to showcase a broader spectrum of functions.