Background
The Decor app assists the designer throughout the initial client meeting and the home design purchasing process.
The app provides various options to streamline tasks. As a designer, you gain access to the app, allowing you to store all your clients' materials within it. In addition, your materials can be organized with an added feature for easy sharing with your customers.
Role
UIUX researcher & designer
Tools
figma + figjam
Timeline
June - July 2023
Perfect assistant
for an interior designer
with the customers,
throughout all stages
of home design
Market analysis
Before diving in, I conducted a thorough market analysis on existing platforms
In my research, I focused on the Houzz app and other similar applications, identifying several issues with them:
01 Some apps offer a market survey option but lack a shared interface with customers, limiting interaction.
\\ There's no direct method within the apps to save information for customers' reference.
\\Designers' materials, like inspirational photos and construction videos, tend to get disorganized or misplaced within these apps.
\\Managing client files separately or manually in different applications leads to awkwardness and disorder due to the absence of a unified interface.
These platforms offer similar services. I analyzed the products and the customer's experience of using them the customer data saving options. Favorites of the designer and the effectiveness of each product for the designer
Objective
An app designed to cater to the specific requirements of interior designers.
Design an application that will accompany the designer with the client throughout the entire joint work process.
A variety of companies and stores for a market survey
The app will not include the option to make purchases directly. However, it will enable designers to browse and explore the market, providing information on products, prices from different stores and companies, showcasing a diverse array of available options.
The designer's client portfolios and materials are divided into categories
The designer will be able to upload all the materials to the application in an organized folder. Such as: inspirations, products for favorites and more.
The customer files will be divided into active customers and old customers.
and subdivided according to topics
Problem
Limitations from Client Consultation to Purchase Guidance"
The current applications lack essential features required by designers, spanning from the initial client consultation to facilitating the purchasing process. These missing functionalities include direct content sharing with clients, organizing documents, displaying inspiration images and selected items, as well as enabling price comparisons.
65%
80%
70%
Of the designers, don't have a useful application that accompanies them on the day of purchase.
of designers had challenges on the purchase day. These difficulties came from clients experiencing decision-making issues and facing out-of-stock products."
Go out for a purchasing day at least once every two months.
Brachi Deutsch. 31 year old daughter married + 3 children. Works at Deutsch Architects and Designers
Background
Barchi is an interior designer. Works full time
at the Deutsche Architects and Designers office
She has been working in the field for about 9 years
Her husband is the architect in the office
and she is an interior designer
She loves her job
Goals
Make the most of the designated purchase day.
Aim to assist the client in making effective decisions together.
Organize the procurement day systematically to avoid forgetting any items.
Be prepared with cost estimates to inform the customer beforehand.
Pain points
I have no order during the purchase, what has already been purchased and what remains to be purchased.
The customer is debating about certain products.
I don't have the option to make an orderly report including the cost and the image of the product that I will send to the customer in an orderly manner.
I don't have pictures during the purchase, I need to have an option for a high level picture that I can match product to product during the purchase.
I can't do an estimated cost before buying.
Make the shopping day a comfortable and effective experience
for both myself and my clients.
Shifi Rabin 36 years old. Married + 3. Working in the field for about 10.5 years
Background
Shifi is a professional interior designer.
Lives in the center, and goes on
a shopping day with her customers
once every two weeks on average.
Pain points
It's a day that requires crazy concentration. To me as a designer and to the client. After a few hours the customer loses patience and the purchase becomes less effective.
I take the videos of the programs with me everywhere, if I forgot something at home it would be very challenging...
Goals
To ensure effectiveness: Make quick decisions and aim to fulfill the client's dream.
To manage time efficiently: Avoid dragging things out, as clients may lose focus after prolonged hours.
To maintain high concentration: Recognize that this day demands intense focus.
To achieve our objectives: Find items aligning with both budget constraints and the envisioned ideas.
May this day be effective. That we will make decisions quickly,
A day when the client will feel that
I made his dream come true
Challenge
01
Enable Market Survey
The designer uses the app to search for the specific products required by the customer. The app enables easy filtering by product type, such as chairs, tables, and more. Furthermore, users can filter their search by color, store, companies, and other relevant categories for a more refined search experience.
02
Organizing Customer Files
The clients' materials lack organization, creating difficulty in locating them easily. The designer needs a dedicated customer area that collects all inspirations and materials for each individual customer, ensuring easy access and when needed.
03
Streamlining the
Procurement Process
Interacting with customers during purchases demands considerable time and patience. The designer requires an application to assist throughout this process. It should include a dynamic shopping list and offer convenient access to favorites, videos, and customer files, ensuring ease while making purchases.
User journey
Basic planning meeting
with the client's budget check
Forming a design concept
and understanding the customer's needs
Building an inspiration board
Based on various inspirations / photos from the client
Editing a table according to the customer's needs.
A detailed table of the product and the quantity required from it.
Market testing.
Stores that suit the customer in terms of budget and concept.
I'm looking in stores. Websites and suppliers and in the WhatsApp groups.
Forming a design concept
and understanding the customer's needs
What a nice customer
Hope to find a selection of stores suitable for the budget...
What an amazing and clean concept
What a mess. I can't find the latest inspirations he sent in the email
That's so many products
Just so I don't lose the lists
The shop owner has not been available for two days. Probably the number is not updated.
The client is having trouble deciding...
How will I show her all the options at the end of the day?
There are many items that they are debating between.
Action
Think
Visual design
The selected color palette should reflect an updated style, featuring clean and sleek lines that appeal to designers. The application's color scheme avoids overly dominant shades, allowing the colors to stand out from images while giving them visual significance without being overwhelming.
Font:
Poppins
Poppins
Icon library:
Design style
Color Palette:
solution
01 \\ Market Survey
The designer looks for the products the customer needs in the app.
You can easily filter by product type. Such as: chairs, tables, etc.
In addition, you can filter by color / store / companies, etc.
The app comprises a variety of companies and stores for designer market research. It features user-friendly filters for easy product navigation. Furthermore, an advanced filter system allows customization based on various parameters.
The homepage showcases diverse categories, enabling convenient access to stores sorted into these sections. Users can explore hot promotions offered by different stores and access the latest projects from within the app.
The shop page includes the category of product types. And below another filter of the product type.
This way you can easily switch from product to product.
You can see the colors available in the product / price and opinions of designers on the product. and other details.
The product page offers multiple options, including sharing, adding the product to the customer folder, and saving it to favorites. Additionally, users can easily navigate to the store for purchasing if they are interested in the product.
Solution
02 \\ Customer files
The clients' materials are not in order
in a way that makes it difficult to find them easily.
The designer needs a customer area that will bring together all the inspirations and materials of each customer.
The application features a customer area divided into various categories: Apartment Photos, Products, Videos, Inspiration, and Shopping List. Users can easily upload desired materials to the client's folder and share them accordingly.
solution
03 \\ Conduct during procurement
Dealing with the customer during the purchase takes time and a lot of patience.
The designer needs an application to accompany her during the purchase.
Dynamic shopping list. A convenient option to access favorites. to videos and customer files, conveniently while purchasing.
The application includes a favorites category where the designer can save suitable materials such as inspirational photos, apartment images, and preferred products from specific stores. Moreover, it allows the creation and editing of a dynamic shopping list for the customer within the app.
The customer page is separated into active and inactive customers, simplifying organization. Moreover, within the application, contacting clients is easily accessible.
On the client page, you can view the project categorized into main stages that the designer goes through with the client. Additionally, it is divided into various folders for the client's organization.
An inspiration folder designed for the client's concept. The inspirations are divided into different folders according to the rooms of the house
A designated area for favorites Users can easily view the number of files contained within each folder
Images from the favorites can be easily shared with the customer and added to a client folder, among other functions available in the app.
Usability testing
I tested the prototype with several existing users
The points that have arisen are now being analyzed for implementation
01
When there is a price change for a product that is marked as a favorite or a product saved by the designer in the client's folder, the designer will receive an email notification about the price update.
02
The filter should consider the designer's location and suggest stores within that range.
03
Accessible camera: When the designer wishes to capture an item during the shopping day, she can easily upload it to the app's desired section and share it with a specific client
Take away
This project has been an incredible experience for me.
I gained valuable insights into analyzing user behaviors and researching their challenges.
I learned to observe and understand existing user behaviors in apps,
aiming to implement familiar habits within this application.
This approach helps minimize user difficulties by presenting an easy-to-understand interface, ultimately enhancing user experience.
Future roadmap
While the application is innovative and convenient, there are continual opportunities for enhancement based on insights gathered during user research.
01
Enhanced Store Communication
Improving Store Access: The app intends to assist designers in purchasing products by integrating an intuitive feature for easy navigation to physical stores. This update aims to provide designers with detailed store information, including locations, opening hours, and additional details, enhancing their shopping experience.
02
Collaborations
Collaborations between the designers and the store owners and suppliers. Designers using the app to purchase products from partnered stores will receive substantial discounts, encouraging collaboration and benefiting both parties.
03
Shared chat
A shared chat for advice and sharing between the designers, using the application