Decoverse

Decoverse is an eCommerce platform that helps users find the best collaborators to renovate and buy building products while providing a space for them to share their designs and be inspired by others. They asked us to create their MVP's app and responsive design. By focusing on the entire process—from searching to purchasing to renovating—we develop a platform that supports consumers at every turn and lowers their renovation anxiety.

Impact

During our collaboration with the client, we successfully create a platform for their different marketplace products in in one unified platform, evidenced by 631.1K visits and solidified by securing a maintenance agreement.

Problems

In the extensive research conducted by the client's research company, along with our own secondary research, we uncovered several problems that users were facing, which shaped our design strategy:

How might we create a platform that not only connects users with products but also provides them with the guidance, control, and trust they need throughout their renovation journey?

Goals

Post-research, our design goals were distilled into clear objectives:

Home Journey Compasss: Decoverse

The Home Journey Compass concept we designed is to guide users through every step of their renovation and purchase process. It's more than a marketplace; it's an essential tool for inspiration, planning, and accessing expert advice. By providing consistent support and resources, the platform becomes a trusted partner in the user's renovation journey, ensuring a seamless and supportive experience from start to finish.

1. Inspire them

Begin where ideas form: Moodboards, seasonal packages, influencer houses serve as a creative entry point, inviting users to start their renovation journey with a burst of inspiration.

2. Motivate them

Dive in where curiosity peaks: Engaging tools like style quizzes, social media effect provide an entry point for users to translate their inspiration into motivated action.

3. Help them to plan

Step in where details matter: Planning features offer a structured entry point for users ready to outline the specifics of their renovation project.

4. Support with expert

Join in where guidance is key: Direct access to experts presents an entry point for users seeking personalized advice to navigate their renovation with confidence.

Concept to MVP

In collaboration with our client, we received a detailed list of required features for our platform. Together, we sat down to strategically prioritize these features, focusing on the most critical elements needed for the initial launch. This collaborative effort helped us define a minimal, yet impactful feature set for our MVP.

For the launch phase, our primary focus was on establishing a seamless purchase process and an intuitive designer hiring system. Users could browse products, add them to their cart, and smoothly complete their purchases. Simultaneously, we emphasized the ability for users to easily connect with and hire interior designers, fostering a dynamic interaction between clients and professionals.

My Main Responsibilities

Final Designs: Home for everyone

The homepage serves as a versatile hub, allowing users swift access to shop, collaborate, and get inspired. Our goal was to ensure effortless navigation, enabling users to pivot smoothly to the section that aligns with their current needs, be it on mobile or web. This flexible entry point adapts to the user's evolving journey, inviting them to explore, connect, and inspired. Each section involving their respective focus points.

Final Designs: Custom Delivery Dates

In designing the checkout, the challenge was to clearly convey that, despite purchasing from the same source, different building products might arrive at varying times. My solution involved a subtle yet effective interface that informed users of potential varied delivery dates, ensuring they have a clear understanding of when each item would arrive, without overwhelming the overall shopping experience.

Final Designs: Tracking Multiple Delivery

To improve user understanding of different delivery times for items purchased in same checkout, the solution was to design an intuitive tracking system. Instead of separating each delivery as a different group, they are displayed together yet clearly distinguished, allowing users to track the delivery status of each item individually within a single, cohesive order summary.

Final Designs: Profile

Designed as a central hub, the user profile section is a one-stop destination within the platform, simplifying the management of designer packages, orders, workshops, and meeting schedules. It elevates the profile beyond just personal details, offering users a comprehensive space for all their renovation-related activities.

Testing Core features

After designing screens, to test our core features, we wrote 2 scenarios. One for general users one for experts. Our goal was to determine whether or not users can complete core tasks and navigate Decoverse without difficulty.

Testing Results

During these tests, we encountered various issues across both scenarios. A notable challenge emerged in the checkout section I designed. Participants expressed difficulty understanding the grouped product summary and voiced a need for a clearer, more detailed presentation. Originally, my design aimed to simplify the checkout interface, minimizing clutter. However, feedback highlighted the importance of clear communication, leading me to prioritize user comprehension over a streamlined design.

Takeaways

During the Decoverse project, I gained a clearer insight into the essentials of MVP development. One key takeaway was realizing the importance of concentrating on what's most crucial in the beginning. In designing each user flow, it became apparent how quickly one can get bogged down by various potential scenarios and user requirements. This experience underscored the need to prioritize the most vital functionalities initially, rather than attempting to tackle every potential need from the start.