SNIX is a responsive site that allows sneakerheads to discover and purchase
new and hard to get sneakers.
_______________________
UX Design - UI Design - Branding
_______________________
Scope
Problem framing
Piloting ideas
Concept development
Validation
User testing
Implementation
Duration
May - June 2021
Role and Responsibilities
UX | UI Designer
Design strategy
User research
Design handoff
Branding design
OVERVIEW
Snix is every customer(sneakerhead’s) one-stop-shop for all things like sneaker raffles, releases, news, and more. It allows sneakerheads to discover and purchase new and hard-to-get sneaker releases. Getting the desired sneaker at a retail price might be difficult, as most people are aware. It's practically hard for sneakerheads to get their hands on the sneakers they desire due to the difficulty of determining which retailers will offer them and having to contend with high demand.
THE PROBLEM
Customers need another way to discover and purchase new sneaker releases online because purchasing new releases at the store can be challenging with long lines and waiting times on release day. Same goes out while trying to purchase a sneaker online. Having small supply for such a big demand makes buying a sneaker online almost impossible.
In addition to that, most sneakerheads miss big sneaker drops because of not knowing when the release dates are and which stores will have them.
EMPATHIZE
Before taking any further steps, I wanted to know the frustration of the user so I would have a clear picture of what I am working on.
USER INTERVIEWS
As a sneakerhead myself, I know the frustration we go through to buy a shoe without paying a ridiculous amount. Various factors make buying a shoe at a retail cost hard like not knowing when the release dates are or not having the option to know when a raffle/reservation opens and also, acknowledging which stores will have it in stock at that particular time.
Be that as it may, I didn't simply consider my conclusions just, I felt free to talk with 7 sneakerheads face to face and on facetime to hear more points of view and thoughts. The data gathered from my interviews was able to give me some major insights on who my target audience really is and the process they undergo when searching for and purchasing footwear.
AFFINITY MAPPING
After the interviews, I gathered my data and began grouping it into sets to try to find any underlying trends. I was really able to pinpoint my target users as well as their needs and pain points to come up with some possible solutions.
Key Findings
01/
Information on releases is key
Most sneakerheads struggle on knowing when their sneakers drop and by the time they do, it is out of stock.
02/
Sneakerhead's need multiple options for buying sneakers
when a sneaker drops, all sneakerheads want to know which stores will have to maximize their chances of winning.
03/
Sneakers are not just shoes but they are ways in which people can express themselves
After interacting with different sneakerheads and also as being one, sneakers tell more stories about us than just being a shoe. They tell our hobbies, what we do, and even who we aspire to be. Sneakers are a lifestyle.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
DEFINE
PERSONAS
Based on participant's feedback and informative insights, I was able to come up with Personas that represented the majority of the user group.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Alex needs to know the drop dates for the sneakers because he relies on the sales of the sneakers to help him pay his tuition.
HOW MIGHT WE...
How might we help Alex get a?
HOW MIGHT WE...
How might we help Tasha get a photographer without spending too much time on it?
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Riley needs to know which store nearby has the sneaker she wants in stock Because she wants to purchase and add it to her collection before they run out.
USER FLOWS
Finally, I created a user flow for each persona. This gave me a clear picture of the steps that the user would need to take to get to their final goal, and how to deliver this goal in the most effective manner possible.
Throughout creating the user flows, I paid close attention to these needs and pain points to deliver a product concept that both personas(Alex and Riley) will be able to use.
.png)
IDEATE
Site map
To create a smooth information architecture and navigation for the site, I created an inspirational site map. I have arranged the elements in which sneakerheads can find the product and service they are looking for in ease and time being the most valuable asset, I wanted a site in which they can enter raffles, buy sneakers, and get notified for the next drop as soon as possible.
Early sketch
TEST
USABILITY TESTING
I went ahead and conducted usability tests with the 7 sneakerheads from my previous user interview on the prototype and learned several things that informed my final iteration of my high-fidelity prototypes. I wanted to test the app’s functionality and get feedback about the navigation, interface design, and overall user experience.
01/
Not getting notified about selected drops
In my initial design, I didn't include a feature where the app automatically notifies users when their favorite sneaker drops.
02/
displaying membership and reservation
Four of the seven sneakerheads who took part in the usability testing indicated they had trouble displaying their membership and reservations to pick up their sneakers, which I didn't address in my original design solution.
FIXING THE ISSUES
After the testing and getting responses from the users, I incorporated my solutions and made some iterations.
01/
the inclusion of a "notify me" button
I incorporated a calendar that allows users to stay on the app while booking.
.png)
02/
Easy option of displaying membership and reservation
I integrated a feature where it filters photographers based on the users location and the rating they got from their previous clients.
PROTOTYPE
HI-FIDELITY MOCKUP
Splash Page
User profile &
Settings
Home page
Sneaker details page
Raffle page
Releases page
HI-FI PROTOTYPE
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personalized project
For me, SNIX was a unique endeavor. Working on a project that potentially brings a solution to challenges I'd been experiencing for a long time was a rewarding experience.
Usability Testing
As always, more usability testing will be needed to improve the overall functionality of the responsive site. I was only able to conduct few usability tests with my mid-fidelity prototype my high-fidelity wireframes while making changes along the way. Securing more users would help to support stronger trends in data, and provide stronger justification for design decisions.