LocalShop mobile application
For this project, I translated research insights into a mobile application that would help urban consumers more simply and efficiently plan their local shopping trips.
Scope
Mobile application
Duration
3 months
Tools
Figma
Role
Concept, wireframes, prototype
Context
This idea stemmed from the results of a previous research study completed by myself and two other researchers. Local shopping is not only a more sustainable option for consumers but it also contributes to the local economy and job creation for Canadians, however shoppers experience significant pain points when planning and executing their trips. Our team hypothesized that- If local businesses increased their adoption of digital platforms, shopping locally would be easier to plan for.
// Problem
Research indicates that urban consumers experience a significant level of difficulty when planning to shop locally due to a lack of awareness and limited access, particularly in the online space which causes users to choose less sustainable, larger retailers due to convenience.
// Process
Our group conducted we conducted 12 user interviews, 3 diary studies and a market analysis to idenitfy key gaps and inform the design guidelines. All participants lived in the GTA and share an interest in local shopping.
// Question
What factors affect how an urban consumer plans to shop local? What factors influence urban consumers to shop at big box stores over local businesses? How does social media affect a consumer's ability to form relationships with local businesses?
Guidelines
Filter based on location & product type
Save items or stores that they like
Awareness of small businesses and their story/mission
Facilitates in-person shopping
Highlights unique/rare items
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Based on research, we came up with the following five main design guidlines.
Solution
Get on board: Get a brief overview of the app's capabilities before log in/sign up.
Make an informed decision: Get more details on the product, see what others think about it and get smart recommendations to enhance your shopping experience before hitting reserve.
Personalize your experience: Set your filters to customize browsing and more efficiently find items that suit your needs.
Reserve your item: Sort out the details of your next local shopping trip before leaving the house. Browse the catalogue, select an item and easily reserve it for pick up on a date and time that works for you.
Rationale
For my mobile application, I chose to follow a simple, sophisticated and modern design. My motivation behind this decision came from my desire to communicate the app’s ease of use as well as it’s ability to compete with more commonly used e-commerce apps.
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I chose to incorporate a mainly neutral colour palette with the exception of the brand colour that can be seen in the app’s logo, active states and more. The brand colour is a deep purple/ blue (#5034FF) and was strategically chosen to communicate an idea of sophistication, loyalty, trust and dependability when thinking of the application.