Point. Click. Decorate.
Decorist, founded in 2013, is a premier online interior design platform. It connects users to affordable, personalised home design services. With decorist, you can collaborate directly with top-tier designers, including renowned celebrities.
Target Location
United States
Project Timeline
19 Months
Team Members
17+
Project Scope
Interaction Design
3D Configuration
Decoration
Shopping
What is Decorist?
Decorist's commitment to offering an unparalleled user experience is showcased through decorist's photorealistic 3-D renderings, providing a glimpse of how each piece harmonises within the intimate confines of your home.
Decorist offers an array of online services that redefine design engagement. The decorist design bar, a collection of expert advice, ensures customers receive personalised design guidance within a mere 24 hours. decorist's designer tips and trend updates – all designed to foster lasting connections with their cherished customers.
Decorist's dedication to 3D experiences extends even further with complimentary products, tailored to cater to diverse audiences. The decorist nursery design tool enchants couples as they create dreamy spaces for their infants. University students seeking stylish and functional room upgrades find comfort in the decorist dorm design tool. And for the ultimate in customisation, the decorist room builder app empowers decorist designers to craft bespoke rooms that perfectly align with your unique vision.
Overview & Business Problem
For years, Decorist has been the beacon of inspiration, connecting selective customers to a key group of top-tier interior designers. These design experts curate consultations tailored to customers' unique preferences, offering affordable, personalized, and flawless home design services that leave no detail unattended.
In 2015, decorist made waves in the industry by securing a remarkable $4.5 million in seed funding, courtesy of home improvement giant Lowe's Companies and the Women's Venture Capital Fund. The stage was set for decorist to shine. Its rapid rise lead up to an important acquisition by Bed Bath and Beyond, a historic announcement made during the Q4 2016 Bed Bath and Beyond Earnings Conference Call.
In a market dominated by interior design giants like Houzz Havenly, Curbio, and others, Decorist carved its niche with a unique approach. While others offered home design ideas and the means to make them a reality, Decorist emerged as the online platform where users could seamlessly connect with designers for expert advice.
Decorist's mastery in the design world was undeniable, with a ranking of 26th out of 155 competitors, a list that included esteemed names like Lessen, Havenly, Houzz, and Curbio.
As decorist's reputation soared to new heights, it set its sights on expanding horizons. Business problem and vision? Delivering captivating 3D shopping experiences, where users could immerse themselves in virtual environments, experimenting with an formation of furniture products and an attractive palette of swatches. This innovative leap allowed decorist to cater to diverse audiences, introducing unique niches like the nursery and dorm design tool, while also inviting a broader audience to explore the enchanting world of 3D shopping experiences.
Output
My dedicated team and I joined forces with decorist's team. Together, we worked on to conceptualise and breathe life into two flagship products and bringing in an ultimate third product that we saw a potential into becoming their third flagship product. With a laser focus on wireframes, requirements, and processes, we crafted the blueprints that would shape the future of design, not only for decorist's customers but also for a broader, more diverse audience.
We worked on a steady commitment to delivering a user experience and interface design that would set new standards in the industry. Our intensive review process became the trial in which ideas were refined multiple times.
We initiated a series of exhilarating cycles, where interactive prototypes shimmered with promise, and user testing became the compass, guiding us toward optimisation. With each iteration, we brought insights, polished rough edges, and elevated the experiences we were crafting for the customers of decorist.
Through this collaboration, we crafted high quality products with seamless interactions.
Goals
1. Raising customer confidence in furniture purchases by carefully refining and optimising the native nursery and dorm design tool 3D configurator experiences. Seamless furniture shopping experience led users directly to the Bed Bath & Beyond website, ensuring a streamlined shopping journey.
2. A universally appealing 3D shopping experience that transcended specific demographics. Unlike its predecessors, the nursery and dorm design tools tailored to students and couples, this shop by room tool catered to a broader, diverse audience.
3. Revealing a formation of unique features, sub-features, and interactions within the Shop by Room experience tool. These enhancements enriched the Shop by Room experience but will also be seamlessly integrated into the previous 3D configurator products. This synergy aims to supercharge user experiences, addressing any limitations that the Nursery and Dorm design tools may have encountered.
4. Crafting interesting 3D assets and rooms, carefully curated from decorist's extensive inventory. These immersive visuals take center stage in all three 3D shopping experience tools, offering users a vivid preview of their design choices.
5. Coordinating the creation, design, and management of decorist's portal's 3D assets, thoughtfully curated to align with the available inventory items. This meticulous approach ensured a harmonious and visually stunning user experience throughout the portal.
Impact
The user-friendly 3D configuration tools were the key to raising decorist's native 3D shopping products, making them even more enjoyable for users. In addition, we introduced a brand-new 3D Product tool, Shop by Room, which was like a special version of the first two products. This new tool not only appealed to a specific group of people but also reached a much larger audience.
By adding new ways for users to interact, along with exciting features and sub-features, we took decorist's 3D configuration product tools to a whole new level of interior design and shopping. We also incorporated these fresh interactions and features into decorist's native nursery and dorm design tools, enhancing those product experiences as well.
In essence, we reshaped the world of interior design and shopping through our innovative enhancements, bringing the magic of 3D design to a broader audience while lifting decorist's product offerings to unprecedented heights. This idea sparked a new era of design and shopping experience, crafted with precision and care.
My Role
The design achievements that fill me with a sense of immense pride in this project include:
Strategic Design Strategies:
One of my key accomplishments in this project was the development of strategic design approaches. This involved meticulous research and auditing of decorist's existing products and a comprehensive analysis of their competitors. By gaining insights into the strengths and weaknesses of their current offerings, I laid the foundation for targeted improvements.
UI/UX Impact: Strategic design strategies paved the way for user-centric enhancements. Understanding customer pain points and competitors' strengths allowed decorist to revamp its user experience and interface design, ensuring that the platform resonated with users seeking a personalised and affordable interior design experience.
Collaboration for Rapid Solutions:
Effective collaboration between myself, decorist's design team, and our engineering team was instrumental in achieving fast and efficient solutions. This collaborative effort ensured that design innovations were implemented seamlessly and with agility.
UI/UX Impact: Collaboration facilitated the implementation of design improvements. User feedback was rapidly integrated into the interface, creating a dynamic and responsive user experience that resonated with customers seeking timely design solutions.
Interactive Prototypes for Ideation:
Interactive prototypes served as a medium for exploring and visualising ideas. The decorist's design team and I employed this approach to establish processes and ideate potential improvements, which became the driving force behind the project's success.
UI/UX Impact: Interactive prototypes allowed for iterative design improvements. Users could actively engage with the evolving interface, providing valuable feedback that informed the final design. This user-centered approach led to an interface that was intuitive and user-friendly.
Design System Maintenance:
Creating and maintaining design assets for decorist's design system was an essential contribution. A well-maintained design system ensured consistency and alignment across all aspects of the UI/UX, making the user experience seamless and visually appealing.
UI/UX Impact: The design system played a crucial role in UI/UX alignment. Consistency in design elements and visual language across decorist's various products and platforms enhanced user familiarity and comfort, leading to increased engagement and conversions.
Experimenting and Pushing Boundaries:
I played a crucial role as a design optimist, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. This included addressing challenges posed by experimental ideas and convincing the engineering team to bring these concepts to life with exceptional quality and timely deliveries.
UI/UX Impact: A culture of innovation in UI/UX design led to groundbreaking features and interactions. These innovations enhanced the overall user experience, making decorist a pioneer in the industry and attracting a broader audience eager to explore cutting-edge design solutions.
Multi-faceted Responsibilities:
My role extended beyond the 3D configuration product tools. They delved into portal designs, and decorist's website requirements as well, ensuring a cohesive and immersive user journey across the platform.
My responsibilities were to manage five distinct yet interconnected tasks:
1. Nursery Design Tool.
2. Dorm Design Tool.
3. Shop by Room ( New product approach to captivate a much larger audience ).
4. Decorist's Website Requirements.
5. Decorist Portal Requirements, which interconnected the three 3D configuration tools, where all the 3D Assets we maintained.
UI/UX Impact: By addressing a wide spectrum of design requirements, I created a unified and seamless user experience. This holistic approach enabled Decorist to cater to diverse user needs and preferences, expanding its audience reach.
Expansion Beyond Traditional Audiences:
Decorist's decision to expand its offerings beyond traditional audiences was a strategic move that held the potential to drive substantial ROI growth. By introducing an additional 3D shopping experience tool, "Shop by Room," Decorist broadened its reach, moving beyond catering solely to students and couples designing nursery rooms.
UI/UX Impact: The introduction of "Shop by Room" required an intuitive and immersive interface. Decorist's design team and I gave our contributions, such as strategic design strategies, collaboration, interactive prototypes, and innovative features, ensured that this new tool provided a seamless and engaging shopping experience for a diverse audience.
Increasing ROI through Diverse Audience Engagement
The introduction of "Shop by Room" diversified decorist's customer base. This inclusive approach attracted homeowners, renters, and individuals seeking interior design inspiration. As a result, decorist's ROI received a substantial boost as the user base expanded.
Enhanced User Experience: The enhanced user experience, facilitated by me and decorist's design team's efforts, translated into higher user satisfaction and engagement. This positive user sentiment contributed to increased customer loyalty and conversions.
Innovative Features and Interactions: The innovative features and interactions introduced by us boosted decorist's offerings. These enhancements not only benefited "Shop by Room" but also added value to existing products like the nursery and dorm design tools.
Unified 3D Assets: Creating 3D assets based on decorist's ( Bed Bath and Beyond's ) inventory and showcasing them across all three 3D shopping experience tools enhanced the platform's appeal. Users could now explore and visualise a wide range of products in a virtual environment, boosting their confidence in making purchases.
Portal Enhancement: The engineers and 3D artists on my team extended to managing decorist's portal's 3D assets, ensuring that the user experience remained consistent and visually captivating throughout the platform. This holistic approach created a seamless journey for users.
Research & Insights
Exploring the impact & power of 3D configured tools
In today's digital age, the way we shop for furniture and home decor has evolved dramatically. One of the game-changers in this transformation is the arrival of 3D configuration tools, available on both desktop and mobile devices. These tools offer an effective and efficient means of exploring, customising, and purchasing furniture in a virtual environment, ultimately driving an increase in sales.
Immersive Exploration
3D configuration tools bring a level of immersion and interactivity to the shopping experience that is unparalleled in the digital realm. Users can explore furniture and decor items from all angles, rotate them, zoom in, and even place them in a simulated room setting. This immersive exploration allows customers to get a real sense of how a piece will fit into their space, making for a more informed purchasing decision.
Effectiveness: By offering a comprehensive view of products, 3D configuration tools help users make confident choices, reducing the likelihood of returns and increasing overall satisfaction.
Personalized Customization
Personalisation is a key driver of sales in today's consumer landscape. 3D configuration tools empower users to customize furniture to their preferences. They can choose from various finishes, colors, materials, and sizes, tailoring each piece to their unique style and requirements. This level of personalization fosters a stronger emotional connection between the customer and the product.
Efficiency: Rather than scrolling through endless product listings, users can efficiently design and visualize their ideal furniture pieces, streamlining the decision-making process.
Cost-Effective Decision-Making
The cost of purchasing furniture can be a significant investment, and customers often want assurance that they are making the right choice. 3D configuration tools allow users to experiment with different configurations before committing to a purchase. They can compare options, experiment with styles, and even see how different items complement each other within a room, all without making a physical commitment.
Effectiveness: This cost-effective decision-making process reduces the risk of buyer's remorse, leading to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Eliminating Physical Limitations
Traditional furniture shopping often involves physically visiting multiple stores, which can be time-consuming and exhausting. 3D configuration tools eliminate geographical constraints, enabling users to access a wide range of products from the comfort of their home or on the go through mobile devices. This accessibility expands the options available to customers and enhances the convenience of the shopping experience.
Efficiency: With 3D configuration tools, users can shop anytime, anywhere, and browse an extensive catalog of items, significantly reducing the time and effort required for shopping.
Data-Driven Insights
The digital nature of 3D configuration tools provides businesses with valuable data on user preferences and behaviours. Analytics can reveal which product configurations are most popular, helping companies tailor their offerings to meet customer demand. This data-driven approach allows for continuous improvement and optimisation of the shopping experience.
Efficiency: By leveraging data insights, businesses can make informed decisions, reduce waste, and allocate resources more effectively, ultimately boosting ROI.
Thoughts
3D configuration tools on desktop and mobile devices are transforming the game of 3D shopping experiences in the digital realm. They provide an effective and efficient means of exploring, customising, and purchasing furniture and home decor items. By offering immersive exploration, personalised customisation, cost-effective decision-making, eliminating physical limitations, visualising in real environments, and providing data-driven insights, these tools enhance the overall shopping experience.
In an era where convenience, personalisation, and visual clarity are paramount, 3D configuration tools stand as a game-changing innovation. They not only increase sales by empowering customers to make confident choices but also reduce returns, enhance customer satisfaction, and provide valuable data for businesses to thrive in the competitive digital marketplace. As technology continues to advance, the role of 3D configuration tools in the future of furniture shopping is set to grow, further revolutionizing the industry.
Phase One
Exploring Nursery & Dorm Design Tools
Nursery Design Tool
This 3D configuration design tool was tailor-made for a specific audience -- couples seeking furniture solutions for their infants and toddlers. As depicted above, we carefully examined the interactive elements and experiences, refining them through a series of both minor and substantial enhancements. Subsequently, these enhancements were harmoniously incorporated into all three of our 3D configuration tools, including the "Shop by Room" 3D configuration tool.
Dorm Design Tool
This 3D configuration design tool was crafted with a particular focus on students seeking to elevate their dormitory spaces. As illustrated above, we worked on an extensive journey of refining interactive elements and enhancing user experiences, implementing a blend of both subtle refinements and significant improvements. These enhancements were seamlessly integrated across all three of our 3D configuration tools, including the innovative "Shop by Room" 3D configuration tool.
The furniture inventory showcased within this virtual environment was thoughtfully curated, with a keen eye on meeting the unique needs and preferences of university students residing in both on-campus and off-campus dormitories.
Common Featuers
The Nursery and Dorm Design 3D tools shared a common visual style and interactive framework, yet each possessed a unique mission tailored to their distinct user base. These tools incorporated a range of common features that synergized to enhance the user experience:
180 Degree Panning: Users enjoyed the freedom to effortlessly pan and navigate the virtual environment with a 180-degree view. This dynamic interaction enabled them to explore and observe their room configurations from various angles, granting an immersive and comprehensive perspective.
Furniture Inventory Menu: The product menus within both tools boasted a harmonious visual style. Offering users access to essential features such as product information details, sorting options, pricing details, and an aesthetically pleasing interface, these menus fostered an intuitive and engaging user experience.
Sharing Options: Sharing was made effortlessly convenient through a nearly identical feature in both tools, differing only in the specific copy text. Users had the liberty to share their crafted designs via email, social media platforms, or the download of a comprehensive PDF file containing the entire product inventory integrated into the 3D environment.
Product Sorting: Both tools facilitated product sorting, enabling users to arrange their furniture lists based on price, either from highest to lowest or vice versa. This functionality empowered users to efficiently identify and consider furniture items within their preferred budget range.
Your Selections: Serving as a basic shopping list, this feature allowed users to compile and review their selected furniture items. Although the tools did not include an internal cart system, they provided a seamless transition for users looking to make purchases. A simple "Buy Item" option within the product details redirected users to Bed Bath & Beyond's cart for seamless transactions.
Target Points: The heartbeat of these tools, target points, played a pivotal role in placing furniture items within the 3D environment. Notably, each target point was intricately connected to specific furniture inventory, dependent on its designated area within the environment. For instance, selecting the target point for bed cushions would populate the 3D space with a range of bed cushion options. This approach ensured a tailored and efficient user experience.
Device Compatibility: Both tools prioritised accessibility, catering to both desktop and mobile devices. This commitment to cross-platform usability ensured that users could seamlessly engage with the tools regardless of their chosen device.
Bed Bath & Beyond Integration: These tools were integrated into Bed Bath & Beyond's website, offering users a comprehensive and immersive view of the retailer's diverse product catalog. Decorist's aim was to showcase Bed Bath & Beyond's furniture items in a captivating 3D format, primarily on their website, using Decorist's 3D configuration tool.
Expanded Product Offering: Beyond furniture, these tools extended their scope to encompass an array of supplementary items. Users could explore cushions, textured fabrics, curtains, rugs, and more, all meticulously curated to complement the 3D space. It's worth noting that decorist, with its acquisition by Bed Bath & Beyond, designed these 3D configuration service tools specifically for Bed Bath & Beyond's website. The tools acted as a medium through which the retailer could showcase their extensive product offerings in a dynamic 3D environment, elevating the overall shopping experience for their customers.
Distinctive Features
While both 3D tools may have shared a visual resemblance, they were thoughtfully equipped with distinct sets of features tailored to address their specific initial requirements:
Product Menu - SKU Selection: Originally conceived for the Nursery Design Tool, this feature provided users with the ability to select different product SKUs. In the context of nursery furniture, where choices often revolved around the gender of the expected child, this SKU sub-feature allowed couples to make color-related decisions based on whether they were expecting a boy or a girl.
Product Menu Filtering: The Product Menu Filtering option presented various criteria, including pricing, style, and color. Initially, the Dorm Design Tool did not require extensive filtering options due to limited SKU variations and style choices. Pricing filters were omitted as sorting options effectively addressed this aspect, streamlining the user experience by sorting products from highest to lowest and vice versa.
Room Reset Functionality: Limited to the Dorm Design Tool initially, the Room Reset option allowed users to start afresh by clearing all selected items within the 3D space. This feature offered users a clean slate to experiment with new configurations.
Vibe Filter Configuration: The Vibe Filter, exclusively designed for the Dorm Design Tool, empowered students to curate their dorm room's atmosphere by selecting a vibe that filtered furniture products accordingly. This feature ensured that the selected items aligned with the chosen ambiance.
Room Switching Capability: Primarily designed for the Dorm Design Tool, the Room Switching option enabled students to toggle between on-campus and off-campus dormitories. This dynamic feature not only altered room dimensions but also repositioned furniture within the 3D environment, providing a realistic representation of different living spaces.
Curated Room Selection: Initially intended for the Nursery Design Tool, the Curated Rooms feature offered couples a curated selection of pre-designed room layouts. These layouts were meticulously crafted by Decorist's interior designers, simplifying the furniture selection process and providing inspiration for nursery decor.
Each of these features were carefully created to meet the unique needs and preferences of their respective user bases, ensuring a user-centric approach in the design of these 3D tools.
Role & Requirements For Nursery & Dorm Design Tool:
Upon joining the team, my primary mission revolved around a comprehensive assessment of both tools, requiring an insightful eye to distinguish their distinct attributes. These attributes surrounded not only visual elements but user interactions.
My responsibility extended to collaborating with our engineering team, where I reported edge cases in the tools' interactive behaviour. This ensured that any glitches or irregularities were promptly addressed, contributing to a smoother user experience.
In parallel, I inspected the aesthetic aspects, evaluating how the tools presented themselves visually and functionally on a variety of devices, including smartphones and computers. This multi-faceted evaluation aimed to ensure that users across platforms encountered an aesthetically pleasing and responsive interface.
Meanwhile, within the realm of decorist's aspirations, the concept of "Shop By Room" revealed as an inviting challenge. Though it existed solely as an idea at the time, I was entrusted with the task of shaping it into a tangible tool. This creative journey allowed me to introduce design concepts and innovative ideas.
Concepts and ideas that came during the development of "Shop By Room" later found a natural place within the Dorm and Nursery Design Tools. This fusion of design elements resulted in a harmonized user experience that transcended geographical boundaries. The pursuit of uniformity in both visual aesthetics and interactive functionality aimed to offer a consistent and user-friendly experience for individuals worldwide.
How auditing Nursery and Dorm design tool helped me to create their third 3D configured tool?
Exploring the Nursery and Dorm design tools uncovered insights into how they worked and what users needed. Armed with this knowledge, my goal was to make all three design tools, including the innovative 'Shop by Room' tool, easy to use and delightful for everyone.
I aimed to give each tool its unique character while maintaining a consistent design style that tied them all together. Think of it like giving each tool its distinct personality, but they still belong to the same family.
As I looked into the details of the Nursery and Dorm tools, I envisioned fresh ideas and interactions that could enrich these tools. These ideas, initially absent in the older tools, found a new place in "Shop by Room."
In shaping 'Shop by Room,' I borrowed elements like visuals, features, sub-features, and interactions from the Nursery and Dorm tools as a solid starting point. Then I introduced concepts that enhanced the overall user experience. These enhancements weren't limited to 'Shop by Room' alone, they cascaded across all three tools, ensuring a seamless and elevated user journey.
Phase Two
Exploring Shop By Room Experience
Shop By Room Experience
The Shop by Room experience represented the height of its predecessors, the Nursery and Dorm design tools. It stood as a testament to innovation and user-friendliness in the realm of 3D shopping, setting a new standard and serving as a benchmark for the Nursery and Dorm design tools.
We refined and explored new horizons in features, sub-features, interactions, and visual design. Our mission was crystal clear, which was to create a tool that could cater to a much broader audience, breaking free from the constraints of its previous tools.
While the Nursery and Dorm tools had their specific niches, targeting couples with infants and students seeking to tidy up their living spaces, Shop by Room spread its wings wider. It boasted an expansive inventory of furniture and items designed to meet the needs of those looking to improve their entire home. From cozy bedrooms to functional kitchens, elegant dining areas, and tranquil bathrooms, this tool offered a holistic solution for interior enthusiasts.
Shop by Room emerged as an intuitive and innovative tool that pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the world of online shopping. It became the guideline against which the Nursery and Dorm design tools measured their own progress, marking a significant milestone in our journey of crafting user-centric design solutions.
Unique Features
Transitioning from 180 to 360-degree panning:
In this tool, we introduced a 360-degree panning feature. This transformed the room into a complete and immersive space, allowing users to explore every corner. It wasn't just about showing half of the room anymore, it was about giving users the full picture.
The 360-degree panning also enabled us to showcase more target points, giving users the freedom to add even more furniture and items to their virtual space. More furniture items meant more possibilities for our users, and more importantly, it meant the potential to sell more items.
This design solution became a cause for our return on investment. It was a strategic move that enhanced the overall user experience and drove business growth.
More filter options in the product menu list:
As Decorist and our team of 3D artists went into the creation of more 3D assets, we made a series of filters, one of which was the brand filter.
Brand Filter: Inspired by the diverse range of branded furniture and items showcased at Bed Bath & Beyond's physical stores, we aimed to replicate that brand-centric experience within our 3D tool. Our goal was to offer users the ability to connect with their favorite brands and explore items tailored to each brand's unique offerings. This filter gave users the freedom to select one or more preferred brands, enhancing their browsing experience.
Color Options: The color filter was initially exclusive to the Nursery tool but was such a hit that we decided to extend it to the Shop by Room experience as well.
Pricing Option: Initially featured only in the Nursery Design tool, we recognized its value and decided to implement it in the Shop by Room experience as well. This filter empowered users to set their price range, ensuring that they could find items that fit their budget seamlessly.
These filters were key components in enhancing the user experience and bringing a touch of personalisation to the world of 3D shopping.
Intro screen visual:
In design tools, introductions were once quite rare. With Shop by Room experience, where we decided to change that notion.
We believed it was essential to roll out an intro screen and provide our users with a sneak peek of what awaited them inside this tool.
Switching Rooms:
With this feature students could choose between on or off-campus rooms, each with a unique architectural space.
In Shop by Room, we took this concept to new heights. We gave users the power to seamlessly switch between rooms, each with its own distinct flavor.
To make this magic happen, we engineered a strategy that ensured the inventory on display matched the room the user(s) were in.
There are two ways to use this feature. The first way is a dropdown menu that lets you teleport to your chosen room. The second is a more immersive journey within the 3D space itself, guided by target points that seamlessly transport you from room to room.
Our focus was to put the user(s) in control, making room exploration as effortless as possible.
Full Screen Mode:
On desktop, the 3D experience is confined to a small iframe, leaving the user with limited space to interact. This not only distracts the user from the immersive experience but also disrupts their journey as other website elements divert their attention.
Mobile view presented its own set of challenges. While attempting to pan through the 3D space, users find themselves unintentionally scrolling the webpage instead. It's a frustrating experience that often discourages users from fully engaging with the product.
To address these pain points, we introduced this full-screen mode in Shop by Room. This approach was to enhance the user experience, especially on Bed Bath & Beyond's website.
We conducted A/B testing, gathering valuable insights from our users, and presented a compelling case to Bed Bath & Beyond stakeholders. The results spoke for themselves, users embraced the full-screen mode, unlocking the full potential of our 3D design tools.
Multiple item options specifically for dining experience:
Imagine you're setting up a dining table in a tight, crowded space. You have numerous items to arrange, from plates and glasses to cutlery and centerpieces. It's a challenging task, and the cluttered table adds to the complexity.
To address this unique scenario, we came up with a feature designed specifically for dining tables. It was a proof of concept (POC), a promising idea that we hadn't fully implemented yet but had plans to test in upcoming releases.
The concept was to offer a solution for managing all those dining table items efficiently. We wanted to make it easier for users to organize everything neatly, even in cramped spaces. However, after careful consideration, we decided to go in a different direction.
Instead of pursuing this particular feature, we opted for a zoom feature. This choice aligned better with our overall design strategy and user experience goals. While we had set aside the dining table-specific feature, it was always on our radar for potential future enhancements based on user feedback and evolving needs.
Zoom Mode:
Think about setting up your kitchen or dining space. You have various items like dishes, utensils, and appliances scattered around. It can get quite crowded, making it challenging to see everything clearly.
To tackle this, we introduced a zoom feature designed specifically for the kitchen and dining areas. When a user clicked on the zoom targets, it provided a fixed 2D view, almost like looking at everything from above. This view allowed users to see all the items in these tight and cluttered spaces more easily.
This feature was particularly handy when users had more than two item selection targets, like a dining table and a kitchen counter. It ensured that they could get a clear view of all the items, making it simpler to arrange and organise their space.
By offering this zoom feature, we aimed to enhance the user experience in these specific areas, where having a comprehensive view was crucial for effective design and planning.
In terms of features and visual designs, Shop By Room shared many similarities with Nursery and Dorm Design tools. These similarities were intentional to maintain consistency and familiarity for our users across all three design tools.
We wanted users who were already comfortable with Nursery and Dorm Design tools to feel at ease when transitioning to Shop By Room. By keeping certain aspects consistent, such as the overall look and feel, it ensured that users wouldn't need to relearn everything when using the new tool.
However, while we maintained these similarities, we also introduced several enhancements and new features in Shop By Room to make it a more robust and versatile tool, catering to a broader audience. This familiarity allowed us to create a seamless user experience, while expanding the tool's capabilities.
Reflection and documentation:
The Shop By Room experience that my team and I created set a high standard for our other 3D design tools. So, we applied these new features and interactions to Nursery and Dorm Design tools as well, based on their functionalities' context.
These tools were designed to make the user experience better. We added more features, improved visuals, and enhanced the overall experience. Shop By Room became a shining example of what we could achieve, and we used that as a reference point to make all three tools more engaging for our users.
We also worked on making the transitions smooth between these tools. By following a universal design system, we ensured that anyone using this products could easily switch between Nursery, Dorm, or Shop By Room. It made our tools more user-friendly and intuitive, and you can see a detailed comparison of the features in all three tools in this document.
Portal Design
Following the completion of work on Decorist's three product tools, I was tasked with enhancing the user interface and experience of the portal. This involved improving the design to ensure seamless collaboration between our internal team and the Decorist team by incorporating additional features.
Main Portal Pain Point For User Archetypes
Lack of communication and transferring tasks option on portal:
Within our team, which included 3D artists, engineers, and managers, there was a need for seamless communication during the 3D asset creation process. We required a system that allowed us to establish clear communication channels for each asset creation task.
Here's how the user flow unfolded. First, a manager initiated the asset creation request. They provided specific details about the product item, uploaded image references, and assigned tasks to a 3D artist. Once the 3D artist received the request, they used the provided information to create the asset. The artist then uploaded the rendered images and the 3D asset file in the same section where the manager had made the initial request. Both the artist and manager could communicate efficiently through the comments section, download any uploaded files or reference images, and review the task's activity history, including assignments and re-assignments.
Initially, these designs and workflows were implemented for the Shop by Room section in the portal. After successfully deploying these improvements, we extended the same design principles and workflows to enhance the Nursery and Dorm Design Tool sections as well. This consistency in design and functionality across all sections ensured a cohesive and user-friendly experience for our team members.
Decorist Website Marketing Page
For Decorist's website, my team and I collaborated on the development of captivating landing and homepage page designs, strategically crafted to effectively promote the "Shop by Room" experience. These designs were to capture the essence of this innovative 3D shopping tool and attract visitors to explore its features and offerings as soon as they landed on the website's homepage. Our goal was to create a visually compelling and informative entry point that would not only attract users' attention but also guide them seamlessly into the world of Shop by Room, ensuring an engaging and user-friendly introduction to this shopping experience.
Overall Glimpse Of Work
Conclusion
The Decorist case shows how smart investments in new ideas can make a big difference in business success. When they introduced the "Shop by Room" tool, it was a game-changer. They didn't just get more customers, they also made the shopping experience better, sold more stuff, and made their brand even stronger across all their 3D design tools.
This story reminds us that businesses need to keep coming up with fresh ideas and keep improving what they offer. That's how you stay competitive in today's fast-paced business world. It also shows that when you put your users first and really think about what they need, it can pay off big time. It's proof that innovation and making things easy for your users can lead to some impressive results.