Revamping Home Depots DIY feature Experience
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UX Researcher
Facilitator
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Sketch
Figma
4 Creative Minds
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Me (UX Researcher)
Ralph Dela Cruz (UXUI)
Vivian Loh (UI Design)
Jaimee Mathew(UXUI Researcher)
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Wireframes
Final UI
Prototype
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October 2023 - November 2023
The goal of this project is to upgrade the Home Depot DIY mobile experience to cater to DIY enthusiasts, providing them with a comprehensive platform to brainstorm, plan, track and document their projects. The scope includes researching, designing, and testing new features and improvements.
This project is a conceptual exercise and does not involve collaboration with the actual business.
Harmony of Innovation
Our app feature design journey began with extensive research, exploring similar apps and best-in-class examples. This foundation allowed us to infuse UX best practices and current trends, creating a user-centric feature that embodies innovation.
The transformative "DIY Mode," inspired by Instagram's sleek "Vanish Mode," featured a seamless swipe-up action. Figma-style tutorials blended video and text, tailoring to diverse skills, revolutionizing the user experience. Drawing inspiration from LEGOS, an Items Checklist eased user hassles. An Amazon-style chatbox offered real-time aid, redirecting seamlessly to live help. Home Depot's metamorphosis streamlined DIY with a comprehensive toolkit, ensuring a smoother journey.
〰️Lego
〰️Figma
〰️Instagram
〰️Amazon
〰️Lego 〰️Figma 〰️Instagram 〰️Amazon
DIY Skill Test: How Well Do You DIY?
Christie Ferreo - Social Worker/TX
“I am always happy to see the Before Part and After Work of my DIY Projects!”
At the project's outset, user interviews shaped design decisions, drawing from diverse DIY project experiences, skill levels, and planning behaviors, serving as integral guides throughout our design journey.
Our mission: uncover user preferences, address pain points, and understand nuanced behaviors in DIY. Focused on Home Depot app interaction, we studied how users approached, planned, and navigated features. User narratives shaped every decision, driving our quest to enhance the app.
Understanding the DIYer’s Path
"I always love to work solo projects as I can plan and execute it my way!"
"I do lot of research... or sometimes I go to The Home Depot"
“If it’s something that I can’t think through, I look online...at Reddit, especially.”
“I start my planning by watching youtube videos and write it down in my phone.”
“I use my phone to locate products/things I want to buy in the store.”
Tackling Challenges: Crafting Confidence!
Guiding DIYers with precision from ideation to testing, our persona reflects deep insights into user goals of researching and organizing projects. While they relish control in DIY projects, the challenge lies in preparing them for unexpected issues. How might we ensure users feel informed and confident throughout DIY projects, addressing their needs for guidance and accessible information?
“According to me calculations, this project will be done in 21hours 4 minutes and 32 seconds!”
(Lo-Fi) Wireframes
Our team of four designers addressed key user pain points through early sketches, crafting three transformative user flows. Starting from scratch in our design studio, we conceptualized a top-notch DIY feature for Home Depot's app, seamlessly translating DIY ideas into a digital reality with virtual tools.
The Analysis
Addressing a discrepancy in information architecture, we refined the placement of the Start Button in the DIY tutorial project for a more professional user experience. Aligning the project progress bar with tutorial video playback optimally enhanced user engagement. Further, we implemented clarification text and simplified the initial screen to improve user understanding and interaction with the chatbox functionality and button features.
issue 01
issue 02
issue 03
Evolution of Final UI Design
Original App (Missing DIY mode)
After resolving usability issues, our final Figma screens embody the brand's "How Doers Get More Done" message with a modern design reflecting "Value" and "Energy." Accessible on various platforms, the interface prioritizes clear navigation to DIY Mode, addressing usability concerns. Featuring Step-by-Step Tutorials, Materials Shopping List, Project Progress Tracking, and Expert Guidance, it ensures a cohesive, user-friendly experience, empowering users to create effortlessly.
Revised app with DIY mode
The End Result
Our new feature, "DIY Mode," consolidates tutorials, progress tracking, shopping lists, and expert connections in one app. This enhances user experience by efficiently planning DIY projects, fostering skill development, and providing access to Home Depot experts for confident project completion. In refining app navigation, we've proven that small, meticulous changes significantly improve the overall user experience.
Future Endeavors
More Homer
DIY Content
AR Tests in Action
Home Depot's future projects include real-time DIY testing with augmented reality for visualizing projects at home. Additionally, Homer assistance is expanding, featuring Q&A, a thriving community, and live chat support. These advancements underscore Home Depot's commitment to empowering users with innovative and collaborative solutions for an enhanced DIY experience.
Reflection of the Project
I've learned the importance of compromise and being a collaborative team player, ensuring every design element serves a purpose for a straightforward and satisfying user experience. Simplicity is key, achieved by balancing guidance and freedom. Our diverse team exceed with open communication, fostering efficient problem-solving and user-centric innovation.