AR FurniShop
2022
UX/UI design
mobile app
branding
AR integration
motion design
In 2022, AR FurniShop App is launched for home decor. The app let customers try out furniture in their space using phone's camera, making it super easy to see what works and what doesn't without actually moving anything.
Visualize in Real-time
AR-supported Virtual Showroom
Convenience Anywhere
MY ROLE
Conduct user research
Develop wireframes and prototypes
Design intuitive interfaces for the new technology
Integrate AR technology
Perform usability testing
Early Insights on AR Integration
The most challenging aspect of the application was the AR integration. Since users were not as accustomed to AR applications, I initiated the design research process to ensure the utmost user-friendliness. This involved studying other AR-utilizing applications on the market and analyzing user behavior to inform the design approach
The next step was to define guiding principles and make decisions based on research insights. By understanding user needs and industry standards on AR, I established principles to guide design choices, ensuring alignment with user expectations and project goals.
Crafting User-Centric Solutions
I turned ideas into real designs, working with developers to make sure they could actually work. We asked people to try it out and gave us feedback to make the AR part of the app better and easier to use. Our goal was to make sure the app was really easy and nice for people to use.
Design Execution & Validation
THE CHALLANGE
Making sure that people could easily understand and use AR in the app was a big challenge. We wanted to avoid any confusion for users when they tried out the AR features.
Clear Instructions: Provide clear and concise instructions within the app on how to use AR features.
Visual Guides: Incorporate visual guides or tutorials to demonstrate AR functionality and how to interact with virtual objects.
User Feedback: Gather feedback from users during usability testing to identify any confusion or difficulties with AR usage, and iterate on the design accordingly.
Ensuring Clear AR Usage for Users
Another tough part was making sure the app worked well on all kinds of devices. Some devices didn't support AR, so we had to figure out how to make the app still work smoothly for everyone, regardless of what kind of device they had.
Device Detection: Implement device detection mechanisms to identify whether a device supports AR capabilities.
Compatibility Checks: Perform compatibility checks upon app launch to ensure that AR features are only enabled on supported devices.
Progressive Enhancement: Design the app with progressive enhancement in mind, so that AR features enhance the experience for compatible devices without excluding users on non-AR devices.
Achieving Device Adaptability for AR Integration
Customer insights revealed the paramount importance of prioritizing simplicity in AR usage, ensuring broad device compatibility, maintaining visual fidelity, and optimizing performance for a seamless user experience.
Customer Insights
THE DISCOVERY
Visual Accuracy
Performance Expectations
Customers emphasized the significance of accurate representation of furniture within their physical space through AR, seeking assurance that virtual items would align seamlessly with their surroundings.
Users expected the app to run smoothly and efficiently, without lags or glitches, particularly during AR interactions, underlining the importance of optimizing performance for a seamless user experience.
Ease of Use
Customers valued an intuitive and straightforward AR experience that didn't require a steep learning curve, allowing them to quickly grasp how to interact with virtual furniture.
Introducing AR FurniShop
THE SERVICE
Users can preview furniture in their own living spaces using augmented reality, facilitating informed purchase decisions by seeing how items look before buying.
Visualize Furniture at Home
Before Purchase:
The app provides access to a diverse range of furniture brands, allowing users to compare products side by side and choose the best option to suit their preferences and budget.
Compare Products from
Various Brands:
By integrating AR technology and offering a seamless platform for furniture shopping, the product marks a new era of convenience and innovation in the retail industry, transforming the way people shop for furniture.
New Era of Shopping Experience:
Target Audience
THE FRAMEWORK
When preparing the script, I kept the questions open enough for the participant to elaborate on their relationship with decorating and online shopping. In this phase, it was especially important for me to be unbiased and open so that I could spot the pain points.
Professional designer who works as an interior designer/architect
1
People who love to change their home decorations often
2
People who move to a new home and are in need of decoration ideas
3
Now that I had knowledge about the highs and lows in the user's emotions when conducting the tasks, I could look at some existing solutions to see how they are handling the issues. I picked the highest-rated apps in the AR furniture industry category and here are two of them.
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Houzz
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Ikea Place
Both of the apps are functionally well-rounded. Buttons improve usability by placing them in the most accessible spots.
The information architecture is a little confusing while reviewing the product with AR. Adding products to cart is not easy.
Unlocking Shopping Experience
Users want to know all about products, easily decorate their homes, and get things on time. But they get annoyed when stores don't have enough choices, shopping takes too long, and they have to measure everything.
Users want to quickly find furniture they need urgently, expect it to be delivered on time, and wish to decorate their new spaces. They get frustrated with furniture that doesn't fit right, struggle to find good carpenters, and spend too much time looking for materials.
I've conducted user interviews with three people to understand user habits on furniture shopping, what are the aspects they consider before purchasing, and their approaches to online shopping.
To inquire the pain points and current solutions, I interviewed 5 participants and created two personas
Navigating Opportunities and Challenges
Strengths:
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Innovative AR technology
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Convenience and saving time
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Product variety for comparison
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Personalization for home decor
Weaknesses:
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Device Compatibility
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AR unfamiliarity
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Internet connection need
Opportunities:
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Market expansion in online shopping
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Collaboration with brands
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Continuous improvement
Threats:
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High competition in AR
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Emerging sophisticated competitors.
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Economic factors on consumer spending
I started crafting an intuitive information architecture and prepared the framework.
Building Bridges
The wireframes for this product entail designing a user-friendly homepage, where users can easily navigate and explore furniture options. The layout prioritizes simplicity and clarity, providing quick access to product categories and search functionality. For the product-AR integration pages, the wireframes focus on seamless AR experiences, allowing users to visualize furniture in their space effortlessly.
Clear call-to-action buttons prompt users to interact with AR features smoothly. Lastly, the wireframes for payment pages prioritize security and ease of use, guiding users through the checkout process with clear steps and intuitive design elements.
DETAILED DESIGN
Guiding the Way: Flow Wireframes
In the early design, the design inspiration for the decoration ideas appeared on the homepage. As a result of the user testing, it was revealed that it would be easier for users to list main categories on the homepage.
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Users can find the furniture they want by searching across different stores, categories, or by specific rooms. They also have the option to use a direct search function to look for exact items.
The interface, allowing users to see products in real-time alongside their physical environment through AR, should be as simple and understandable as possible.
I created four sets of documentation during this project to communicate requirements to the engineering team and support our QA teams in writing test cases.
These deliverables consisted of the CX Spec—requirements and the Visual Design Spec & Keylines—the design system.
This paperwork needed the most changes during the project and was the hardest to keep up with.
I also tried out different approaches and developed additional documentation to explain animation and timing details for our micro-interactions.
Initial testing and changes on design
IMPLEMENTATION
after testing we got a feedback from users about discount code. users asked for discount code as they are not familiar with the tool and they think it can be attractive if they have a discount at the beginning
Following the creation of our initial screen, the Quality Assurance (QA) team provided some insightful feedback. They posed a question: "What would the screen look like if three items were added to the cart?" In response, we developed a new screen design that features multiple items in the shopping cart, addressing their query and demonstrating how the user interface would adapt to a scenario with several products added.
The gallery below shows some of the designs
cart
finding product
search for furniture
Bringing It All To Life
AR integration on product information
The app's reliance on AR technology may pose challenges for users with devices that do not support AR, limiting accessibility and potentially excluding a portion of the target audience from utilizing key features.
Limited Device Compatibility
VALIDATION
Following the creation of our initial screen, the Quality Assurance (QA) team provided some insightful feedback. They posed a question: "What would the screen look like if three items were added to the cart?" In response, we developed a new screen design that features multiple items in the shopping cart, addressing their query and demonstrating how the user interface would adapt to a scenario with several products added.
Complex Setup Process
Good Start of the New Tech
THE IMPACT
"Love the AR feature! It's so cool to see how furniture looks in my space before buying. Makes decision-making much easier."
“The app is great, but it takes forever to load sometimes. Would love to see faster performance in future updates.”
“I wish there were more furniture options available. The selection feels a bit limited compared to what I've seen in-store.”
By looking back, we see what we're good at, where we need to improve, and the opportunities and challenges ahead. So, let's take a moment to think about where we've been, where we are now, and where we're going with our awesome product.
I discovered the significance of user feedback in shaping product improvements and the value of flexibility and adaptability in response to changing needs and challenges.
Additionally, I gained insights into the technical intricacies of AR integration and the complexities of delivering a seamless user experience across different devices and platforms. Overall, this project provided valuable lessons in innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement, which I will carry forward into future endeavors.
What I Learned:
Step Back to Think About the Journey
REFLECTIONS
ArchiVinci AI
ux/ui design │ website│web app │generative AI integration
DropYourAI
ux/ui design │ website │ branding │ AI integration
Oscar Car Rental
new feature │ redesign website │ mobile app │ user testing
Furniture Shop App
ux/ui design │ mobille app │ AR/VR design │AR integration