Deco

Modified GV Design Sprint

Deco is a new company that seeks to affordably help people find a specific starter kit of decor to make their living space feel like home.

The Problem

No matter your level of experience, decorating a new home can be daunting when you have a blank slate and don't know where to start.

My Role

Solo Designer

(Modified GV Design Sprint)

Tools

Figma

Pen and Paper

Timeline

Methods

1 week

Secondary Research, Competitive Analysis, User Interviews, Qualitative Data, Coding Research, Persona Building, Affinity Mapping, Project Planning, Sketching, Wireframe, High Fidelity, Prototyping

User Interviews

Findings

I reviewed 10 interviews (provided to me in the project prompt). The interviewer asked participants to describe a time they shopped for items to decorate a new home or apartment.

My top findings are:

Persona

Ally

23 Years Old

Chicago, IL

Ally graduated undergrad one month ago and has since rented her first apartment - a small studio in Chicago.

Before moving in she was excited to decorate her apartment - since this was her first time living alone and having her "own" space

Behaviors:

Browses pinterest and saves ideas for small spaces to feel bright and lively
Puts time aside to shop for decor but gets overwhelmed and puts it off

Frustrations:

She knows the look she wants, but doesn't know how to achieve it
Can't afford some of the ideas she is saving
Saves lots of small items, but doesn't know which ones will go together well

Goals:

Wants to facelift her apartment without needing lots of individual items
Wants to find items in her budget that will accomplish the look she wants

Needs:

Guidance on where to start and what things to prioritize getting within her budget

How might we help people prioritize what items to buy for their new home?

Our research among people who have a variety of backgrounds with decorating lead me to understand that even the people who enjoy, or have experience with, decorating can feel overwhelmed with a blank slate. I think most users could benefit from a tool that defines a starting point.

My ideas comes from the finding that users need help prioritizing what they need in their space, and users also struggle to know what goes together well.

My solution is an option quiz that defines the users style and what their priorities might be in the space.

Users create account: Email, password, location (for stores nearby)
Users can take a quiz - “What’s your style and priorities?” - This quiz helps users understand what they like, and what they value
(or can opt out by seeing a guide of curated items without taking quiz)
Options//filter to select
- styles (mid century, swedish, farmhouse, etc.)
- priorities//goals (bring light into space, make the most of a small space, have memories close by, appreciate finer things ((like art or artisanal objects)), etc.
- Category - 2D art pieces, tchotchkes, decorative but usable (like a fan, heater, lamp, etc.)
- colors//finishes
- Cost filter
When selecting curated groups of object, make them editable to remove//replace an item of their choosing
Checkout process - during shopping show budget goal and have a bar that shows budget moving

Sketching - Storyboard

Welcome
Create profile, login or continue as guest
Would you like to take our quiz to figure your design style and needs?
Select your favorite spaces (at least two and as many as you prefer)
What woods, color palettes, finished, and textures do you enjoy
Other questions about needs:

1) Does your space have plenty of natural light?

A) Yes

B) No

C) Yes and I would love some plants

D) No, but I like the dark and moody look

E) No, and the space feels small and confined

2) How confident are you in your design skills?

A) Total beginner, please give me knowledge

B) Some experience, but could use a little guidance

C) Knowledgeable, but curious about budget friendly items and suggestions

3) Budget *items are $10-50 each

A) $100 ( 3-5 pieces)

B) $150 (3-10 pieces)

C) $200 (4-12 pieces)

D) $250 (5-15 pieces)

****more questions to come

Your results are:

For style - main result and other placing results

For needs - it looks like you prioritize….

Here’s 10 things we think would be a good starter kit. We would start with these three, but the choice is entirely yours. Select whichever from this group or shop for other items *items go into a favorite board where they can be customized, replaced, or deleted

First Iteration

Testing

My primary goal was to determine if the quizzes on the site were a good addition to the beginning of this home decor journey. I wanted users to feel like they are equipped with tools to help them confidently navigate their "shopping for decor" experience.

I tested this prototype on 5 participants, all in their early 30s, and all have transitioned into their own living spaces within the last 2 years.

I used the 5 act interview from Google Ventures to gain rapport and get a deep understanding of the user's experience.

What I Learned

Time Management
This was my first time doing a design sprint. I was please with what I could accomplish in a short amount of time. If I did it over again, as a 1 person team, I would have spent less time sketching due to it being my own ideas and not using the time to tease out ideas from a group. This would have given me more time during testing and possibly some more time for my first iteration.