Round 1 Findings

• Cart page needs to be easier to find and navigate through from adding an item to the cart to completing the check out process.

• Browse page is overwhelming with an excess amount of text. Overall it needs to be simplified.

• The first page should be the Home Page, where the user can choose if they either want to continue as a guest or create an account at any point throughout their journey through the app.

Round 2 Findings

• Colors need to be more accessible so buttons and important text such as headers are easier to read, especially for users with disabilities.

• Add a ‘sort by’ feature next to the ‘filter by’ feature on the Browse page so the user can decide in what order they would like to view products.

• Add a bubble feature to the cart icon that tells you how many items you have in your cart

Crowded Interface

An interface that is crowded with text makes it harder to navigate through the app. The Candle Corner app will focus on visuals to make the user flow simple and less overwhelming.

Insincere Customer Reviews

Customer reviews that are hard to find and are written by customers who have an incentive to write a good review. The Candle Corner app will have honest customer reviews that are easily accessible.

Inaccessible Color/font

Colors that are too light and fonts that are too hard to read. The Candle Corner app will meet accessible design guidelines to ensure everyone can use the app.

User Persona

Kristi, 30

Senior Marketing Specialist, MBA
Des Moines, IA

“A 30-year-old homebody who’d rather be with dogs than other humans.”

Meet Kristi, an avid online shopper with a passion for supporting small businesses. Kristi's discerning taste extends to her love for scented candles, and she is on the lookout for a candle shopping app that aligns with her preferences. Easy navigation and detailed product descriptions are paramount for Kristi, as she values a seamless shopping experience and wants to ensure that the candles she purchases match their descriptions accurately. Kristi seeks an app that not only supports her shopping needs but also resonates with her commitment to empowering small businesses through her purchasing choices.

Contrast and Color Accessibility

• Sufficient color contrast between text and background to make content readable for users with visual impairments.

• Avoid heavy usage of color to convey important information; use additional cues such as icons or text labels.

Form and Input Elements

• Provide clear and concise instructions for form fields and validate input to assist users in completing forms.

• Use accessible input types and labels to make forms more user-friendly.

Font and Text Considerations

• Use readable fonts and provided options for users to adjust text size without compromising the overall design.

• Avoid using text in images, as screen readers may not be able to interpret them.

Consistent Navigation and Design

• Maintain a consistent layout and navigation structure throughout the application to assist users in understanding the interface.

• Clearly label sections and headings to aid in navigation.

Home Page
Have a full overview of what is offered on the site and have it easy for the user to choose where they would like to navigate to next, whether that is a specific item, to sign up for an account, or to add a few items to their favorites list.

Browse Page
Help the users get as much information as possible without needing to click to other pages. Information that is required on this page is the name of the product, the price, the ability to quickly ‘like’ the item to add to their favorites list in their profile, and potentially a way to immediately add an item to their cart without opening the individual item’s page.

Product Page
Give the user more information on a specific product, including the product name, the price, a description, and customer reviews.

Adding an Item to Cart
Adding an item to the cart can happen from multiple areas, including the home page, browse page, favorites, and of course the product page.

Checkout Process
Make the checkout process simple, streamlined, and not overwhelming. Could potentially lean toward utilizing a progress indicator component if it is necessary.

User Flows

• Create account

• Existing user login

• Password recovery

• Checkout process

• Add item to cart

Impact

The app makes users feel like the Candle Corner really strives to meet their needs. 

One quote from participant feedback:

"This is exactly what I would expect from a modern app."

What I learned

While designing the Candle Corner App, I learned that the first ideas of the app are just the beginning of the design process. Usability studies and peer feedback kept improving the app during each iteration.

Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.

Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need. Iterate on designs and user flows to improve the user’s overall experience with the Candle Corner App.