OVERVIEW

Background

The Home Depot, a leading home improvement retailer, has a well-established app that serves the needs of DIY enthusiasts, offering a wide range of products and services. However, despite the popularity of DIY projects, the Home Depot app lacked a crucial feature - a DIY project planning tool. Many users expressed a strong interest in having such a tool, as it would not only enhance their experience but also potentially increase user engagement with the app.

Challenge

To create an effective project management tool within the Home Depot app, catering to the needs of DIY enthusiasts. This tool is needed to enable users to confidently plan, track, and complete their DIY projects.

Outcome

Our group's project, "DIY Hive," in the Home Depot app, successfully improved the DIY enthusiast's experience by providing expert guidance, idea sharing, simplified material selection, precise project planning and tracking, and iterative design enhancements. This highlighted the power of technology and user-centric design in boosting user engagement and satisfaction, benefiting both business growth and user experience.

PROJECT GOAL

INFO

DIY HIVE

A tool for DIY enthusiasts, offering expert guidance, idea sharing, and project management features to help users plan and complete their projects effectively.

Team

3 UX Designers

Role

As a UX/UI Designer, Researcher, and Prototyper, I led a team of three skilled UX designers in the successful development of a high-fidelity prototype for the 'DIY Hive' app

Timeline

3 weeks ( 120 hours)

Tools

Figma , Google Suite

DESIGN THINKING PROCESS

1

EMPATHIZE

User Interview
Affinity Mapping

2

DEFINE

Persona
Problem statement
Design Goals

3

IDEAT

Design Studio
& Sketches

4

DESIGN

Wireframes
Branding
Hi-Fi Mockups
Prototyping

5

TEST & REFINE

Usability Testing
Design Iteration

UNDERSTANDING THE USERS

Notable Insights

During the user research phase, our team interviewed ten regular DIY enthusiasts, employing a semi-structured approach to delve into their needs and challenges. The insights gathered were organized into an affinity map, highlighting key themes from the interviews. Key findings and major insights included:

"I feel confident with myself when doing DIY projects"

"I need an expert to guide or inform me on how to do a project"

"I need a way to plan and track my DIY"

"I look for ways to get inspired through others / social media"

"I enjoy & feel proud of myself"

"I want to learn and get better at DIY skills"

Confidence and Fulfillment

Users sought confidence and personal fulfillment in completing DIY projects, emphasizing the satisfaction derived from hands-on creation.

Learning and Improvement

A common theme was the desire to learn and improve DIY skills, indicating a growth mindset and a continual quest for self-improvement.

Inspiration and Collaboration

Users consistently looked for ways to get inspired through interaction with others and social media, emphasizing the role of community and collaboration in their DIY journey.

Effective Planning and Tracking

Users expressed the need for a tool that would help them plan and track their DIY projects efficiently, highlighting the challenges they face in this aspect.

Expert Guidance

Users sought expert guidance and information to assist them in their projects, underlining the importance of having access to reliable and knowledgeable sources.

Proudness

Users expressed the importance of feeling proud of the final product they create through their DIY projects, highlighting the sense of accomplishment and achievement they aim for.

PERSONA

Meet Sarah Aziz!

" DIY projects provide a fulfilling sense of accomplishment from creating something with your own hands."

Motivation

Learning new skills
Personal satisfaction
The challenge of taking on a project
Satisfaction of seeing a project through to completion
Feeling proud of the final product
Inspiration from other

Needs

Planning and tracking tool DIY projects
Guidance and inspiration
Learning new skills and techniques
Access to expert guidance and reliable information
Feedback and constructive criticism
Accurate inventory information

Behavior

DIY enthusiast
Use of mobile devices for research
Looking to others for inspiration and ideas
Shopping for supplies in-store and online
Interested in using advanced technologies, such as

Painpoints

Struggles to confidently select the right materials
Unable to receive expert advice and inspiration
Cannot effectively manage their DIY projects on their own

PROBLEM

DIY enthusiasts lack an effective project management tool, causing frustration and a lack of confidence. Without this tool, Sara struggles to confidently select the right materials, receive expert advice and inspiration, and cannot effectively manage her DIY projects on her own."

OPPORTUNITY

How might we create a project management tool in the Home Depot app to boost DIY enthusiasts' confidence in planning and tracking projects, ultimately improving user engagement and satisfaction?

IDEATION

Sketching Creative Concepts

In the Ideate phase, we generated HMW statements from Sarah's needs, conducted a design studio session to sketch app concepts, and collaboratively selected features and layouts for our rough wireframes.

WIREFRAMES & LOW-FI PROTOTYPE

The Evolution of Ideas

Each team member sketched their concepts of The Hive app based on what we learned from Define Phase and presented their designs to the group. We then collaborated on which features and layouts best worked intuitively for our app and created a rough wireframe.

Copy of DIY Hive Home Depot - P3 Presentation (1).png

USABILITY TESTING & INSIGHTS

Enhancing User Experience

Icon Clarity

"Add to the board" icon confusion flagged for redesign or improved guidance.

Visual Enhancement

Preference for larger photos underscored the need for an enriched visual experience.

Title Transparency

Clear titles in project management pages were emphasized for enhanced user understanding.

In refining our wireframe prototype, five users (aged 20-42) engaged remotely via Zoom for usability testing. Tasked with creating a floating shelf for books, insights highlighted key areas for improvement:

Project Planning Streamlining

Users sought clearer navigation through the project planning phase.

Effortless Exit Option

Users expressed the need for an easy exit from the "upload project" page.

BRANDING

Establishing the Identity of DIY Hive

The Hive" is a name that evokes the collaborative spirit and energy of the DIY community, emphasizing the importance of community and gathering together to share ideas and inspiration for DIY projects.

FINAL PROTOTYPE

Bringing Ideas to Life

Our final prototype is a user-friendly project management tool tailored for DIY enthusiasts, promoting confidence in planning, tracking, and completing projects.

RETROSPECTIVE

Treasures to Carry Forward

Less, But Better

In mobile design, keeping it simple is key. With small screens and different devices, we focus on making things easy with intuitive controls. Adaptable performance ensures a smooth experience. It's about focusing on what matters most for a seamless and responsive user journey.

New Faces, Fresh Perspectives

Embracing Collaboration. Teaming up with new colleagues injected vitality into our project. Together, we uncovered that diversity in thought sparks creativity, building not just a project but a camaraderie that propels innovation.