A two day UX workshop to design an app to improve your shopping experience when in unfamiliar places. The key elements were understanding the ecosystem and what are the issues user faces even when there is so much technology available. The app relies on reviews generated by other shoppers been to the same area, auto suggestions etc.

1. Shopwise
Your shopping assistant mobile app !
Now get rid of the helplessness you feel while
shopping in unfamiliar places.
By
Namita Maheshwari
CUA, M.Des, B. Arch

2. Executive intent and Suggested model
Executive Intent :
This will be a recommendation app, which will be based on the feedback given by other users, and the other trust factors
generated by authorizations, certifications, images etc..
It will help the user to be directed to right shops in the chosen area, as per his need.
The app will also have features which came as insights from the research-
eg. Language barrier, safety, while shopping in unfamiliar places
Suggested Model :
Since this is a purely recommendation app, location based advertisements will be the capital generator.
It could eventually become a hybrid app for other travel and shopping based apps.
To get more registrations give shopping based incentives

3. Why I chose mobile ?
Shopping as an activity is ‘unplanned’ and
‘on the go’
It has all the required features needed while
shopping- GPS, Camera, sharing options etc.
Phones are much more handy- imagine carrying a
bigger device along with all the shopping bags.
Are you kidding
me!!!
I have all those
features and much
more

4. Project Plan
Activity Time required Experts Involved
Research 5 days UX Designers, Ethnography researchers
Research Analysis 2 days UX Designers, Ethnography researchers
Presenting to Stakeholder 1 day Developers, designers, business
Changes Implementation 1 day UX Designers
Information Architecture 3 days UX Designers
Review and changes 2 days UX designers, business, developers
Design Concepts 5 days UX Designers
Review and implementation 2 days UX Designers, business, developers
Session with User 1 day UX Designers, users
Visual Design + UX design 5 days UX Designers, Visual Designers
Internal review 1 day UX Designers, Visual Designers
Review with client 1 day Client, Visual team, UX team, Developers
Development team 1 month Developers, UX Designers
Note:
Constant reviews and workshops helps bring all stakeholder on same page, so there are lesser changes later.
Consider enough buffer time.
Also the VD team and UX team will be working parallel once the key flows are identified
ResearchDesignVDand
Development

5. The Shopping Eco system
EnvironmentConnected ServicesUsers
BuyerSeller
Crowded
Unsafe
Access
to money
Transportati
on
Artefacts
Unfamiliar
languages
Things-Gifts,
clothes etc.
Stand and
boards
Furniture
Haggler
Research on eco system of shopping helps one understand the behavioral pattern of the App user

6. Persona 1
Supriya Nauriyal- Travelholic Shopoholic
30, Designer, Consultant
Mumbai, Shanghai
Smart Phone expert user
Travelling is Supriya’s first love followed by shopping. She makes
sure she travels at least once in a year and preferably a foreign
location, or destinations which are very unfamiliar to her.
Supriya keeps at least a day aside for shopping for herself and her
folks back home. Though locals are helpful there is a major
language barrier. She keeps looking at her phone for help but
gets very fragmented information. She is also concerned about
her data usage.
Supriya has a travel blog where she writes about her experiences
and hopes it will help other people travelling to the same place.
“ Like in India, I know I can bargain and
get good deals anywhere, but in an
unfamiliar place communication and
trust becomes a huge issue”
Drives while shopping- Good deals, trust
Blocks while shopping- Language and safety,
helplessness, too much choice or no choice, trust,
data usage
Fundamental Needs- Freedom, safety, esteem,
creative
Culture imbibes- Economic traveler, Independent
and organized

7. Persona 2
Neeraj Maheshwari-Hate to but
Have to Shop
35, Senior Executive
Pune, Mumbai
Smart Phone expert user
Neeraj is a senior executive in his company and his job takes him
places. Though Neeraj hates to shop he likes to see his family
happy when he gets gifts for them.
Due to time constraint and basic impatience during shopping, he
ends up going to the mall and spending too much money on
things he knows he can get at half the price. He feels further bad
about not buying anything special for his family.
“ I shop like how men shop, just go pick and
buy, but when I am outside I would really
appreciate some help in terms of right places
and right things to buy”
Drives to shop- Proximity, quality and trust,
Blocks to shop- Very high prices, don’t know the
right places and also right things to buy
Fundamental needs- Esteem, egoistic, love and
care for family
Cultural imbibes- Budget shopping, comparing

8. A loose plan:
Plans a day for
shopping in her
itinerary
Shallow Research:
Does some basic
research on local
markets Decision making
Feels lost once in
the shopping space,
doesn’t know where
to begin
Way Finding:
Uses her GPS to
reach the market
Shopping language
barrier: Finally
decided to buy but not
able to bargain due to
language
Takes help:
Ask the locals but
does not trust them
Scenario, Task flow and opportunity points
Recommendations Trust factors CommunicationEasy way findingTips and tricks

9. Why didn’t I buy
anything special
from this place
Did I buy
anything worth
I am a terrible
shopper, why
don’t I have
someone to
help me?
Why didn’t I do
some
research?
Shopping just became an unhappy experience
Did he charge
me right?
How do I
bargain?
What about
the quality?
Are there other
places I could
have gone to?
An inconsistent and fragmented shopping
experience
Did they really enjoy the Shopping experience ?

10. Concept
Evolution-
Sketching out Ideas,
Rapid paper prototypes,
Brainstorming and
feedback are some of
the methods before the
concept is conceived

11. Content Inventory and Information Architecture
Shopwise mobile
App-
Select Location
Select type of Item, by
giving keywords Left Menu
See the list view of the
recommended shops
Expand to see more
View the
map
Add
recommendation
Download
Add photoWrite a review Star rating
Add a new
recommendation
What did you
shop
Shopping lingo
Tips and tricks
Safety alerts
Notifications
Help Centre
Your account
View
menu
Map View
List view
Mark
coordinates,
landmarks
Call the
shop
View the
cost
Incentivize
Incentivize
Photo Gallery view

12. Wireframes- To find a shop and review it
The home page
Location based
advertising to
generate revenue
Selecting the
type of item, the
tabs show the
most popular
items in the area
Click on maps to
get the direction
Click on add
comment to give
your review
The get direction
function will work
like GPS apps.
Incase of download,
it will jus show the
map
Gallery x

13. Wireframes- Home page content
The right menu for
selecting the
available feature
Read more to see the
general shopping
information about the
place
Download the
information
about the place
to be able to use
it in offline mode
View Menu:
Showing
different type
views
Home Page
Submit
To add a new review.
There will be an
‘genuine comment’
statement further to
submit

14. 12:45
Type what you are looking for?
clothes Jewelry
Leather bags
paper aroma
dosa Jewelry
Best deals at Casablanca.. Click f
at
Auroville, Pondicherry
Read More
SHOPWISE
Paper craft
Change location
12:45
Auroville, Pondicherry
I recommend
“Royal fashions”
1km away
Cost Rs.300 to 2000
“One of the best places I have been to
for shopping in Pondicherry. Best
scarves and shoes”
“I am coming back over here. Best
prices and best quality”
Clothes
More reviews Your review
“One of the best places I have been to
for shopping in Pondicherry. Best
scarves and shoes”
1km away
Visual Design and UI Exploration
The background picture-
changes as per the location.
Will slide up in case of all the
other screens other than home
page
The tabs will shift as
per the length of the
word, but maximum
two tabs in a row
Dynamic advertisement
band
Home Page Expanded view of Shop

15. My Shopping assistant..
Thank you
Shopwise!
Is there more to come??
Work in Progress