Thriftbooks Case Study
A demonstration of research methods and design capabilities on the second-hand book selling platform.
Overview
The case study demonstrates UX/UI and Product design skills which are not represented in my others. I am a loyal customer and frequent user of Thriftbooks, both the desktop website and iOS app, which is why I've chosen their platform as the subject of this case study.
To inform my design recommendations I researched the company, competitors, and collected a small sample of customer feedback. Next, I analyzed a portion of their mobile platform using heuristic evaluation, a usability inspection method used to identify common user experience issues in a product's design. Based on findings from the aforementioned steps I made several design recommendations which would improve the Thriftbooks mobile application. Finally, I redesigned the screens analyzed in the heuristic evaluation to show what the Thriftbooks iOS app could look like following contemporary design conventions.
Company Profile
In order to provide more appropriate design recommendations I did a superficial pass over the company to find goals, mission, values, etc
Motorcycle models with Apple CarPlay and/or Android Auto
Competitive Analysis
I analyzed 3 of the most popular navigation apps on Apple CarPlay - looking both at the navigational hierarchy and UI components/patterns for inspiration.
Apple Maps
Google Maps
Waze
Finding #1 - UI Navigation
Apple provides a few options for UI navigation which were visible in the sample applications researched.
Finding #2 - UI Components
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Customer Feedback
Customers leave reviews on Trustpilot.
Heuristic Evaluation
To assess the usability of the application I used Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics. Numbers 1,2,3 were omitted as no issues were found
Visibility of System Status
Issues
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Recommendations
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Match Between System and Real World
Issues
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Recommendations
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Style Guide
App does not appear to be following a type scale. Picked a Minor Third scale because good for information dense applications
Typography
Apple provides a few options for UI navigation which were visible in the sample applications researched.
Color
Apple provides a few options for UI navigation which were visible in the sample applications researched.
Spatial System
Apple provides a few options for UI navigation which were visible in the sample applications researched.
Recommendations
The following are product and UX/UI recommendations informed by Thriftbooks' company profile, customer feedback, heuristic evaluation, and my experience as a frequent user.
Dark Mode
To assess the usability of the application I used Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics. Numbers 1,2,3 were omitted as no issues were found
Increase Visibility of Support Channels
To assess the usability of the application I used Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics. Numbers 1,2,3 were omitted as no issues were found
Issues
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Recommendations
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Intercept Negative Feedback
To assess the usability of the application I used Jakob Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics. Numbers 1,2,3 were omitted as no issues were found
Issues
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
Recommendations
Apple's design guidelines are very prescriptive and its limitations were helpful constraints when deciding which UI components to use and when.
WolfPack CarPlay on a Honda Goldwing
Project summary
During the project, I managed to evaluate the market, create low fidelity wireframes, and connect them into a prototype at a higher fidelity. My designs went through several iterations before they were developed and WolfPack for Apple CarPlay was launched in July 2022.
