The IKEA Place app offers an innovative solution for selecting furniture, but it remains unclear whether it effectively addresses the issue of previewing furniture in a personal space.
Making IKEA Place more real and reliable in displaying furniture helps the user visualize the furniture better before they buy it.
Before diving into the whole design process, let’s see the result first!
The reliability score of the IKEA Place app is determined by whether users believe it accurately represents the size, color, lightening, and material of the 3D models in the AR camera.
See Final DesignI moved to a new place a few months ago. I downloaded the IKEA Place app to see how furniture would fit in my space. While it's an interesting concept, the app still has a long way to go. These were some main issues I encountered while using it. I started this project to see if other people have the same problem as I did.
∙ Usability Testing
∙ Interview
∙ Journey Map
∙ Define Challenge
∙ Persona
∙ Competitive Analysis
∙ How might we
∙ User Flow
∙ Lo-fi Wireframe
∙ Mid-fi Wireframe
∙ Iteration design
∙ Mockup
∙ Prototype
∙ Second Round Test
I conducted four tests and interviews with young professionals aged 25 to 30. Then I used the affinity map to analyze and group the problems.
Based on the findings from these tests and interviews, I identified the following pain points in the previewing furniture process:
To narrow down the primary problem, I created a user journey map to better understand the conditions in which users use the IKEA Place app during the usability testing. User was extremely depressed during the evaluation process in AR camera.
How might we improve the reliability of previewing the configuration and style of furniture?
By using the "How might we" method to brainstorm, I can come up with ideas that address the needs of IKEA Place’s users and prioritize them based on their potential impact and feasibility.
How might we improve the reliability of previewing the configuration and style of furniture?
Include a room scanning process that accurately calculates the size of the space. Showing the system is functioning properly and providing them with the correct furniture size recommendations for users’ room.
Better visualization of 3D furniture size and the sense of space
The size information is displayed around the 3D object, and others, like colour and material, are also clearly provided on the product page.
Abundant and clear product information
This feature allows users to input their height, which is then used as a scale to give a better visualization of how tall or how big the furniture is in relation to their own body size.
Better visualization of 3d furniture size
This feature allows users to select the type of light that most closely matches the lighting conditions in their home, helping them to get a more accurate visualization of the furniture's true color.
Accurate and consistent lightening on 3D furniture
Based on the research above, I redesigned a flow for users who first time use the app.
See moreI created a low-fidelity wireframe and a more detailed mid-fidelity wireframe. I converted the mid-fidelity wireframe into a prototype to gather user feedback and make necessary revisions.
See moreI used a mi-fi prototype to do a simple test with three users. The testing sessions allowed me to identify critical issues and also receive valuable feedback to inform the design. The main findings from the usability testing were:
Users are not sure whether they should slowly move the phone or hold it still during the scanning process.
Clear instructions should be provided while the system is scanning the room.
The phrase 'How tall is the human scale?' is confusing, which can make it difficult for users to understand what is being asked of them.
Use the proper phrasing to prompt users to enter their height in the human scale section.
An easy and simple process is often preferred by users. However, when something is simplified too much, it may lack credibility. To address this issue, I implemented a scanning process that allows users to see that the system is functioning properly and providing them with the correct furniture size recommendations for their room.
The product information, such as size, colour, and material, is clearly provided on the product page. The size information is also displayed around the 3D object, and the info card allows the user to check the information easily.
Sometimes it can be difficult to visualize the actual size of a piece of furniture, even when size information is provided. To help users better understand the size of a piece of furniture, I implemented a feature called "human scale." This feature allows users to input their height, which is then used as a scale to give a better visualization of how tall or how big the furniture is in relation to their own body size.
Furniture can appear to be different colors under different lighting conditions. To help users get a better sense of the true color of a piece of furniture, I implemented a feature called "light temperature." This feature allows users to select the type of light that most closely matches the lighting conditions in their home, helping them to get a more accurate visualization of the furniture's true color.
To help users determine whether a piece of furniture will fit in their room, I implemented a tool called "measure length." This feature allows users to measure the length from point to point and compare it to the size of the furniture, helping them to find the right size for their space.
After conducting a test on the latest prototype, the reliability of previewing furniture in the IKEA Place app has increased by 103%. Users reported that the new features helped them better visualize the furniture and that the app provided sufficient information.
: I like the human scale feature. It makes it clear that the height of the drawer is approximately my waist height.
: The size information is displayed around the 3D object, which is a big advantage, and there is an info card that allows me to easily view the product.
Integrating user research and usability testing into the entire design process allowed me to identify problems early on and make quick changes to improve the design. This approach helped me create a more user-friendly and effective product.
During the ideation phase, there should be no limitations to prevent good ideas from emerging. However, when considering feasibility and prioritizing solutions, it is important to have thorough discussions with stakeholders. In a self-directed project, it may be more challenging to account for technical issues.
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