3E Building Material Inc.
Good UI is not sufficient on its own.
Employer
3E Building Material Inc.
Timeline
Jan - April 2023
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Whimsical
Roles
Information Architecture
Content Audit
User Research
Usability Testing
UX/UI Design
Deliverables
Content Audit Report
Usability Report
User Research findings
Redesigned UI Kit
Figma Design Proposal and Handoff
Context
My background in user research has trained me to prioritize research in my design process.
To begin this redesign project, I conducted initial primary research by interviewing the primary stakeholders of the company, including the owners and employees.
About the Company
3E Building Materials Inc. is a building supplies company in Markham, Ontario. The company specializes in distributing various building supplies, including flooring, wall panels, and tiles, and products for renovations.
The Problem
Decision makers at 3E Building Materials Inc. were of the opinion that the most effective way to gain customers is through local connections, and that the website is an added bonus. Because of this mentality, they do not prioritize maintaining their website. Despite the website's attractive UI design, the user experience is lacking.
Content Audit
My training in 2D and 3D architectural drawing in college has formed the habit of viewing websites as physical space, but online. To gain an understanding of the overall layout and content of a website, my approach is to create a blueprint of its information architecture while conducting a content audit.
Research Insights
I've organized the materials collected from the on-site interview into the following two personas. It's evident that long-term customers of 3E's building materials find the current website to be more of an accessory, what they truly need is a tool that can assist them in showcasing construction materials to clients who are unable to visit the physical store or are located outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
To tackle this pain point, I propose to them a tool that would enable contractors to make purchases from more distant locations, which would ultimately boost 3E's sales.
Design Solution - An internal platform for contractors to operate on-site
Main updates:
A tablet-based tool for contractors to bring the virtual building material store onsite.
Utilize the "drag and drop" function to allow contractors to operate the system onsite, even with their gloves on.