How our Design Thinking and Streamlined Development Empowered Zeel to Build a Community-Driven Beauty Shopping Platform
The Company
Zeel is the next-generation social shopping experience for beauty products, where you can shop through reviews by experts and other shoppers like you.
Client
Zeel beauty
Website
www.zeel.beauty
Markets
Global
- User Research
- Brain Storming
- Design Thinking
- Information Architecture
- Interaction Design
- Taxonomy
- Interface Design
- Design Systems
- Prototyping
- Visual Communication Design
- Development Support
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Business Landscape
The beauty industry is booming, with a projected global market size of over $530 billion by 2025. However, this massive market is also fragmented, with countless products and brands competing for consumer attention. This makes it difficult for users to navigate the options and find the right products for their needs. Additionally, traditional shopping experiences often lack trust and social engagement, leaving consumers feeling unsure about their purchases.
CAGR - 11%
Business Landscape
The beauty industry is booming, with a projected global market size of over $530 billion by 2025. However, this massive market is also fragmented, with countless products and brands competing for consumer attention. This makes it difficult for users to navigate the options and find the right products for their needs. Additionally, traditional shopping experiences often lack trust and social engagement, leaving consumers feeling unsure about their purchases.
CAGR - 11%
Problem Statement
What do I buy? How do I decide?
Julie
Gym Trainer
I spend hours online researching products, but I’m still unsure what to buy!
Tahiti
Model
I can’t tell which reviews are fake and which are real.
Sachin
Sales Professional
I want to know what other people with my skin type are using.
Alia
Lawyer
It’s hard to keep up with all the new beauty trends and products.
Kiara
Hair Stylist
I’d love to hear real people’s experiences before I buy makeup.
I spend hours online researching products, but I’m still unsure what to buy!
Julie
Gym Trainer
I can’t tell which reviews are fake and which are real.
Tahiti
Model
I want to know what other people with my skin type are using.
Sachin
Sales Professional
It’s hard to keep up with all the new beauty trends.
Alia
Lawyer
I’d love to hear real people’s experiences before I buy makeup.
Kiara
Hair Stylist
The Task
Develop a user-friendly and engaging app that addresses the challenges faced by beauty consumers, empowering them to make informed purchasing decisions through a combination of expert and peer reviews, fostering social interaction, and simplifying the shopping experience.
The Triple Diamond Process
Our unique approach goes beyond the traditional double diamond. We leverage the "Discover, Define, Design, Develop" phases, but instead of passively observing, we enter an "Analyze & Iterate" loop. Here, advanced analytics and user feedback fuel continuous refinement ("Refine & Optimize") until we achieve Product-Market Fit (PMF).
Dipstick
UXD adopted a human-centered approach, combining in-depth research, user-centric design, and seamless development.
One-on-one interviews
Conducted with beauty enthusiasts to understand their purchasing habits, pain points, and aspirations.
Ethnography study
Observed real-world shopping behaviors to gain insights into user needs and decision-making processes.
Competitive analysis
Identifying strengths and weaknesses of existing solutions.
Key Learning
01
UXD adopted a human-centered approach, combining in-depth research, user-centric design, and seamless development.
02
Social interaction is crucial for building confidence in purchasing decisions.
03
Combating information overload through curated content and expert reviews is key.
04
User reviews and recommendations are highly influential in the decision-making process.
05
Personalized recommendations tailored to individual needs are highly valued.
06
Mobile-first design is crucial for reaching today’s tech-savvy consumers.
The Challenge
Our challenge was to jumpstart a self-sustaining ecosystem of user reviews within the Zeel app. How could we encourage early adopters to contribute valuable content and attract new users with a robust review base, all within a tight timeframe?
The Solution
Zeel leverages a combination of AI-powered recommendations, curated expert reviews, and a user-generated content platform to address this challenge. The app also simplifies the shopping experience with intuitive discoverability and clear product information which was also supported by user inputs.
Personas
Mona, 19 Years, Model
The Beauty Enthusiast
Actively seeks out new products and trends, and relies on expert and user reviews.
Pain Points
- Information overload: Finding reliable information and reviews amidst a vast number of products and conflicting opinions.
- Difficulty discovering new brands: Staying updated on the latest trends and niche brands outside of mainstream media.
Alisha, 27 Years, Architect
The Budget-Conscious Buyer
Focuses on value for money, prioritizes user reviews and recommendations.
Pain Points
- Unreliable pricing comparisons: Finding accurate and trustworthy comparisons between brands and retailers to maximize value.
- Identifying sales and discounts: Staying informed about ongoing promotions and deals across various platforms.
Vikram, 32 Years, Entrepreneur
The Time-Crunched Consumer
Wants a quick and easy way to find the right products, appreciates personalized recommendations.
Pain Points
- Efficient product research: Quickly find the right products without spending hours reading through reviews and comparing specifications.
- Decision fatigue: Narrowing down numerous product options based on individual needs and preferences.
Trisha, 22 Years, London, Influencer
The Socially Connected Shopper
Enjoys sharing experiences and connecting with others, actively participates in the app’s community features.
Pain Points
- Limited peer-to-peer interaction: Lacking a platform to connect with others who share similar beauty concerns and preferences.
- Difficulty finding trustworthy recommendations: Identifying genuine and helpful user reviews within a potentially biased online environment.
The Structure
Main Asks
“Show me products that match my skin tone and concerns.”
"See real people's reviews before I buy anything."
"What are the top-rated products in this category?"
"Find the best deals and discounts on my favorite brands."
"Connect with others who share my beauty interests."
User Stories
Conceptual Sketches
Initial brainstorming captured the app’s core functionalities and layout. We sketched ideas focused on creating a visually appealing and user-friendly layout, prioritizing intuitive navigation and a seamless shopping experience.
“Zeel is like having a personal beauty guru in my pocket! I love discovering new brands and getting honest reviews from real people.”
Wireframes
Low-fidelity wireframes were developed to test the app’s functionality and user flow, allowing for iterative improvements before moving to high-fidelity designs.
Wireframes
Low-fidelity wireframes were developed to test the app’s functionality and user flow, allowing for iterative improvements before moving to high-fidelity designs.
“Zeel’s personalized recommendations are spot-on! They help me avoid decision fatigue and focus on the products that truly matter to me.”
Visual Language
The final UI design prioritizes a clean aesthetic, clear hierarchy, and easy-to-use features, ensuring a visually engaging and intuitive experience for all users.
Logo
Colors
Primary Colors
Secondary Colors
Gradient
Typography
Iconography
Visual Designs
Zeel is all about skincare product reviews mobile app will assist you in selecting right product to your skin and in staying current with beauty trends
Zeel is set to revolutionize the way users discover and purchase beauty products. By combining in-depth research, user-centric design, and efficient development, the app is empowering users and transforming the way they discover and purchase beauty products.
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