Enhanced Search Functionality for a Gifting Platform
"A user interface is like a joke. If you have to explain it, it’s not that good." - Martin LeBlanc
Redesigned Joi Gifts’ search functionality with features like a focus backdrop, recent searches, recently viewed items, autofill, and smart suggestions to streamline user experience and enhance personalization.
Overview
The advanced search functionality for Joi Gifts was designed to significantly improve user experience by implementing several key enhancements aimed at simplifying the gift discovery process and increasing user engagement. These designs were created for both desktop and mobile platforms to ensure a consistent and seamless user experience across all devices.
Objectives
- Increase user focus and efficiency during search interactions.
- Reduce task load on users by providing quick access to recent searches.
- Utilize social proof to guide users to popular products.
- Enhance user retention and engagement through recently viewed products.
- Streamline the search process with autofill and smart suggestion features.
Design Process
Research: Conducted comprehensive research, primarily focusing on competitor analysis and heuristic evaluation, to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement in the existing search functionality. Through thorough examination of competitor platforms and heuristic evaluation, key pain points were discovered, guiding the design process towards addressing these critical areas for enhancement.
Wireframing: Created wireframes to visualize the layout and flow of the enhanced search features, including the backdrop component, recent searches, popular products list, and recently viewed products.
Prototyping: Developed interactive prototypes to test with users, stakeholders, and conduct guerrilla testing sessions to collect valuable feedback and insights. By engaging stakeholders in guerrilla testing sessions, we were able to gather real-time data and iterate on the designs based on direct feedback, ensuring the final implementation met the needs and expectations of all stakeholders involved.
Iteration: Iterated on the designs based on user feedback, refining the layout, visual design, and interaction patterns to optimize user experience.
UI Design: Designed high-fidelity UI mockups that seamlessly integrated the new features into the Joi Gifts brand aesthetic, ensuring consistency and coherence across the platform.
Key Features
Backdrop Component: This feature enhances user focus by dimming the background when users start typing in the search box. By reducing visual distractions, the backdrop component helps users concentrate on their search queries, leading to a more streamlined and efficient search experience.
Enhances user focus by dimming distractions, making the search process more efficient
Recent Searches: Implemented a section right below the search box displaying users’ recent searches. This allows users to quickly access their previous search queries without having to retype them, significantly reducing the task load and saving time. This feature enhances user convenience and encourages repeated interactions with the search functionality.
Quick access to previous searches, saving time and reducing user effort.
Recently Viewed Products: Introduced a section showcasing products that the user has recently viewed. This feature provides a quick reference for users to revisit items they were interested in, enhancing user retention and making it easier for them to continue their shopping journey without losing track of previously considered products.
Keeps track of recently viewed items, improving user retention and shopping continuity.
Autofill and Related Products: Integrated an autofill functionality that suggests search queries as users type. This predictive feature reduces the effort required to type full search terms, speeding up the search process and helping users find what they are looking for more efficiently.
Additionally, a list of related products is displayed based on the user’s input, offering relevant suggestions that can help users discover new items that match their interests. By anticipating user needs and providing related product recommendations, this feature enhances the overall usability and effectiveness of the search functionality.
Speeds up the search process with predictive suggestions and relevant product recommendations.
Smart Suggestions: Developed an intelligent suggestion system that provides tailored recommendations based on user behavior and preferences. This feature analyzes user interactions and past searches to offer relevant product suggestions, making the search process more personalized and effective. By delivering smart suggestions, users are more likely to discover products that match their interests and needs.
Optimized Mobile Experience
Designed mobile screens to ensure consistency with the desktop experience while enhancing usability for mobile users. Focused on creating an intuitive interface that maintains brand coherence and functionality across devices. Key features like recent searches and recently viewed products were seamlessly integrated, making the mobile browsing experience smooth and efficient.
Enhance your mobile search with autofill and smart suggestions, providing quick, personalized results right at your fingertips.
Quickly access your recent searches and recently viewed products to effortlessly continue your shopping journey on mobile.
Outcome
The implementation of these advanced search features resulted in a significantly improved user experience on the Joi Gifts platform. Users reported increased efficiency and satisfaction during the gift discovery process, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates. Additionally, the integration of social proof and intelligent suggestions helped guide users to relevant products, further enhancing the overall shopping experience.