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UI/UX
Atelier
Created a social marketplace where designers can cultivate their sewing projects in a community-driven platform.
Institution
Tyler School of Art & Architecture
Role
Designer
Team
Ashley Yeboah
Nathan Young
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Adobe Illustrator
UI/UX
Atelier
Created a social marketplace where designers can cultivate their sewing projects in a community-driven platform.
Institution
Tyler School of Art & Architecture
Role
Designer
Team
Ashley Yeboah
Nathan Young
Tools
Procreate
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
UI/UX
Atelier
Created a social marketplace where designers can cultivate their sewing projects in a community-driven platform.
Institution
Tyler School of Art
& Architecture
Role
Designer
Team
Ashley Yeboah
Nathan Young
Tools
Procreate
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Overview
Overview
Atelier is a social media marketplace that aims to create a space where sewists can have a chance to learn and develop their own skills by looking at other user designers' patterns and tutorials. While having the available resources to keep track and buy their own resources to cultivate their own projects in a fun, collaborative multisurface platform.
Atelier is a social media marketplace that aims to create a space where sewists can have a chance to learn and develop their own skills by looking at other user designers' patterns and tutorials. While having the available resources to keep track and buy their own resources to cultivate their own projects in a fun, collaborative multisurface platform.
Research
Problem
Problem
Atelier's original ideas spawn from the initial decline of sewing garments or miscellaneous projects as a practice within both younger and later generations, as fast fashion becomes a much more popular way of receiving ready-made garments. Other factors also include the decline of resources for younger designers as more struggle to find good quality materials both online and in person, as major stores like Joann’s Fabric have closed down. These events have collected users who often scroll on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to find recommendations of where to find good materials, stumbling upon designers who provide patterns or tutorials of their own designs to contribute to the lack of space within the sewing community, where users struggle to start their own sewing projects.
Atelier's original ideas spawn from the initial decline of sewing garments or miscellaneous projects as a practice within both younger and later generations, as fast fashion becomes a much more popular way of receiving ready-made garments. Other factors also include the decline of resources for younger designers as more struggle to find good quality materials both online and in person, as major stores like Joann’s Fabric have closed down. These events have collected users who often scroll on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram to find recommendations of where to find good materials, stumbling upon designers who provide patterns or tutorials of their own designs to contribute to the lack of space within the sewing community, where users struggle to start their own sewing projects.
Research
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
To gather more research, I chose to look at competitor companies that hobbyist sewists and fashion designers mainly go to share their designs, patterns, and learn more about how to make the designs they want to make. Narrowing it down, I decided to look at e-commerce applications such as Depop, a platform where users can upload their personal clothes to sell to other users, and Etsy, a platform where users can sell handmade items to other users. I also looked at social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram, where users can create their own shops and sell items they’ve created, whilst having the ability to post tutorials or things they want to share with other users.
When looking through the e-commerce section of competitive analysis, I actively looked at how sewists displayed and sold their work, and further explored how each app functioned for sewists as a whole, with any good or bad points being noted. The same could also be said for the social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, as I looked through to see how designers interacted with each other and noted common insights I saw.
To gather more research, I chose to look at competitor companies that hobbyist sewists and fashion designers mainly go to share their designs, patterns, and learn more about how to make the designs they want to make. Narrowing it down, I decided to look at e-commerce applications such as Depop, a platform where users can upload their personal clothes to sell to other users, and Etsy, a platform where users can sell handmade items to other users. I also looked at social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram, where users can create their own shops and sell items they’ve created, whilst having the ability to post tutorials or things they want to share with other users.
When looking through the e-commerce section of competitive analysis, I actively looked at how sewists displayed and sold their work, and further explored how each app functioned for sewists as a whole, with any good or bad points being noted. The same could also be said for the social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, as I looked through to see how designers interacted with each other and noted common insights I saw.
Research
User Interviews
User Interviews
In order to identify the true problem and other pain points, I interviewed beginner designers who alter clothes, and have designed clothes themselves, and established designers and hobbyists who have sold their own clothes. Through these interviews, I gained deeper insights alongside with the competitive analysis. Cultivating the real problems that were emphasized through each interviewer s. So that they could be formulated to improve around said issues, including what could be effectively added to the quality of the app, and what problems users faced the most when doing their sewing projects.
Throughout these interviews, I collected key takeaways such as the way sewists taught themselves, from self-teaching to using freely available sources like YouTube. Other factors include the process of how interviewees create their clothes, which includes the introduction of second-hand clothes and open resource centers nearby to use for their projects. Additionally, some often struggle to keep up with their projects and have no structure or order in their process.
In order to identify the true problem and other pain points, I interviewed beginner designers who alter clothes, and have designed clothes themselves, and established designers and hobbyists who have sold their own clothes. Through these interviews, I gained deeper insights alongside with the competitive analysis. Cultivating the real problems that were emphasized through each interviewer s. So that they could be formulated to improve around said issues, including what could be effectively added to the quality of the app, and what problems users faced the most when doing their sewing projects.
Throughout these interviews, I collected key takeaways such as the way sewists taught themselves, from self-teaching to using freely available sources like YouTube. Other factors include the process of how interviewees create their clothes, which includes the introduction of second-hand clothes and open resource centers nearby to use for their projects. Additionally, some often struggle to keep up with their projects and have no structure or order in their process.
Research
Key Insights
Key Insights
From start to finish of my primary research, I identified 5 main pain points that sewists go through: the exhaustion to find fabric that is not readily available to them, beginners being unmotivated to sew because they can’t think of any ideas of what to make, the pain of not being able to organize projects easily, information for things like patterns not being easily accessible, and designs not being able to obtain an audience to actually sell their designs and patterns.
From start to finish of my primary research, I identified 5 main pain points that sewists go through: the exhaustion to find fabric that is not readily available to them, beginners being unmotivated to sew because they can’t think of any ideas of what to make, the pain of not being able to organize projects easily, information for things like patterns not being easily accessible, and designs not being able to obtain an audience to actually sell their designs and patterns.
Research
Solution
Solution
From these insights, I decided to create Atelier, a social media marketplace where users can look at resources, manage projects, and find patterns among other miscellaneous ways to cultivate their sewing projects in a community-driven platform. This way, sewists and designers have a shared experience where they no longer have to labor over their own processes and can have a painless experience while connecting with other designers in the sewing community.
From these insights, I decided to create Atelier, a social media marketplace where users can look at resources, manage projects, and find patterns among other miscellaneous ways to cultivate their sewing projects in a community-driven platform. This way, sewists and designers have a shared experience where they no longer have to labor over their own processes and can have a painless experience while connecting with other designers in the sewing community.
Research
User Personas
User Personas
To establish User Personas, I formulated both my research through the main problems/key takeaways I saw through my in-depth interviews and competitive analysis structure, creating two user personas that would connect the most with the app and their own needs when sewing. Constructing a beginner sewist, who wishes to start their own sewing projects, and an experienced fashion student designer who would like to become a content creator and wishes to share their designs and help beginner sewists.
To establish User Personas, I formulated both my research through the main problems/key takeaways I saw through my in-depth interviews and competitive analysis structure, creating two user personas that would connect the most with the app and their own needs when sewing. Constructing a beginner sewist, who wishes to start their own sewing projects, and an experienced fashion student designer who would like to become a content creator and wishes to share their designs and help beginner sewists.
Research
User Journeys
User Journeys
User Journeys were created to create a basis for each of the User Personas' own habits, as both a beginner and someone with much more advancement as a fashion designer. Allowing me to come up with various opportunities in features and ideas to create the overall solution product to solve some of their current problems and frustrations.
User Journeys were created to create a basis for each of the User Personas' own habits, as both a beginner and someone with much more advancement as a fashion designer. Allowing me to come up with various opportunities in features and ideas to create the overall solution product to solve some of their current problems and frustrations.
Research
Site Map
Site Map
To identify important pages to make an Atelier, created a site using opportunities I created in User Journeys.
To identify important pages to make an Atelier, created a site using opportunities I created in User Journeys.
Research
Final Brand Identity
Final Brand Identity
To create the Atelier brand, I decided to take inspiration from the shoe diva and fashion illustrative work aesthetic that was prevalent throughout the late 1990s to 2010s, which embraced fashion and commercial hand-drawn illustrative designs to approach a whimsical, familiar, and fun aesthetic to users. Using pink and brown to approve of the idea of creating a fun aesthetic. Moreover, I wanted to condense the inspiration down to create a modern approach by keeping the UI simple and clean, and not too overly complicated when looking at it.
To create the Atelier brand, I decided to take inspiration from the shoe diva and fashion illustrative work aesthetic that was prevalent throughout the late 1990s to 2010s, which embraced fashion and commercial hand-drawn illustrative designs to approach a whimsical, familiar, and fun aesthetic to users. Using pink and brown to approve of the idea of creating a fun aesthetic. Moreover, I wanted to condense the inspiration down to create a modern approach by keeping the UI simple and clean, and not too overly complicated when looking at it.
Research
Wireframes
Wireframes
To establish a comprehensive concept of what Atelier would look like. I needed to create a set of prototype wireframes to build on opportunity interactions and design choices that were made during User Journey Maps. This allowed me to experiment with formats such as the universal layout of the platform and each screen. Whilst seeing which screens were the most important and worked for the impact of the app. Through this, I was able to move from regular wireframes to low-fidelity wireframes that pushed me much further into a high-fidelity format.
To establish a comprehensive concept of what Atelier would look like. I needed to create a set of prototype wireframes to build on opportunity interactions and design choices that were made during User Journey Maps. This allowed me to experiment with formats such as the universal layout of the platform and each screen. Whilst seeing which screens were the most important and worked for the impact of the app. Through this, I was able to move from regular wireframes to low-fidelity wireframes that pushed me much further into a high-fidelity format.
Research
Onboarding UI
Onboarding UI
To enroll crafters and makers into their journeys, an onboarding process was needed to introduce and integrate them into the app. So I created a sign-up or sign-in procedure, along with the option to create a customizable avatar as a homage to fashion style games that were prominent in the 2010s. All to add more expression freedom to motivate users to return to the app by having more fun and decorating their avatar. A feedback experience was also made to understand what level the user was in terms of their sewing capabilities, additionally, what fashion styles, clothing, and medium they are interested in.
To enroll crafters and makers into their journeys, an onboarding process was needed to introduce and integrate them into the app. So I created a sign-up or sign-in procedure, along with the option to create a customizable avatar as a homage to fashion style games that were prominent in the 2010s. All to add more expression freedom to motivate users to return to the app by having more fun and decorating their avatar. A feedback experience was also made to understand what level the user was in terms of their sewing capabilities, additionally, what fashion styles, clothing, and medium they are interested in.
Research
Homepage UI
Homepage UI
To define the homepage, I decided to explore an interface that establishes what user posts look like, along with what the alternative screen looks like when clicking an item card for both a regular description post and an item card-like pattern item that integrates with the resource shop on Atelier. This allowed me to explore the opportunity and pain point that sewists go through, which was the struggle of not getting full information on what sewing patterns, fabric, and materials makers use. Additionally, adding things like color and keywords for users to find specific information, and the ability to find more information about the user, what posts they’ve made, and users who have made similar posts.
In addition to that, I also explored what a user's sewing pattern would look like when uploaded to the app, especially in connection with the resource shop on Atelier. It keeps a similar UI to regular posts made by a user, but denotes more about the sizing range (will add the rest after organizing), and the choice to trade an item the user may own for the design or purchase the pattern directly. Keeping things straightforward. Users can also look at short anecdotes of the seller of the pattern, more patterns created by the seller, the pattern by the seller being used by other users, and patterns similar to the pattern by the seller.
To define the homepage, I decided to explore an interface that establishes what user posts look like, along with what the alternative screen looks like when clicking an item card for both a regular description post and an item card-like pattern item that integrates with the resource shop on Atelier. This allowed me to explore the opportunity and pain point that sewists go through, which was the struggle of not getting full information on what sewing patterns, fabric, and materials makers use. Additionally, adding things like color and keywords for users to find specific information, and the ability to find more information about the user, what posts they’ve made, and users who have made similar posts.
In addition to that, I also explored what a user's sewing pattern would look like when uploaded to the app, especially in connection with the resource shop on Atelier. It keeps a similar UI to regular posts made by a user, but denotes more about the sizing range (will add the rest after organizing), and the choice to trade an item the user may own for the design or purchase the pattern directly. Keeping things straightforward. Users can also look at short anecdotes of the seller of the pattern, more patterns created by the seller, the pattern by the seller being used by other users, and patterns similar to the pattern by the seller.
Research
Project Management and Resources UI
Project Management and
Resources UI
Sewists who want to organize their projects can easily use Atelier’s project management system, where they can file the name and type of the project they are making, the project status, the option to file it under a collection of other projects, and the complete project description. They can also select the type of fabric they are using and a moodboard to advise them on the direction they are working on.
Afterwards, the full project management page will display the project information, along with the deadline the user sets for the end of their planned project. Crafters can also indicate notes of things they need to buy for the project, and also the steps they need to take, as well as the pattern, fabric, notions, and materials they are using for their project, to organize.
The resources page is also another place where designers who are unfamiliar with fabric, the creation of patterns, certain techniques, and materials can go to as a guiding reference for their projects and future work.
Sewists who want to organize their projects can easily use Atelier’s project management system, where they can file the name and type of the project they are making, the project status, the option to file it under a collection of other projects, and the complete project description. They can also select the type of fabric they are using and a moodboard to advise them on the direction they are working on.
Afterwards, the full project management page will display the project information, along with the deadline the user sets for the end of their planned project. Crafters can also indicate notes of things they need to buy for the project, and also the steps they need to take, as well as the pattern, fabric, notions, and materials they are using for their project, to organize.
The resources page is also another place where designers who are unfamiliar with fabric, the creation of patterns, certain techniques, and materials can go to as a guiding reference for their projects and future work.
Research
Shopping UI
Shopping UI
Atelier’s shopping center is also another resource establishment where sewists can upload and sell or trade patterns, fabric, notions, and materials of their own to recycle to other designers who might not have the necessary material when creating their projects. This promotes the recyclability aspect of sewing, but combats the central problem of sewists not having enough places to look for fabric.
Atelier’s shopping center is also another resource establishment where sewists can upload and sell or trade patterns, fabric, notions, and materials of their own to recycle to other designers who might not have the necessary material when creating their projects. This promotes the recyclability aspect of sewing, but combats the central problem of sewists not having enough places to look for fabric.
Design
Design
Reflection
Reflection
Building Atelier was a very intuitive process that helped me understand how to reroute my ideas to better help the user with their main problem. It also helped me understand how I can better apply the regular design system to a new application that doesn’t stray too far from creating something unfamiliar and new.
Building Atelier was a very intuitive process that helped me understand how to reroute my ideas to better help the user with their main problem. It also helped me understand how I can better apply the regular design system to a new application that doesn’t stray too far from creating something unfamiliar and new.