LAO Goods
E-commerce website for hand-crafted pieces.
Duration: JAN 2023 -MAY 2023
Project Objectives
The objective of this project is to establish an online storefront for my small business, LAO Goods—a website where customers can purchase ceramic handmade goods. The website will list products for sale, show prior work and collaborations, have a contact page for commission projects and a page section about the origins of the brand.
Design Process
On a Miro board, I was able to conceptualize the goals of the project.
Initially, I selected color schemes and keywords that conveyed the brand identity for LAO Goods. I kept in mind how I wanted the user to feel when navigating the website and/or picking up a physical product of the brand.
Utilizing a website analysis chart, I gathered websites of ceramics artists to compare their visual design approach. Analyzing other websites assisted in comprehending typical layouts and shaping the desired outcome for the website I was creating. I then organized desired layout tabs with a site map.
To ensure users can find information they need and navigate between screens with minimal effort, I created an information architecture diagram. The diagram was helpful for outlining the website's structure before its creation. It served as a crucial reference point during the design of the navigation pages, ensuring a cohesive and well-organized layout.
Context and Background
LAO Goods is a small-production pottery business based in Austin, Tx. Working out of a small home-garage, each piece is handmade with care and takes about 8-10 weeks to create from start to finish.
Implementation
During the development process, I integrated my research and diagrams to guide the websites creation. This preparation significantly streamlined the process, making it more manageable and less overwhelming. I opted to use the website builder Squarespace to create a user-friendly storefront tailored to consumers. Its intuitive interface and customizable templates allowed for an efficient and effective design process, enhancing the overall user experience.
Conclusion
The project's overarching impact involved integrating my UX and ceramics skills to develop a storefront for a small craft business. As the business owner, I recognize the unique perspective of this project. Through this process, I developed stronger empathy skills through learning how to carefully consider and take into account the needs of stakeholders while also aligning with business outcomes and staying true to brand identity.