Carve Surfboards
I undertook a training module on Skillshare to create a randomly generated project to add to my portfolio and to learn new skills.
The goal was to create a stylish e-commerce website with a cool blue colour palette and to appeal to both new and experienced surfers looking to buy surfboards and products.
Project Overview
The Task
In the summer of 2023 I decided to undertake some learnings on the Skillshare platform to refresh my UX Design skills and get some experience for freelance projects that I was working on. I studied the Figma UI UX Design Essentials by Daniel Scott and created a wireframe, user interface design, functioning prototype, and final design over the course. I used an auto-generated tool to choose my project which ended up being
The Client
I also used a tool to auto generate a user which I then built out a more developed persona, touching on pain points, goals and motivations and personality.
“I want to take up surfing in my spare time and I’m looking for a board that’ll suit my needs.”
Your ideal customer is a woman named Sheen. Sheen is in their early 50’s and is single with two children They are a high school graduate and work as a freelancer. Sheen lives in London, is very familiar with your product and is status conscious.
User Research
Sheen’s limited spare time highlighted the importance of an intuitive and efficient navigation system. The application was designed with a clear and straightforward layout, allowing Sheen to easily explore surfboards and equipment without unnecessary complexity. The user interface minimised friction, ensuring that Sheen could quickly find what she needed and make the most of her time on the app. By empathetically understanding her needs and preferences, I designed an app that aligned with Sheen’s requirement’s, providing a tailored and enriching experience for users like her. This user-centric approach ensures that our application resonates with individuals embarking on a surfing journey, making it a valuable companion for both beginners and seasoned surfers alike.
Wireframes and Prototyping
Wireframes and prototypes played a pivotal role in translating user research insights into tangible design concepts. The wireframes served as preliminary sketches, illustrating the arrangement of elements such as product listings, purchasing options, and multimedia content on the site. These initial, low-fidelity wireframes provided a visual framework, facilitating a clear understanding of the website’s flow for diverse users—prospective customers, enthusiasts, and industry experts alike.
Subsequently, I translated these wireframes into interactive prototypes for both the website and mobile platform. The prototypes became instrumental in testing and refining user interactions. Through interactive demos, I evaluated and enhanced the site’s navigational aspects, ensuring an intuitive and seamless experience for users. This iterative process allowed for continuous improvement, ultimately fine-tuning the design to deliver a compelling and user-friendly interface.
Design and Styles
The chosen colour palette revolves around various shades of blue, drawing inspiration from the vast spectrum of hues found in the ocean and the sky. This conceptualisation aims to evoke a sense of tranquillity, reliability, and connection to the surfing experience. Blues, ranging from deep navy to serene turquoise, not only resonate with the brand identity but also establish an immediate visual association with the surfing culture.
The Final Product
Overall I found the course incredibly valuable and useful for someone just starting on Figma and in User Experience design. It however was not as useful for someone looking to learn more about the user research side of UX design which is something that I would like to further explore. Having studied the subject at University it was perfect as a refresher and I was able to submit a working prototype that I am very pleased with and feel it meets the initial task deliverables.
I am pleased with the way my application turned out and would like to continue adding to the development with some information pages around surfing spots, refining the design to be much more modern and generally adding more features.
