Let It Flow End-to-End App
Arts & Crafts
To develop a MVP End-to-End app specifically for epoxy resin enthusiasts. Key Features to include Social Feed, Resin Calculator, Classes, Notifications, and Profile.
UX Researcher, UX/UI Designer, Content Creator, Logo & Brand Identity Creator
80 Hours
Epoxy resin has seen a huge surge in popularity among makers and artists in recent years, with the market estimated to reach $10.3 billion by 2027. It can be used for a variety of projects from jewelry to wind power and aerospace, and for makers and artists, it can be used to create wall art, jewelry, home goods, and furniture. This surge in popularity has seen the rise of resin art groups, Instagram posts, hashtags, and how-to videos, with many beginners just starting out and many pros who have mastered the craft. Usability tests have highlighted the need for more online resources and tools to help makers and artists learn the craft, leading to the development of a new app.
There is a deep desire from many to learn how to use epoxy resin and others who work to master their skill. The Epoxy Resin market was valued at $5.9 billion in 2019, and its projected to reach $10.3 billion by 2027.
Since tools and resources are so scattered, an app for epoxy resin artists and makers could help solve the problem by bringing it all together in one place where members feel comfortable sharing and learning.
Project Goals:
Key Features:
Since tools and resources are so scattered, an app for epoxy resin artists and makers could help solve the problem by bringing it all together in one place where members feel comfortable sharing and learning.
In my user research, I validated that there is a desire for an app for epoxy resin artists/makers. Most research participants were categorized as beginners but I had a handful of more experienced makers participate as well. The desire is strong to include a social media feature as well as classes and an epoxy resin calculator.
Beginner or Experienced?
In my user research, I validated that there is a desire for an app for epoxy resin artists/makers. Most research participants were categorized as beginners but I had a handful of more experienced makers participate as well. The desire is strong to include a social media feature as well as classes and an epoxy resin calculator.
Platform beginners used for learning about epoxy resin
In my user research, I validated that there is a desire for an app for epoxy resin artists/makers. Most research participants were categorized as beginners but I had a handful of more experienced makers participate as well. The desire is strong to include a social media feature as well as classes and an epoxy resin calculator.
Willing to post epoxy resin creations on social media
In my user research, I validated that there is a desire for an app for epoxy resin artists/makers. Most research participants were categorized as beginners but I had a handful of more experienced makers participate as well. The desire is strong to include a social media feature as well as classes and an epoxy resin calculator.
Would you enjoy learning tips and techniques from other makers?
Through my competitive research, I discovered a handful of apps that provide instruction in a variety of art and design related topics.
Of the 4 apps, 1 app offered 4 classes in epoxy resin, 1 offered 2 classes, and the last offered 1 class. The classes offered were mostly for making jewelry and interesting inlays. None of them covered the vast array of epoxy resin applications.
Only 1 app offered a social feed along with classes but only after a member subscribes. That same one also offered online events but did not seem to be updated any time recently.
My research concluded that there is a strong market for epoxy resin classes and a need for a new platform to host them.
Angela is a 32 year old married woman who is a Pacific Northwest Native. She lost her job due to the pandemic and is now taking advantage of the time she has to follow her dreams. She has always followed artists she loved on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and has had a desire to learn more about working with epoxy resin. She has dabbled in using it some and considers herself a beginner. She tends to get overwhelmed with the amount of information that is online and has found there is no real one-stop-shop to learn all things about epoxy resin. She would like to eventually sell her work on Etsy and at craft shows once she improves her skill and learns a few things about running her own business.
Angela is a 32 year old married woman who is a Pacific Northwest Native. She lost her job due to the pandemic and is now taking advantage of the time she has to follow her dreams. She has always followed artists she loved on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and has had a desire to learn more about working with epoxy resin. She has dabbled in using it some and considers herself a beginner. She tends to get overwhelmed with the amount of information that is online and has found there is no real one-stop-shop to learn all things about epoxy resin. She would like to eventually sell her work on Etsy and at craft shows once she improves her skill and learns a few things about running her own business.
Angela is a 32 year old married woman who is a Pacific Northwest Native. She lost her job due to the pandemic and is now taking advantage of the time she has to follow her dreams. She has always followed artists she loved on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok and has had a desire to learn more about working with epoxy resin. She has dabbled in using it some and considers herself a beginner. She tends to get overwhelmed with the amount of information that is online and has found there is no real one-stop-shop to learn all things about epoxy resin. She would like to eventually sell her work on Etsy and at craft shows once she improves her skill and learns a few things about running her own business.
Once all research concluded, I moved on to create the sitemap for the “Let it Flow” app.
One big focus was to keep it as simple as possible while providing enough information for the user to post to the social feed, use the tools, take a class, check notifications, and update their profile.
I split the sitemap up into 2 categories:
Once the Sitemap was complete, I needed to ensure the flow of posting to the social feed as well as finding and taking a class were easy to navigate. Since there are other apps that provide classes, it was important to provide a good experience and safe space so users feel they can trust the app.
I put 2 flows together:
Since this app was a new design, I had to create the name, the logo, and the branding. For the logo, I started with a variety of sketches, then refined my ideas, and finally came to a logo that fit the needs of the app.
I knew I wanted an icon I could incorporate into the app as the “classes” navigation icon so I had to make sure it was simple enough and that it could be reduced in size and still be recognizable.
Since this app was a new design, I had to create the name, the logo, and the branding. For the logo, I started with a variety of sketches, then refined my ideas, and finally came to a logo that fit the needs of the app.
I knew I wanted an icon I could incorporate into the app as the “classes” navigation icon so I had to make sure it was simple enough and that it could be reduced in size and still be recognizable.
Since this app was a new design, I had to create the name, the logo, and the branding. For the logo, I started with a variety of sketches, then refined my ideas, and finally came to a logo that fit the needs of the app.
I knew I wanted an icon I could incorporate into the app as the “classes” navigation icon so I had to make sure it was simple enough and that it could be reduced in size and still be recognizable.
I knew I wanted an icon I could incorporate into the app as the “classes” navigation icon so I had to make sure it was simple enough and that it could be reduced in size and still be recognizable.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
The UI Design kit was created with all the necessary fonts, color palettes, type settings, buttons, icons, navigation, and cards.
I started sketching out my ideas first then began to refine them on the computer. My goal was to keep the screens simple and user friendly.
I started sketching out my ideas first then began to refine them on the computer. My goal was to keep the screens simple and user friendly.
I started sketching out my ideas first then began to refine them on the computer. My goal was to keep the screens simple and user friendly.
I started sketching out my ideas first then began to refine them on the computer. My goal was to keep the screens simple and user friendly.
I started sketching out my ideas first then began to refine them on the computer. My goal was to keep the screens simple and user friendly.
Once my wireframes were complete, I started filling in my design and elevating it to a professional state. The wireframes were detailed enough that only minor changes were needed as I was building the app.
As part of the update, I added new icons to the navigation. The one I used for “classes” was an important change since I moved from a lightbulb to the icon from the logo.
The app really took shape as I tightened everything up. Once all was finalized, I created the prototype and got it ready the usability testing phase.
Once my wireframes were complete, I started filling in my design and elevating it to a professional state. The wireframes were detailed enough that only minor changes were needed as I was building the app.
As part of the update, I added new icons to the navigation. The one I used for “classes” was an important change since I moved from a lightbulb to the icon from the logo.
The app really took shape as I tightened everything up. Once all was finalized, I created the prototype and got it ready the usability testing phase.
Once my wireframes were complete, I started filling in my design and elevating it to a professional state. The wireframes were detailed enough that only minor changes were needed as I was building the app.
As part of the update, I added new icons to the navigation. The one I used for “classes” was an important change since I moved from a lightbulb to the icon from the logo.
The app really took shape as I tightened everything up. Once all was finalized, I created the prototype and got it ready the usability testing phase.
Once my wireframes were complete, I started filling in my design and elevating it to a professional state. The wireframes were detailed enough that only minor changes were needed as I was building the app.
As part of the update, I added new icons to the navigation. The one I used for “classes” was an important change since I moved from a lightbulb to the icon from the logo.
The app really took shape as I tightened everything up. Once all was finalized, I created the prototype and got it ready the usability testing phase.
Once my wireframes were complete, I started filling in my design and elevating it to a professional state. The wireframes were detailed enough that only minor changes were needed as I was building the app.
As part of the update, I added new icons to the navigation. The one I used for “classes” was an important change since I moved from a lightbulb to the icon from the logo.
The app really took shape as I tightened everything up. Once all was finalized, I created the prototype and got it ready the usability testing phase.
After creating my prototype in Figma, I built the usability test using Maze. To my delight, the results leaned positively, but I still had some work to do. There were 34 participants with a total of 73 comments. The comments helped steer the changes to this project.
There were 2 major fixes I implemented. Those were adding labels were added to the bottom navigation icons and I moved the "Post" button down where users thought they would find it.
Of the 73 comments there were...
47 (or 64% of total) positive statements:
19 (or 26% of total) opportunity statements:
7 (or 10% of total) pain point statements:
I was both excited and nervous about this project - excited because I was doing something I love for something I love. I created this project out of a secondary passion of mine; I am one of the many epoxy resin enthusiasts that could benefit and enjoy an app like this. I was nervous to start this project since it is so personal and solely my creation. I wasn’t sure what other epoxy resin artists and makers would think of this design. The positive comments that came from the usability testing were reassuring and felt great that many of them would like to see an app like this in the real world.
I learned a great deal working on this project. For one, I have always known that labels in the navigation are important, however, I did not take that too seriously until my users told me to. My original design did not have labels, only icons with the assumption that everyone would figure it out and get used to it. While true, adding the labels makes it that much easier and takes the guesswork out for the user.
It goes to show how very important user research and usability tests are. The users have the answers to all of the problems. We, as designers, just need to listen.
