UaMadeEu

About

A charity project in aid of one of the Ukrainian charities, all the money from the sales will go to help the most war-affected groups. The aim is to create a minimally viable product with the possibility of deploying it in the future into a full-fledged online shop selling products from Ukrainian manufacturers in Europe.

Project overview

The product:

This should be a minimally viable online shop selling products from Ukrainian producers. The first profits from sales will go entirely to a charitable foundation, and subsequently, 10% of sales will be permanently transferred to help the most war-affected populations. It is also necessary to include in the functionality the possibility of further expansion of the e-shop.

The problem:

Since the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, many Ukrainian manufacturers have had problems selling their products; some have been forced to suspend or completely shut down production because of the war, and some have had to evacuate plants to other territories in an emergency. This has taken a heavy toll on the country’s economy.

Responsibilities:

Conducting primary and secondary research, creating a strong voice of brand & identity, wireframing, prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs.

The goal:

Create an online shop selling products of Ukrainian manufacturers. On the one hand, it will support the economy, and on the other hand, it will help to support people in difficult times. And it will help to save jobs.

Research

Primary and secondary research were carried out before project development began in order to better understand the target audience and the market as a whole.

Age

Gender

Findings

The results showed that our target audience is working men and women from 24 to 52 years old who have a high level of empathy and want to help Ukraine in some way. The majority of purchases were made on desktops and laptops, so it was decided to use a system with Graceful degradation (designing for the largest screen).

The main source of building trust in a recently visited online shop is opinions about it, as well as the possibility of paying on delivery, and clear and readable information about the possibility of making a return or complaint.

Pain points

Brand & Identity

The brand must evoke a clear association with the Ukrainian Nation, as all the goods that are planned to be sold through it will be from Ukrainian producers and with Ukrainian symbols.

Litres of coffee were consumed looking for references and generating ideas.

Wireframes

When I developed digital wireframes, I wanted to place all of the necessary functionalities and keep the site clear and easy to use.

Typography

HI-fi prototype

The final high-fidelity prototype presented cleaner user flows for ordering. It also met user needs for a pickup or delivery option as well as more customization.

Advertising banners

Accessibility considerations

1. Provided access to users who are visually impaired by adding alt text to images for screen readers.

2. Used icons to help make navigation easier.

3. The use of safe colors and contrasts in accordance with the rules of accessibility.

Going forward

Impact:

This site has enabled Ukrainian producers to enter the European market, thereby saving production and jobs. As the number of producers who plan to join the initiative grows, the design provides an opportunity to expand the catalogue into a full-fledged, large online shop.

What I learned:

I realised that when designing a project, you have to consider the opportunities for growth and further development.

Next steps:

Conduct usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed. Launch merchandise production to maintain audience interest in the brand.