Making Custom Printing Click: Bringing Lume into the Spotlight
Project Overview
This is a conceptual project aimed at creating the digital presence for Lume, a local printing and embroidery business, as part of the Google UX Design Certificate.
The problem
Custom printing is often overlookedāmany donāt realize its potential and possibilities. Lume wanted to change that, but without a digital presence, it remained unseen.
The Goal
Bridge the gap between curiosity and creation, helping users navigate the world of custom printing and turn their ideas into reality.
My Role
Product Designer ā Conducted research, designed the IA, created wireframes, and developed UI refinements.
Responsabilities
User research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and design system development.
TimelineĀ
This project was developed over a six-month structured course, balancing this project with other commitments.
Understanding the user
From Idea to Reality: Making Custom Printing Effortless
Many people love the idea of personalized products, but when it comes to actually creating them, uncertainty takes over.
While some struggle to visualize their ideas, others fear the final product wonāt meet their expectations. This hesitation, combined with a lack of guidance, often leads potential customers to abandon the process before even starting. The goal? Not just to showcase Lumeās services, but to empower usersābuilding confidence in both the brand and their own creativity.
Pain Points
A user survey conducted during the discovery phase revealed key barriers users face when considering custom printing, ensuring the design solutions directly addressed their needs.
1. Unawareness
Users are often unaware of the potential of these services. Seeing them as complicated, they struggle to understand how to create designs or where to find professional support, often overlooking these options.
2. Skepticism
Potential customers worry that the final product may not meet their expectations. The most common concerns include a lack of real customer references and uncertainty about product durability.
3. Self-doubt
Some users hesitate to use these services, unsure of their creative skills. Others doubt their ability to turn an idea into reality, making the process feel out of reach.
Persona
To design a more efficient shopping experience tailored to user needs, I definedĀ four key user profilesĀ based on behavioral patterns and shopping goals. These profiles helped me prioritize essential features and enhance app navigation.
Guillermo ā Ā The Meaningful Stay Maker š”
š Guesthouse Owner | 42 | Mos, Spain
Guillermo believes that every stay at his guesthouse should be more than just a visitāit should be a memorable experience. After years in hospitality, heās learned that small details leave a lasting impact. He wants to offer guests a unique souvenir that captures their stay and makes them want to share it. However, with limited time and budget, he struggles to find a practical way to make this happen.
Pain points
- Time constraints ā Running a guesthouse is demanding, and he canāt commit to complex projects that require too much of his time.
- Unawareness ā He knows he wants to offer guests a personal souvenir but isnāt sure whatās possible or how to approach it.
Motivations
- Grow his business by creating a guest experience that feels personal and memorable, strengthening their connection with his brand.
- Take pride in his project, knowing it brings joy to others and creates lasting connections.
Carolina ā The Thoughtful Gifter š
š Community Manager | 27 | Vigo, Spain
Carolina treasures the little moments with her family. For her, a gift is more than just an objectāitās a way to express love and make others feel special. She loves coming up with meaningful ideas, but when a personalized gift feels like the perfect choice, she often gets stuckānot knowing where to start or how to bring her vision to life.
š© Pain points
- Self-doubt ā She has great ideas but feels unsure about the process, making her doubt whether she has the skills to make them happen.
- Skepticism ā She worries that the final product might look unpolished or amateurish, making her hesitant to place an order.
šÆ Motivations
- Connect with her loved ones and make them feel special through thoughtful gifts.
- Enjoy the creative process without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated.
User Journey
š¤ļø Carolinaās User Journey ā Creating a Personalized Gift
1. Searching for ideas
- Emotions: š¤© Excited, šµāš« overwhelmed
- Problem: Too many possibilities make it hard to decide.
- Opportunity: Organize inspiration by occasion & recipient.
2. Creating the design
- Emotions: šŖ Empawered, š¬ Hesitant
- Problem: Lacks confidence in her design skills, fears the outcome wonāt match her vision.
- Opportunity: Offer guidelines, templates & real-time previews.
3. Finding a printing service
- Emotions: š¤ Unsure, š«¤ Skeptical ,
- Problem: Doesnāt know where to go or how to compare services.
- Opportunity: Show interactive previews of real products and offer a simple guided process for users who need support.
4. Placing the order
- Emotions : š¤Ø Anxious, š Relieved
- Problem: Unclear about sizes, formats, and requirements.
- Opportunity: Provide clear size and format guidelines with AI-powered FAQ support to answer common questions
5. Receiving the product
- Emotions: š Expectant, š¬ Nervous
- Problem: Worried about possible errors or how to take care of the product.
- Opportunity: Include care instructions in the pickup notification
6. Giving the gift
- Emotions: š„° Excited, ā¤ļøāš„ proud
- Problem: Wants the gift to look special but doesnāt know how to present it nicely.
- Opportunity: Offer personalized packaging & wrapping options.
š¤ļø Guillermoās User Journey ā Creating a Personalized Keepsake for Guests
1. Searching for ideas
- Emotions: š¤ Curious, šµāš« Overwhelmed
- Problem: Unsure about what kind of keepsake would be meaningful for his guests.
- Opportunity: Provide categorized inspiration & showcase real examples from other customers.
2. Finding a printing service
- Emotions: š¬ Confused , š© Overwhelmed
- Problem: Needs a reliable provider but struggles to compare quality, pricing, and turnaround times.
- Opportunity: Provide an approximate pricing calculator, and contact info.
3. Contacting a designer
- Emotions: š¤Ø Anxious, š¬ Uncertain
- Problem: Lacks time to search for a designer and coordinate the project.
- Opportunity: Provide a network of trusted designers or pre-made templates to simplify the process.
4. Finalizing the order
- Emotions : š Relieved, š Anxious
- Problem: Unsure about file formats and printing requirements, making him anxious about possible delays.
- Opportunity: Restrict uploadable file formats and provide clear specifications to streamline the printing process.
5. Receiving the product
- Emotions: šāāļø Rushed, š Excited
- Problem: In a hurry with other errands but eager to see the final result and share it.
- Opportunity: Send a notification when the order is ready, offer express checkout, and let customers preview their order digitally before pickup.
6. Presenting the keepsakes to guests
- Emotions: š„³ Excited, š Concerned
- Problem: Proud of how guests receive the keepsakes but worried about running out of stock due to a miscalculation.
- Opportunity: Announce the option for recurring orders and send reminders to those who opt in.
The design
Paper wireframes
To bridge ideation and prototyping, I created paper wireframes after dynamic brainstorming sessions, including exercises like Crazy Eights. These sketches quickly turned abstract ideas into clear solutions, guiding the digital prototypes.
Digital wireframes
I translated paper wireframes into digital designs to quickly test structure, clarity, and user flow. These wireframes allowed me to conduct early usability studies, directly incorporating user feedback into the design process.
Usuability Study Findings
After testing digital wireframes with potential users, I identified clear areas for improvement:
1. Customization Button Hard to Find:
Some users struggled to locate the customization button, highlighting the need for clearer positioning and visual prominence.
2. Unclear and Frustrating Navigation:
Initial navigation confused users due to insufficient visual cues. Introducing relevant iconography will reduce text dependency and enhance intuitiveness.
3. Email Matters More Than Expected
At first, I saw email as just another confirmation method, but user feedback showed me otherwise. For many, the confirmation email isnāt just a receiptāitās their go-to reference for tracking and peace of mind.
Redefining the Design
Based on usability insights, I refined the design. Below, you can see side-by-side comparisons highlighting how user feedback directly shaped a more intuitive and satisfying experience.
1. Customization Button Hard to Find.
To improve visibility and accessibility, I redesigned the customization button by:
ā Increasing its size and contrast. ā Adding an icon for quick recognition. ā Enhancing placement for better discoverability.
ā”ļø
2. Unclear and Frustrating Navigation.
To address user confusion, I refined the interface by:
ā Adding relevant icons to improve scannability. ā Enhancing button affordance with clearer visual cues. ā Adjusting text hierarchy for better readability.
ā”ļø
3. Email Matters More Than Expected
Realizing that users naturally rely on email for order details, I refined the confirmation page to:
ā Ā Clearly indicate that an email has been sent.
ā Ā Display the recipientās email for reassurance.
ā Ā Provide troubleshooting steps for missing emails.
ā Ā Offer easy access to support for order modifications.
ā”ļø
šĀ Next steps
ā ļøĀ Ā Remember that this project is still evolving! Hereās whatās coming next:
1. Brand Definition
Lume has a logo, but not much else in terms of visual identity. Even though this isnāt a branding project, defining some key brand elements will help give the final design a clearer and stronger personality.
2. Design System
Once the branding is set, Iāll translate it into a practical design system to keep things consistent and simplify future design decisions.
3. High-Fidelity Prototype
With the design system ready, Iāll create a polished prototype to put all the usability feedback into action. This prototype will serve as a solid base for further testing and future iterations.