EPIK WISH - Website - UI/UX
CLIENT: ENKI Inc & Epik Wish
PROJECT ROLE: Lead UX/UI Designer, designing a Website for EPIK WISH, from conception to delivery
RESPONSIBILITIES: Market research, digital wireframing, lo-fi, and hi-fi prototyping.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
Epik Wish is a community-driven platform that aims to fulfill dreams and wishes by connecting compassionate individuals who believe in living a purposeful life. The platform allows both community and non-community members to gift monetary and non-monetary gifts, fostering a sense of support and collaboration.
Members can showcase their wishes, celebrations, and desired gifts on their profile pages, choosing what information to share with others. Gifts can be spontaneous or in response to wish lists, with options for specific items, college funds, charitable donations, or contributions towards desired items.
The platform operates on a freemium model, with premium features and third-party services planned for the future. Epik Wish envisions a world where everyone can participate, share gifts of any type, and support each other's dreams, ultimately creating a better, happier, and more fulfilled world.
THE PURPOSE/GOAL: The main purpose of Epik Wish is to revolutionize the gifting experience by offering a personalized and convenient online platform that inspires, connects, and empowers users to find and give the perfect gifts.
PROJECT DURATION:
September 2023 - 2024
Market Analysis
Key Takeaways:
Epik Wish is a community-driven platform focused on fulfilling dreams and wishes.
Members can give both monetary and non-monetary gifts to support each other.
Profile pages allow members to showcase their wishes, celebrations, and desired gifts.
Gifts can have monetary or non-monetary value, ranging from specific items to contributions for college funds or charitable donations.
The platform follows a freemium model and plans to introduce premium features and third-party services.
Epik Wish aims to create a global community where individuals can connect, share gifts, and support each other's dreams for a better world.
SWOT Analysis:
STRENGTHS
Personalized Gifting: Epik Wish offers a platform that promotes personalized gifting experiences, catering to the growing demand for unique and thoughtful gifts.
Online Marketplace Integration: The platform integrates seamlessly into the thriving e-commerce market, leveraging the popularity of online shopping and providing users with a streamlined gift-buying process.
User Engagement and Community: Epik Wish fosters an engaged community where users can share gifting ideas, wish lists, and experiences, creating a sense of belonging and inspiration among users.
Partnering with Local Retailers: By partnering with local retailers, Epik Wish supports and benefits local businesses, while also offering users a diverse range of gifting options and helping them find gifts that align with their preferences.
OPPORTUNITIES
Growing Millennial Market: Epik Wish can capitalize on the increasing spending power of millennials, who value individuality, personalization, and convenient online shopping experiences.
Expansion of Partner Network: By expanding its network of local retailers and partnering with online marketplaces, Epik Wish can offer a wider range of products and reach a larger customer base.
Integration of Emerging Technologies: Epik Wish can explore the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance its recommendation algorithms and provide even more personalized gifting options.
WEAKNESSES
Reliance on Online Presence: Epik Wish heavily depends on its online platform, which could pose a challenge if there are technical issues or disruptions in the digital infrastructure.
Limited Brand Recognition: As a relatively new brand, Epik Wish may face challenges in building brand awareness and establishing itself as a go-to platform for personalized gifting, especially in a competitive market.
Balancing Personalization and Scalability: Providing personalized experiences for a large user base can be challenging, and Epik Wish needs to ensure that as the platform grows, it can still deliver on its promise of tailored recommendations and options.
THREATS
Intense Competition: The online gifting market is highly competitive, with established players and new entrants vying for market share. Epik Wish must differentiate itself and continuously innovate to stay ahead.
Economic Uncertainty: Economic downturns or unstable market conditions may impact consumer spending on gifts, potentially affecting Epik Wish's revenue and growth.
Data Security and Privacy Concerns: As an online platform dealing with user data, Epik Wish must prioritize data security and address any privacy concerns to maintain user trust and compliance with data protection regulations.
Difficulties & Challenges:
Gifting Is Year-Round, but Grifters Lack Inspiration
Grifters struggle to find inspiration when shopping for friends and loved ones.
McKinsey report indicates that 47% of shoppers need gift ideas for the holiday season.
Different browsing preferences: 70% of Canadian consumers, 65% of US consumers, and 63% of German consumers research in-store, while 74% of UK consumers prefer online research.
Personalized Gifting
Increasing demand for personalized gifts, with the gifting market expected to reach a CAGR of 8.5% by 2021.
Retailers that offer personalized and omnichannel experiences gain an advantage.
Epik Wish promotes personalized gifting and gives users the ability to state their preferences.
Gifting, Non-Traditional Gift Giving, and the PandemicNon-traditional occasions and the COVID-19 pandemic impact gift-giving.
Financial pressure and reduced gift-giving were observed during the pandemic.
Epik Wish bridges the gap created by the pandemic, offers options for both traditional and non-traditional occasions, and accommodates various budget constraints.
Gifting on a Time CrunchTime constraints make it challenging for grifters to find the perfect gift.
Consumers prefer online promotions and look for convenient options.
Epik Wish streamlines the gifting process, partners with consumer brands, and saves gift-givers valuable time.
Overall, Epik Wish addresses the lack of inspiration, personalization, time constraints, and the impact of the pandemic in the gifting experience. The platform provides personalized gift ideas, accommodates non-traditional occasions, offers a range of budget-friendly options, and streamlines the gifting process for time-constrained individuals.
Problem Statement Sum:
The problem is that gifters lack inspiration, struggle with personalization, face time constraints, and are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, making the gifting experience challenging and in need of a solution like Epik Wish.
Solution Statement:
Epik Wish offers a comprehensive gifting solution by providing personalized gift ideas, accommodating non-traditional occasions, offering a range of budget-friendly options, and streamlining the gifting process for time-constrained individuals, thereby addressing the lack of inspiration, personalization, time constraints, and the impact of the pandemic in the gifting experience.
Streamlining the Online Gifting Experience for Customers, Local Retailers, and Brands:
The rise of e-commerce and online marketplaces has made online shopping the preferred method for customers, with smartphones playing a significant role in their purchasing habits. Epik Wish, an online gifting platform, capitalizes on this trend by offering a streamlined gift-giving process for online shoppers, providing a wide range of retail options, and enabling price comparison to find affordable gifts.
Local retailers often struggle with inventory management, which can have financial implications. By partnering with Epik Wish, local retailers gain insights into customer preferences and needs, allowing them to optimize their supply and keep prices competitive. Supporting local businesses is crucial for preserving local economies, and Epik Wish aims to increase the customer base for these retailers.
Brands seeking to expand their reach and increase brand awareness can benefit from partnering with online marketplaces. During the holiday season, gift card purchases have seen steady growth, and with the rise of online shopping due to the pandemic, this trend is expected to continue. Epik Wish serves as a platform that connects brands with potential customers, offering a variety of options and facilitating cost-saving deals and services for both customers and brand partners.
Epik Wish's online gifting platform not only enhances the customer experience but also provides opportunities for local retailers to thrive and brands to reach new audiences, making it a valuable solution for streamlining the online gifting process for all stakeholders involved.
Key Takeaways:
Online marketplaces and e-commerce platforms are rapidly growing as preferred shopping destinations, with smartphones playing a significant role in the purchasing journey.
Epik Wish, an online gifting platform, streamlines the gift-giving process for online shoppers by providing a variety of retail options and enabling price comparison.
Local retailers can benefit from partnering with Epik Wish to understand customer preferences, optimize inventory, and offer competitive pricing, supporting the local economy.Epik Wish offers an opportunity for brands to increase brand awareness and reach new customers by partnering with the platform, particularly during the holiday season when gift card purchases are on the rise.
The platform aims to provide cost-saving deals and services for customers and brand partners, creating a mutually beneficial environment.
Epik Wish serves as a comprehensive solution that enhances the online gifting experience for customers, supports local retailers, and helps brands expand their customer base.By integrating with the online marketplace and catering to customer preferences, Epik Wish aims to provide a convenient and efficient platform for all stakeholders involved in the gifting process.
Target Audience:
Millennials Are Digitally Native And Have Highest Income:
Millennials are the first digitally native generation that has overtaken baby boomers as the largest adult population in America. By 2030, the collective annual income of Millennials worldwide is expected to exceed 4 trillion dollars.
Millennials Are The Highest Educated Generation And Make The Most Online Purchases:
34% of millennials have at least a bachelor’s degree, while only 13% of the silent generation and 24% of baby boomers can say the same. 54% of millennials make purchases online. Millennials will pay a premium for luxury and popular items and spend money on technology and fashion recreationally.
Millennials Are The Generation Most Interested In Gifting:
According to a study by Loop Commerce suggests that millennials are the best and most thoughtful generation when it comes to giving gifts. 42% of millennials purchase gifts for fun, only 26% of baby boomers and 36% of Generation X do that. Millennials are also more focused on giving the right gifts when compared to other generations. 71% of millennials believe that the uniqueness of a gift is more important than nabbing an item on sale.
EpikWish responds to the demand for individualized, thoughtful gifting, which is a major priority for millennials. EpikWish does not only help with gifting but also provides a platform where millennials can share their wish lists of presents they would like to receive or also a gift to other people.
We envision a community of millennials using a wish list as a medium to get inspired for gifting ideas but also to share their wishes with their friends, who can then gift them what they really want. By providing a gifting platform, millennials will not only be able to continue being the best at gifting, but they can also become even more creative and share their ideas with other dreamers.
User Personas:
User Persona 1: Sarah, the Tech Enthusiast Millennial
Demographics: Sarah is a 28-year-old millennial with a bachelor's degree and a high-paying job in the technology industry.
Shopping Habits: She enjoys shopping online for the latest tech gadgets and fashion items. Sarah is willing to pay a premium for luxury and popular items.
Gifting Behavior: Sarah loves giving thoughtful gifts to her friends and family. She believes in the uniqueness of a gift and enjoys finding personalized presents.
Epik Wish Interaction: Sarah uses Epik Wish to explore unique gifting ideas and create wish lists for herself and others. She actively engages with the platform's community, sharing her creative gifting ideas and seeking inspiration from others.
User Persona 2: Mark, the Fashion-forward Millennial
Demographics: Mark is a 32-year-old millennial who works in the fashion industry. He has a bachelor's degree and a good income.
Shopping Habits: Mark is a fashion enthusiast and enjoys shopping online for trendy clothing and accessories. He stays updated with the latest fashion trends and is willing to spend on fashion recreationally.
Gifting Behavior: Mark considers gifting an essential part of his relationships. He seeks out unique and fashionable gifts that align with his recipients' preferences.
Epik Wish Interaction: Mark utilizes Epik Wish to discover fashion-related gifting ideas. He appreciates the platform's personalized recommendations and shares his own fashion-inspired gift suggestions with others.
Test the Prototype:
Accessibility considerations
I’ve add in consideration typography hierarchy, so in a layout divisions were created to help/show users where to focus and make it easier to find information.
In terms of colour, I’ve applied the 60-30-10 rule. Also used some accent colours to emphasize information, and at the same time all the app is communicating the branding.
In addition to colour I’ve also had the caution to use icons, so the overall design will be clearer to more users.
Next steps
I need to continuing measuring (analytics) the engagement with users, to understand the impact our updates made regarding it.
I will conduct when possible another Usability Study to have some inputs from new users. So it helps me to continue improving the User Experience.
I will want to ear from The Skate Shop experience as well, so they can give me an opinion about the impact on their business and see if their goals are being achieved.
