HardBy Design are purveyors of fine concrete products. They design and manufacture concrete products and are based outside Newry in Northern Ireland.
The client had an existing website which only consisted of a homepage. The website wasn’t showcasing enough of the projects and products that the client produced to show off their stunning work that would encourage people to contact them to place an order.
As there wasn't a budget for this project to do a comprehensive UX research process, I researched high-end competitor websites to help base my design decisions.
I researched websites from a similar industry and found three which stood out the most:
From concreteworks.com I liked the breakdown of three sections to the website. This website also showcased products to a very similar way the client wanted them broken down.
From paloform.co.uk I liked the big hero section at the top to showcase the best images as soon as you come onto the website. This website also had a product section which showed similar products to the clients products.
From Floatdesign.co.za I liked how the website had minimal text and more images and also the overlapping style of images.
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After consulting with both the graphic designer and the client, it was decided that when a colour swatch is selected on a product page, the displayed image would automatically update to reflect the chosen colour.
Displaying swatch colour images for each product improves UX by making the shopping experience more visual and intuitive. It allows users to easily compare colour options at a glance, helping them make more informed decisions about style and preferences. By seeing real-life colour representations, customers gain confidence in their choices, reducing uncertainty and the likelihood of returns due to colour mismatches. This enhances user satisfaction and streamlines the decision-making process, creating a more engaging and personalised shopping experience.
Products with additional features or add-ons that could increase the cost prompted the decision to implement a product calculator, allowing users to see an estimated price for the selected product.
Calculating estimated prices on the website enhances a user's experience by providing transparency and reducing uncertainty for users. It allows customers to see the total cost, including any add-ons or customisations, before making a purchase decision, which improves trust and satisfaction.
This streamlined process helps prevent unexpected surprises at checkout or when speaking to the company who follow up with the request, leading to a smoother, more intuitive shopping experience and increased conversion rates.
