I began by assessing the current online interface and conducting a heuristic evaluation to identify possible issues. Although there were some positive qualities, the original interface was lacking in many ways, including general usability principles and the absence of an online shop.
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To begin research for Knit Unto Others, I focused on analyzing their direct competitors to understand how other yarn shops organize their inventory, what special offerings they might have, and how they manage online and local events.

Looking beyond the competitors, I also explored some secondary research and data about knitting's impact on general well-being — including a neuropsychiatry study that found that engaging in activities such as knitting could reduce the chance of developing mild cognitive impairment by 30 to 50 percent for seniors.

I interviewed five individuals who create projects within the realm of textile arts including knitting, crocheting and weaving — and who regularly buy yarn both online and in-person. In order to design the best possible experiences for the user, I needed to understand and empathize with them.

To help me better understand the user, I created an empathy map after conducting the user interviews in order to capture and represent the real-life attitudes, feelings, and behaviors of the participants.

Research confirmed some of my assumptions and a few clear patterns emerged from the interviews.
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Next, I identified key business and user goals to ensure all needs were being met. The addition of the e-commerce shop would be a new feature that would allow both Knit Unto Others and its users to achieve at least some of their individual and common goals. Following a brainstorming session, I created a project diagram.

Using the Miro, I created a user flow for one of the main functions of the site — buying yarn.

After sketching out my initial design ideas, I digitized them into wireframes to help me visualize the flow. During the wireframe process, I made sure to include an online shop and incorporated common website patterns such as a consistent menu, distinctive footer, and clear buttons to improve web usability. Additionally, I also added a page for community gatherings that offered a registration feature to sign up for in-person or virtual knit nights.

With the goal of elevating Knit Unto Others' brand, I created a modern, stylized logo and a consistent style guide for its website and branding. The previous logo looked dated and colorful; the updated version is simple and easy to read. It's also recognizable from a distance, whether it's used on the shop's signage or stamped on a bag.
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The color palette and style guide was influenced by clean, modern, simplified elements that are delicate and welcoming, reminiscent of soft yarn. The goal was to make the website accessible to all and easy to use, inviting the user to come back for updates and news.
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With my UI designs ready for the Knit Unto Others online shop, I created a high-fidelity prototype for usability testing. I then drafted a usability testing protocol outlining the test objective and methods, and defining the core tasks for users to complete. The plan also included a script for each session. The goal for usability testing was to evaluate the user's interactions with the Knit Unto Others website, identifying current and possible future pain points and the success of navigation, flow, architecture, and design.
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Overall, the prototype was a success because the design was implemented with both the user and stakeholders in mind from the beginning. As I interviewed and tested the users, each participant was able to successfully navigate the two tasks I assigned to them. The final reactions to the high-fidelity prototype were equal parts positive and excited.  

However, this project was created during a two-week sprint, so there are a few things I would do differently if I had the time and resources:
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