Wave Wisdom

Desktop development for E-commerce

Background.

Surf science can get a bit convoluted and a bit too scientific for everyone to understand what they are talking about. Therefore, a gap and niche for this type of application for surfboard technology and design is needed. An app that also features information of master board builders, connects people with them and sells these designs directly through the app. The concept is to offer knowledge first due to passion for the water and then subsequently the offering of a surf vessel for consumption. Passion, creativity and humbleness are always first.

How might we create more insight and surfboard knowledge for advanced as well as beginner surfers?

Problem.

There is no centralized location on-line for learning about surfboard technology, the history of surfboard shapers, hydrodynamic principles, type of waves that go well with specific surfboards or where to travel with these for a specific function.

Solution.

Showcase the craftsmanship and knowledge of surfboard builders and while doing that, feature their craft, world surfing destinations and the history behind these hereditary shaping skills.

Discover. Design. Validate

Research.

Before jumping into any conclusions. A research plan had to be developed, in which also a research questionnaire was utilized for insight, as well as how might we questions, user stories and a competitive analysis to have accuracy within our user experience approach.

Competitive Analysis.

Survey Questions

How familiar are you with surfboard design and technology?

Do you know about hydrodynamic principles?
Are there any websites, social media or magazines you follow to inform yourself of surfboard design and trends? If so, which ones?
How often do you purchase a surfboard and how do you decide what you want and need for a surfboard?
Do you obtain the majority of the surfboard info from the site or from the shop being purchased?

What would you say is your surfing level? Beginner, intermediate or advanced?

Are you more interested in mainstream surf shops or in a craftsmen surfboard maker movement?
Do you prefer to surf progressive, hybrid or longboard surfboards?
How often do you go on a surf trip and do you purchase boards specifically for your trip?

Empathy map. Design phase led through discovery.

Empathy map and research + user stories led to the development of a user flow.

Travel to remote places so i can surf empty waves by myself.

Find the funnest board so i can trim the best line on a wave.
Talk to the pros so I can learn how to land a trick.

Low fidelity designs.

Followed and subsequently after usability testing and by iterating these; the high fidelity designs turned into a product

Usability Test

The goal was to obtain valuable feedback on usability and ease of navigation for people experienced with this field, as well as for beginners or intermediate avid surfers. The results were:

NN’s #6 (Recognition Rather than Recall) Usability Heuristic Method. They didn't understand that an image for a section was clickable. Users want to see something they can recognize.

NN’s #1 (Visibility of System Status) Usability Heuristic Method. The shopping cart should always be visible on any section of the page. A clear marker of quantity is also expected

NN’s #8 (Aesthetic and Minimalist Design) Usability Heuristic Method. Users in e-commerce sites appreciate now as a common practice to rely on suggestions.