DISCLAIMER: This case study is an independent portfolio piece completed for the Google UX Design Professional Certificate. It features conceptual designs for a completely fictional industrial metal band named "Hollow Frequency". I am not affiliated with, endorsed by, or employed by the real-world band of the same name, nor is this project dedicated to them. All materials presented here are made up solely for portfolio purposes.

Hollow Frequency

Mobile Merch App Case Study

Role

Lead UX/UI Designer

Timeline

January – February 2026

Tools

Figma, Google Workspace, FigJam

Deliverables

User research, competitive auditing, wireframing, and high-fidelity prototyping

1

The Challenge

Highly engaged fans consistently abandon limited-edition digital merchandise drops. This drop-off is driven by sluggish multi-step checkout sequences, vague sizing charts, and delayed shipping cost transparency.

2

The Solution

A streamlined native mobile application featuring an accelerated "Quick Buy" architecture and an interactive "FIND MY FIT" sizing calculator.

3

The Impact

Established a direct purchase pathway that empowers users to finalize their apparel selections, reducing checkout steps by 30% and allowing fans to reach the order summary in a maximum of three interactions.

1. The Problem & Ideation

Utilizing the User-Centered Design (UCD) framework, I set out to transform a complex merchandise catalog into a streamlined mobile interface. Dedicated industrial metal enthusiasts strongly prefer purchasing exclusive apparel digitally, yet they frequently drop out of the sales funnel during high-stakes merchandise releases. By mapping the user journey for our primary persona, Jax, it became clear that exclusive inventory often sells out while users are stuck navigating cumbersome mobile checkout forms during their daily transit. Utilizing the Crazy Eights methodology, I rapidly brainstormed interface layouts that elevated a "Quick Buy" action to the forefront, enabling fans to bypass the traditional browsing friction.

Rapid ideation paper sketches for checkout flow

Ideation Sketches

2. Research & Structure

Foundational research was executed through unmoderated remote usability studies, measuring critical performance indicators including Time on Task and System Usability Scores. The initial hypothesis was that fans primarily valued exploring high-resolution garment artwork. However, the qualitative data illuminated a vastly different primary need: transactional speed and sizing confidence. Furthermore, a rigorous market audit revealed that major competitors lacked a frictionless guest checkout pipeline, a strategic gap that directly informed the architecture of my low-fidelity wireframes.

Lo-Fi Checkout Structure

Lo-Fi Structure

3. Feature Innovation: "Quick Buy"

To resolve the inherent friction of multi-step purchases, a streamlined "Quick Buy" integration was designed directly into the primary feed. This establishes a transactional path of least resistance, enabling fans to select their size and arrive at the order summary swiftly. Following the initial round of usability studies, I applied a 60-30-10 color rule to match the band's aesthetic while ensuring the high-contrast primary call-to-action instantly drew the eye. Additionally, the final summary pane now explicitly calculates shipping costs upfront to drastically reduce hidden-fee cart abandonment rates.

Hi-Fi Home Page with Quick Buy

Hi-Fi Flow

4. Sizing Clarity: "FIND MY FIT"

Testing revealed significant anxiety regarding garment fit. Participants noted that standard size charts lacked clarity and posed a genuine financial risk for items prone to post-wash shrinking. To cure this sizing ambiguity, traditional static charts were replaced with a prominent "FIND MY FIT" trigger that launches a custom sizing calculator modal. Subsequent validation rounds confirmed that this interactive tool successfully restored user confidence, allowing them to finalize purchases without second-guessing their selection.

Product Page Interface

Product & Sizing

UX Takeaway

"Functionality and speed must prioritize over pure aesthetics. Beautiful UI only matters if the UX actually gets the user through the checkout line."

High-Fidelity UI Gallery

A closer look at the polished screens, highlighting the streamlined checkout flow and interactive sizing tools.

Home Page (Quick Buy)
Product Page
Interactive Sizing Modal
Product Sizing Results
Streamlined Checkout
Transparent Cart Summary

Process Documents & Next Steps

The final project deliverables encompassed the Research Study Plan, the Market Audit, and the high-fidelity interactive prototype. Future roadmap considerations include designing a VIP loyalty tier to grant returning fans early-access push notifications for exclusive merchandise drops.

Full Case Study Deck
PDF · Slide Presentation
UX Research Study Plan
PDF · Research Methodology
Competitive Audit
PDF · Market Analysis