ARTISANRY
Connecting local artisans with customers through a simple, trusted mobile marketplace, making it easy to sell handmade products and discover them.
Clients
Portfolio Project
Timeline
6 Weeks
Service
Mobile app
Tools
Figma, Figjam
Artisanry is a mobile marketplace designed to connect customers with unique handmade products while empowering independent artisans to showcase their craftsmanship and grow sustainable businesses. Rather than functioning as another generic e-commerce platform, Artisanry was conceived as a discovery-driven experience that celebrates creativity, strengthens trust, and creates meaningful connections between buyers and makers.
The product was built primarily for customers who value authenticity, craftsmanship, and products with stories behind them. These users are typically between the ages of 20 and 45, shop primarily on mobile devices, and seek personalized alternatives to mass-produced goods. Secondary users included independent artisans and craft makers who needed a dedicated platform to showcase their creations, build credibility, and expand beyond the limitations of social media selling.
I independently led the end-to-end design process, taking ownership of user research, product strategy, information architecture, wireframing, interface design, prototyping, and usability validation. Every design decision was intentionally crafted to solve both customer frustrations and the business challenges faced by independent artisans.
Through early conversations and observation, it became clear that customers struggled to discover authentic handmade products in one place. Most relied on Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook, where products were scattered and difficult to compare. Buyers also expressed concerns about trust, authenticity, and the inability to learn about the people behind the products.
On the other hand, artisans faced an equally challenging problem. Despite creating high-quality products, many lacked visibility and depended heavily on social media algorithms to attract customers. Their businesses lacked a professional storefront capable of establishing trust and reaching audiences beyond their existing followers.
The business challenge extended beyond simply enabling transactions. Talented artisans were struggling to reach customers, while buyers lacked a centralized and trustworthy environment for discovering handcrafted products. My goal was to create a marketplace experience that improved discoverability, increased trust, and enabled meaningful interactions between buyers and makers.
Most marketplaces optimize for scale and endless product catalogs rather than emotional connection and authenticity. Handmade products are often buried beneath mass-produced alternatives, making discovery difficult for buyers and limiting opportunities for artisans. The problem persisted because existing platforms prioritized volume over storytelling and connection.
I approached the project through a structured UX process that began with qualitative interviews to understand buying behaviors, motivations, and frustrations. These findings were later validated through quantitative research to identify recurring patterns. After conducting comparative analysis to uncover gaps in existing marketplaces, I developed the information architecture, created wireframes, designed high-fidelity interfaces, and validated the experience through usability testing before refining the final solution.
Through conversations with both customers and artisans, I discovered that buyers cared about authenticity as much as product quality. Users wanted to know who created the product, explore categories effortlessly, and make purchases with confidence. Meanwhile, artisans desired a professional platform that would help them showcase their work and establish credibility. These insights reinforced that trust and storytelling are essential components of the buying experience.
Survey responses confirmed that many users struggled to discover trusted artisans and often relied on fragmented social platforms to make purchases. Most participants indicated that reviews and artisan stories would increase their confidence, while a significant majority expressed a preference for a dedicated marketplace tailored specifically to handmade products. These findings highlighted that trust and discoverability were the strongest drivers of engagement.
By analyzing platforms such as Etsy, Amazon Handmade, and Folksy, I discovered that while these platforms provide access to handmade products, they often prioritize scale over simplicity and storytelling. This revealed an opportunity for Artisanry to differentiate itself through a more curated, mobile-first experience focused on authenticity, product discovery, and emotional connection.
I designed the experience around how users naturally browse and discover products. Categories and featured collections were surfaced early to encourage exploration, while product pages emphasized imagery, artisan profiles, and concise descriptions to establish trust. The overall information hierarchy was intentionally structured to reduce cognitive load and create a seamless journey from discovery to purchase.
During usability sessions, participants were asked to discover products, explore artisan profiles, and complete purchases. Users consistently appreciated the visual simplicity and found it easy to navigate categories and understand product information. Feedback from these sessions helped refine category labels, improve visual hierarchy, and enhance product details to strengthen confidence during the purchasing process.
Most users interact with marketplaces through mobile devices and make decisions quickly. Additionally, many artisans possess varying levels of digital literacy and need simple tools to manage their products effectively. The solution works within these constraints by prioritizing intuitive interactions, reducing complexity, and creating an experience that feels approachable for both buyers and sellers.
The solution improves discoverability and strengthens trust while creating new opportunities for artisans to grow their businesses. However, maintaining product quality and ensuring marketplace credibility would require moderation and verification mechanisms. The experience intentionally prioritizes simplicity and usability over excessive features and visual complexity.
Following usability testing and iterative refinements, the design is projected to improve product discovery efficiency, increase user confidence, and strengthen engagement across both sides of the marketplace. Participants demonstrated faster task completion and expressed stronger trust in the overall experience, indicating improvements in both usability and purchase confidence.
Artisanry reinforced the idea that marketplaces succeed when they create value for both sides of the ecosystem. Trust cannot be treated as an afterthought, especially when products are personal and emotionally driven. I learned that storytelling, simplicity, and thoughtful information hierarchy play a critical role in helping users discover products and make confident decisions. Ultimately, designing for handmade commerce means designing for the people and stories behind every creation.
Thank you for your time :)
Open to full-time roles, freelance projects, and meaningful collaborations — contact me.