Home Depot DIY Project Planner App

UX Designer

September 2023

Team Project

How DIY project planners work

The DIY project planner streamlines project planning, tracking, and budgeting while offering step-by-step tutorials and community support.

About

We're introducing a fresh addition to the Home Depot app by seamlessly integrating a dedicated DIY section.

Duration

3 weeks

Problem

The DIY Project App lacks a unified and enduring DIY planning experience. Users encounter difficulties when attempting to plan and research their DIY projects, keep a record of past endeavors, or monitor overall progress. A centralized platform is needed to streamline project planning within budget and skill constraints.

       Optimization

To initiate the expansion of the existing DIY section, our goal was to explore feature optimizations aimed at minimizing user dropouts while concurrently boosting sign-ups for the DIY app.

       Project Breakdown Page

In addition to creating a DIY Mode, my main priorities;

  1. Eliminate the top app up-sell banner as it was diverting users from their primary task.

  2. Change the primary function of the home screen as it was set to locate nearby stores.  

Before

After

Vision

Embark on a project with the assurance of effectively managing every aspect, including time, budget, instructional resources, and material access, should be an exhilarating experience.

Goals

Help users

Embarking on a project with the assurance of effectively managing every aspect, including time, budget, instructional resources, and material access.

Help Homedepot

Boosts customer loyalty and sales by offering a one-stop platform for planning and executing projects with Home Depot's products and guidance.

Help growth

Seizing opportunities to integrate the latest trends like VR and AI into the platforms will drive growth and innovation.

Houzz App experience

Share your design ideas and images easily.

  • Discover local architects, designers, and contractors.

  • Get design advice from a helpful community.

  • Shop for home accessories and furniture.

  • Explore a wealth of home design ideas and tips.

Lowe’s App experience

Share your design ideas and images easily.

  • Discover local architects, designers, and contractors.

  • Get design advice from a helpful community.

  • Shop for home accessories and furniture.

  • Explore a wealth of home design ideas and tips.

Our Competitors

Pain Points

  • Struggles to keep track of the total amount of money spent on a project

  • Doesn’t know how skillset compares to difficulty of project.

  • Struggles sourcing materials from the same place.

UXR Findings

Our research synthesis reveals diverse user groups with distinct DIY behaviors and preferences. They gather information, vary in budget considerations, seek inspiration online, value project satisfaction, and differ in collaboration preferences. These insights inform our app's development to understand DIY users comprehensively.

"DYI Danny, an enthusiast for new challenges and learning, is embarking on a kitchen tile project as a DIY endeavor. With no prior tile experience and a focus on budget and skill level, Danny is searching for a comprehensive platform that seamlessly guides them through every step of the process."

Behavior

  • Learns skills as they proceed Plans a general outline for their process.

  • Gets inspired by others and internet sources.

How might we simplify expense tracking for users throughout their DIY projects?

How might we help users assess their skill level in relation to project complexity?

How might we streamline the process of sourcing materials from a single, convenient location?

Laying the Foundation

Our initial design sketches were a direct response to the most significant issues our users faced. We developed two distinct user flows that incorporated transformative solutions. These solutions included features like specifying skill levels, providing a detailed step-by-step guide, and offering comprehensive lists of necessary tools and materials, all designed to make the user experience smoother and more enriching.

MVP

Based on our research, We’ve improved our MVP plan. It simplifies project discovery through the search bar or categories, allowing users to customize their experience by choosing skill levels and project phases.

We empathize with DIY Danny and ask the question HMW?

Introduce your brand