Responsibilities

User Experience, Architecture, and UI Design for a Fashion News Application Catered Towards the Japanese Market

Background Situation

In my role as Principal Product UX/UI Designer, my company had successfully launched iLikeit, a unique fashion-oriented social network specifically designed for the Japanese market. Our innovative approach and unique design caught the attention of a company based in Tokyo. They were intrigued by the concept of our application and saw potential in it. Therefore, they contracted us to develop a tailored version of the app under their own brand, known as Marono.

Assigned Task

Our main objective was to design and oversee the development of a bilingual application that targeted both Japanese and European markets. Given the prevalence and popularity of social networks at the time, we were tasked with conducting extensive research and designing innovative features to attract and retain this segment of users. This was a challenge that required a deep understanding of the market and a knack for innovation.

Action Undertaken

Research: We embarked on a comprehensive study to understand what fashion enthusiasts in both the Japanese and European markets appreciated most. We discovered that Japanese users, who tend to be more reserved, preferred to follow brands and trends rather than sharing extensively. They showed a keen interest in discovering new brands before they gained popularity and buying items before they became mainstream. Interestingly, we found that these users had an equal interest in both Japanese and European brands.

Discovery: One insight from our research was that emerging Japanese fashion brands were not receiving sufficient exposure in Europe. This observation opened up the possibility of a bilingual fashion news service, which could be used by fashion-savvy Japanese users to connect with a wider global audience.

Resulting Outcome

In light of our findings, Marono decided to pivot their original concept to fully capitalize on this unexplored opportunity. They successfully launched what became the most popular news feed application for Japanese fashion brands in both the Japanese and European markets at the time.

Final Designs

iPhone Mobile application

Marono iOS Fashion App (Fiinex Mobile Apps)