Detailed sketching - For this project, my mentor instructed me to go further with hand sketching, using it to fully develop my screens before moving to digital tools. As I moved from hand sketching to prototyping, it made perfect sense and I’m glad I took his advice because it was much easier to create the high fidelity designs since I was already done with the ideation phase and I was able to match the prototype with my sketches effortlessly.

Designing for a cause - This project was my first dive into the world of philanthropic design. During my process, I wanted to be sensitive to the tragedy and reality of the Ukrainian crisis, while maintaining a persuasive and engaging interface to encourage donations.

Redesign and reflect - Starting from the existing Amazon design system provided me with a foundation to try out different approaches and assess which would provide the most natural experience to the typical Amazon user. The process of redesigning an app I use everyday enabled me to reflect on the coordinated efforts of various Amazon design teams to achieve a consistent experience.

Increased integration of the made in Ukraine product marketing - In the user interviews, all participants noted that the “Made in Ukraine” cards were an understated way of promoting the cause and could be utilized in other areas of the app. This suggestion did not make the final prototype but I would consider other placements such as ‘Suggested Products’ cards on the home page if given more time.

Payment in the app redirects to browser, leading to a delayed and inconvenient experience. Designers that frequently design for nonprofits and philanthropic causes note that difficulties in the payment process can lead to users second-guessing their donations. In a future redesign, I would correct this issue to allow for seamless payment within the app and include a reward visualization celebrating the user’s donation.