Project Summary

In my Interaction Design class, I worked with 2 others to redesign Craigslist. I contributed to the comprehensive redesign of the Craigslist website, spanning from the homepage to individual item pages. My primary responsibilities included redesigning the single-item page, integrating a messaging system for sellers, and implementing a feature to find similar items. Our overarching goal was to improve usability and aesthetics, aiming to make Craigslist more user-friendly and visually appealing compared to its current design.

Objectives

1. Redesign the single item page to enhance user experience and align with standard digital marketplace conventions.

2. Integrate a user-friendly messaging system to facilitate communication between buyers and sellers.

3. Implement a feature allowing users to easily find similar items without navigating away from the current page.

4. Enhance overall website navigation by incorporating breadcrumbs for improved user journey.

Tasks

• Redesigned the single item page to resemble typical item listings found on platforms like Amazon or eBay, ensuring familiarity and ease of use for new users.

• Integrated a messaging system to streamline communication between buyers and sellers, enhancing the overall user experience.

• Implemented a feature to find similar items directly from the item page, eliminating the need to navigate back to the previous page.

• Introduced breadcrumbs under the navigation bar to facilitate easy navigation between different sections of the website, enhancing user convenience and reducing confusion.

Results

The redesign of Craigslist aimed at improving usability and aesthetics yielded positive outcomes. The revamped single-item page, resembling other modern digital marketplace listings, enhances user familiarity and ease of use. The integrated messaging system facilitates seamless communication between buyers and sellers, enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, the feature to find similar items directly from the item page eliminates navigation hurdles, streamlining the browsing process. Incorporating breadcrumbs into the website's navigation provides users with an intuitive way to navigate between different sections, reducing confusion in a deep and complex website like Craigslist. Overall, the redesign project significantly enhances user experience, making Craigslist more user-friendly and visually appealing.

Final Thoughts

This project provided valuable experience in client collaboration, problem-solving, user-centric design, and iterative design processes. Working closely with the MSOE marketing department helped improve my client interaction skills, ensuring alignment with their objectives. I also gained experience addressing technical issues identified during a site crawl which enhanced my problem-solving abilities. Utilizing tools like Screaming Frog SEO Software and card sorts expanded my technical skill set, and the iterative design process used equipped me and my team with hands-on experience in iterative design methodologies. Overall, this project provided a rich learning experience, preparing me for future projects.