Re Love
A charity shop app
Overview
Re Love is a self-initiated app designed to help charity shops address key challenges such as overstocking, declining donations, and volunteer shortages. This project, completed as part of my BA in Visual Communication, involved UX/UI design, brand communication, social media strategy, and web design.
Project Type:
Timeline:
29 weeks (2022-2023)
Academic Project (BA Visual Communication 2022-23)
Tools used:
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop.
Problem Statement
Charity shops in Edinburgh, a top charity shopping destination in the UK, struggle with reduced donations, a lack of volunteers, and competition from high-street shops and online markets like eBay. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these issues, leading to a £70 million loss for major charity chains and highlighting the need for digital transformation to remain competitive.
Project Goals
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Increase Donations: Implement a reward-based system that incentivizes donations.
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Boost Volunteer Engagement: Create in-app features for recruiting and managing volunteers.
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Optimise Inventory Management: Develop a digital marketplace for surplus stock.
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Enhance Competitiveness: Provide charity shops with the tools to compete with traditional retail and e-commerce.
Target Audience
Charity shop managers, volunteers, donors, and environmentally conscious shoppers, with a particular focus on younger, eco-conscious consumers who engage in sustainable shopping habits.
Research
Methodology
I conducted interviews with charity shop staff, performed competitor analysis, and surveyed local residents through Facebook groups in neighbourhoods with a strong charity shop presence, such as The Meadows in Edinburgh.
Key Findings
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Charity shops are recovering slowly post-pandemic, but challenges such as declining donations and a lack of volunteers persist.
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84% of UK residents have unused household items that could be donated to charity shops.
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53% of 18-24-year-olds bought something from a charity shop in the last year, highlighting a key demographic for the app.
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Older users often struggle with digital interfaces, influencing the app’s accessible design.
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There is a significant opportunity to reduce waste by encouraging students to donate items instead of discarding them, especially at the end of the academic year.
Design & Prototyping
Wireframes
Developed from low- to high-fidelity wireframes, integrating feedback to refine usability and user experience.
Design System
Created a cohesive brand identity with consistent typography, colors, and UI elements. The app’s branding evolved through multiple logo iterations, including initial concepts involving animal imagery, eventually focusing on a more direct representation of the brand’s values.
Interactive Prototype
Built in Figma, demonstrating key app interactions, including the marketplace, reward system, and user interface.
Ideation & Strategy
User Flows & Journey Maps
I developed clear pathways to ensure smooth navigation, from browsing to purchasing and applying for volunteer positions.
Brainstorming & Sketching
Explored concepts for a marketplace feature, branding elements, and a reward system that offers credits for donations and volunteer hours.
Information Architecture
The app was designed to include inventory management tools, a digital marketplace, and features that encourage donations and volunteering.
Testing & Validation
User testing
Collaborated with charity shop staff and volunteers to validate app functionality and ensure accessibility.
Feedback & Changes
Key changes included making the barcode feature visible on every screen, significantly improving navigation and usability for all age groups.
Results & Impact
Metrics & KPIs
While quantitative metrics are pending, qualitative feedback suggests the app has strong potential to enhance charity shop efficiency and community engagement.
User feedback
Positive responses highlighted the reward system and the app’s intuitive design, with particular interest in the ability to redeem credits for donated items.
Reflection
Challenges
Managing branding alongside app development was a complex process, emphasising the need for agile design practices. Developing a logo that effectively represented the brand without causing confusion also required iterative testing and feedback.
Learnings
This project reinforced the importance of iterative testing, user research, and adaptability in the design process.
Next Steps
Future plans include further user testing, developing the app into a fully functional product, and exploring collaboration opportunities with charity organisations.
