Scra2ch 2.0
Creating an online platform for Nail Artists
Summary
Scra2ch started as a Facebook page and has evolved into an ever-growing community of nail artists from around the world. It has become an online ecosystem of nail artists and professionals, showcasing their work, learning new ideas as well as interacting with each other at various levels. This ecosystem uses social media and a dedicated website as a platform.
I was involved with the Scra2ch team in transforming the facebook page to a full-fledged online community and creating an engaging online presence for the brand.
Type
Interaction design and strategy,
Team project,
Scra2ch Media Pvt. Ltd.
Tools
Photoshop, hand sketching
User Research
We conducted surveys and interviews among various members of the Scra2ch community. Two major findings of the research was:
1) How do you use internet/social-media in relation to nail art?
To browse
nail art designs
Interact with
other nail artists
Showcase
your work
Participate
in contests
Learn new
ideas/techniques
38%
9%
14%
11%
28%
Other answers to this question fell into the classification as above. We further concluded that the reasons for a nail artist to use the internet (in relation to nail art) can be grouped into two broad categories:
Find - 61%
Ideas
Techniques
Designs
Trends
People
Show 39%
Designs
Works
Products
Contest
Techniques
Reasons for a nail artist to use internet for their nail-art.
2) What online platform do you use to achieve these?
48%
35%
17%
Other
websites
We realized that if we wanted to make Scra2ch a convergence of the nail artists from across the world, it cannot be a stand-alone website. We had to design an experience which is a convergence of the popular social media Facebook and Instagram on a singular platform with two-way access -social media to the website, website to social media.
Dedicated Website
Scra2ch, while operating solely on social media, used to engage the major stakeholders, the users, with the help of weekly, monthly and seasonal features, contests, online events, and masterclasses.
As a part of our primary research, we observed nail-artists while they interacted with online content of their interest. This helped us to understand user's priorities and reasons for using certain social media platforms and also their pain points while doing so:
It is easier to share and upload content social media.
Connecting with other nail artists is quick and easy.
but
It is difficult to manage relevant content to/from different social media platforms.
Our findings led us to the following question :
How might we create an online experience for nail artists to help them find new designs, learn about new ideas and trends, communicate with other nail artists and showcase their own work efficiently and effortlessly?
Idea:
(At Scra2ch, I worked on creative strategy for the brand and social media, brand identity and user experience design of the Scra2ch website. Due to the sensitive nature of work and showcase restrictions, only website related work is showcased on this page. Thanks for understanding.)
Idea for website ux:
Infinite scrolling
- Curated feed from various social media
- Engaging activity
- Present on home page and gallery
Naturally accessible support
We integrated Facebook's messenger service into our website to make it easy contact us; Because it is the most used online mode of communication among our users.
Easy to navigate
Simple navigation with standard and consistent website layout, so that content is easy to find and it is not very overwhelming to the nail artists who are not very tech-savvy.
Social media but not social media
Website is intensely connected with social media for content and connection with the community but is designed in a way to stand as an independent touchpoint for nail artist too.
Hierarchy of content
Content is placed on the website according to the interests of users that we identified during our primary research.
Clean, minimalistic UI
Has been adopted to keep the focus on what matters most, the content, by and for the artists.
Initial brainstorming and sketches
Refined wireframes:
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Final option landing page
Final Option Gallery
Final Design:
"Launch of the new Scra2ch website along with new features resulted in a five-fold increase in overall community size in six months"
< Landing page with engaging infinity scroll of media feed from across the social media platforms
Gallery page "Lookbook" with daily updated nail art designs
Easy access to Scra2ch via. > Facebook messenger plugin.
< Consistent engaging, clean and simple user experience across platforms.