Designed By Dai – Responsive E-Commerce Website

Project Overview

Designed By Dai was an e-commerce store (designed using WordPress) that sold crewnecks with unique custom designs. The goal of the project was to create a strong brand identity and an easy-to-use website that reflected the client’s vision. The site featured a curated collection of designs, a dark mode for better usability, and a clean, modern layout to enhance the shopping experience.

my Role

I was the sole designer on this project and was responsible for:
- UX/UI design, including wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes
- Website layout and visual design
- E-commerce functionality and user flow
- Dark mode implementation for accessibiliity and user experience
- Collaboration with the owner to align the design with the brand vision

Process and Challenges

The project began with extensive wireframing to map out the e-commerce experience, ensuring an intuitive layout for customers. I collaborated closely with the owner, sharing wireframes and refining designs based on feedback. Through multiple calls and discussions, we worked to align the website’s look and functionality with her vision.

Design decisions focused on creating a clean, modern interface that put the products front and center. A minimal layout with ample white space was chosen to keep the focus on the crewneck designs, while a dark mode option was implemented to enhance accessibility and user preference. Navigation was streamlined to ensure a smooth browsing and checkout process, prioritizing ease of use.

One of the challenges was balancing aesthetics with usability, making sure the site was visually appealing while remaining easy to navigate. By iterating on feedback and refining details, the final design reflected both the brand’s identity and the owner’s goals.

Designed By Dai Video Showcase

A quick walkthrough of the interface and key features.

Reflection & Takeaways

Working on Designed By Dai was a valuable experience that reinforced the importance of collaboration and iteration in the design process. Regular feedback from the owner helped shape the final product, and I learned how to balance creative freedom with client expectations.

This project also deepened my understanding of designing for e-commerce, particularly in structuring user flows for a seamless shopping experience. Looking back, I recognize the importance of UX research in guiding design decisions. If I were to approach this project again, I would incorporate user research and testing to better understand customer needs and pain points. Clearer documentation and decision tracking would also have helped streamline revisions.

Overall this project strengthened my ability to adapt, problem-solve, and create designs that align with both business and user needs.

Next Steps

If the project had continued, I would have focused on refining the user experience through usability testing and customer feedback. Implementing A/B testing for different layouts and features could have helped optimize the shopping experience. Additionally, incorporating UX research from the start would have provided valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors.

Moving forward, this project has reinforced the importance of research-driven design, documentation, and iteration. I plan to apply these lessons to future projects, ensuring that every design decision is backed by data and user needs.