Tapestry is a service, that helps users create a home that truly fits their lifestyle by connecting them with expert interior designers who guide them through the process. Instead of pushing trends, Tapestry focuses on personalized design—helping users discover their style and make choices that reflect their personality, needs, and budget.
Overview
Project Duration
20 weeks
Skills
User Research, Task Flows, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Interaction Design
Tools
Figma, Photoshop
Project Type
Course Project
Problems
We spend about 60% of our days at home, yet many people struggle to create spaces that truly reflect their personality, lifestyle, and needs. The home design process is often overwhelming, expensive, and inaccessible, leaving users feeling lost in endless choices, unsure of where to start, or hesitant to work with a designer.
Lack of Personalized Design Solutions
Overwhelming Choices & Decision Fatigue
Perception That Interior Design Is Expensive
Lack of Guidance for Design Beginners
Opportunity
In contrast to the fast furniture trend, Tapestry encourages a sustainable approach by focusing on timeless, individualized style that endures beyond fleeting trends. By prioritizing quality and durability, Tapestry inspires users to invest in pieces that reflect their unique tastes and can evolve with them over time. Our approach brings User-centric design principles into the home, with designers studying how individuals live and behave to adapt each space to their lifestyle.
How might we make expert interior design feel accessible and collaborative rather than intimidating?
Approach
Research
Competitive Analysis
Survey
Interviews
Personas
1
2
Design
Functional Requierments
Wireframes
Brand Identity
3
Evaluate
Usability Testing
Prototype
Reflections
Next Steps
01 Research
Competitive Analysis
Offers collaboration with designers to create personalized design packages for a flat fee.
Limited flexibility in design style range.
Fewer customization options compared to high-end, fully personalized design services.
Provides an end-to-end service, including design, product sourcing, and delivery.
Focuses on trend-driven home decor.
Primarily uses its own product catalog, leading to a specific aesthetic.
Lacks unique design solutions and may not cater to diverse or personalized styles.
In the competitive home design space, several platforms offer unique services to help users transform their spaces. Below is a comparison of two key players in the market, Havenly and Westwing, highlighting their strengths and limitations in delivering personalized, tailored design experiences.
In preparation for the interviews, I’ve decided to conduct a survey beforehand in order to get a better understanding of specific topics of interest rather than wasting time converting general Information and have found that:
Survey
62%
of participants would like more structured guidance
87%
of participants rated practicality the most important factor when selecting furniture
62%
of participants like to plan ahead before making major design decisions
Users often feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, especially when trying to prioritize durability, quality, and budget. They would greatly benefit from guidance on design principles like color theory, layout, and how to pair items. There's also a strong interest in curated, personalized ideas that feel unique and not overly generic or trend-driven. Visuals of real, professional designs are important to help users build confidence in their choices, especially for larger projects. However, opinions are mixed when it comes to virtual-only guidance, with some users preferring in-person assistance to ensure accuracy and a better fit.
Interviews
Users often spend a significant amount of time on research without finding clear, actionable guidance.
Personas
Goals & Needs
Maintain a healthy work-life balance
Continue developing her design style while keeping up with trends
Find ways to recharge creatively
Frustrations
Struggles to fully disconnect from work due to her passion
Balancing client deadlines with personal time and hobbies
Feels pressured to follow trends rather than timeless designs
Nancy A. , 28
Munich
Interior Designer
In a Relationship
Lukas M. , 39
Zurich
Project Manager
Married
Goals & Needs
Create a functional, child-safe environment
Receive expert guidance to streamline choices
Integrate existing furniture with new items
Frustrations
Balancing aesthetic and practical needs for kids
Lack of time for in-depth research on design
Difficulty blending existing furniture with new decor
Zahra K. , 32
Goals & Needs
Design a sustainable home space
Avoid excessive choice to stay within budget
Learn basic design principles to make informed choices
Frustrations
Lack of affordable, eco-friendly options
Limited design knowledge makes
Finds too many choices overwhelming
Berlin
Software Engineer
Single
To better guide the design and to empathize with the users, I further synthesized the interview results and came up with the following personas, representing two customers and one expert.
02 Design
Fuctional Requirements
User Account Creation
1
3
Budget Tracker
Design Feedback
4
5
Designer Interaction
6
Expert Dashboard
2
Design Content Library
Sketches & Wireframes
Low-Fid
Mid-Fid
The UI will follow a minimal black-and-white aesthetic, with blue providing a subtle color pop and red used strategically for call-to-action buttons—both colors serving as emphasis and contrast to guide and engage the user effectively.
Colors
Iconography
Brand Identity
Accent & Feedback
Core Color
Core Color
#0001C7
#000000
#FFFFFF
#902727
Contextual Colors
#9747FF
#005B06
#FBBF24
03 Evaluate
Usability Testing
After creating the first iteration of Prototypes, six usability tests were conducted to evaluate Tapestry’s core functionalities. While participants appreciated the platform’s familiar design patterns and collaborative features, several usability issues were identified. The following highlights the top five issues and proposed solutions.
Participants struggled to like pictures on their first attempt, with the issue primarily observed among those testing the mobile version on their phones, while laptop users encountered no problems.
Introduce a double-tap gesture to like pictures, aligning with familiar interaction patterns.
Difficulty
Liking
Pictures
01
Navigation
Issues with
the Project
Boards
02
The "Project Board" was perceived as a dropdown header rather than a clickable feature.
Redesign the menu hierarchy to visually indicate interactive elements.
Unclear Chat Interface
03
Users could not identify who sent images in the chat, and the interface felt too generic.
Redesign the chat interface using Tapestry’s branding, with clearer sender identifiers.
Limited Project
Board Features
04
The Project Board lacks advanced features such as task lists combined with a calendar and priority settings.
Enhance the Project Board to include a task list feature integrated with a calendar and prioritization options.
Lack of Onboarding Tutorials
05
Participants were unclear about the purpose of features like the Inspiration Board.
Add a dynamic onboarding tutorial to explain key features during first-time use.
Iterations
After several rounds of iterations and A/B testing, I sought feedback from my peers to gain fresh perspectives on the design. Their insights provided valuable direction, helping me refine the prototype further. Collaboration and open communication played a crucial role in shaping the current iteration, ensuring that the design decisions were well-informed and user-centered. By integrating peer feedback with data from testing, I was able to create a more effective and intuitive experience.
Mid-Fid
Hi-Fid
Onboarding
Want to try the prototype for yourself?
03 Reflections
Why did I design Tapestry?
I chose the Tapestry project out of a personal passion for interior design and enjoyed the opportunity to explore this industry through a user-centered lens. It was an insightful journey in blending personalization, usability, and expert guidance into a seamless home design experience. Through research, iteration, and user feedback, I refined the prototype to better support users in expressing their unique styles without feeling overwhelmed by choices.
Lessons & Next Steps
If I were to approach the project again, I would involve stakeholders earlier to align expectations sooner and refine the onboarding process to reduce friction for new users. Additionally, further usability testing with a broader audience could validate the design’s effectiveness. This project reinforced the importance of continuous iteration, clear storytelling in design, and balancing user needs with business goals—all valuable lessons I’ll carry forward into future projects.