Finding Luxury Shouldn't Feel Like Hard Labor.
Users came to Known Source with clear intent — a corset top, a vintage blazer, something specific — and left empty-handed. Not because the inventory wasn't there. Because the interface made it too hard to find.
The search bar returned off-target suggestions. The filter system had no visual feedback. Selected filters disappeared from view. And reaching the right products meant scrolling through three nested layers of the interface.
- Excessive scrolling: three levels of nested navigation frustrated users immediately
- No visual feedback: selected filters vanished, leaving users confused about their active state
- Poor search relevance: off-target results caused immediate drop-offs
- Mobile gaps: the filter system was not optimised for touch interfaces
Fig. 2 · Current experience journey map — pain points identified across the existing search and filter flow.
Six Users. Every Session Confirmed the Same Problems.
We began with stakeholder interviews and an analytics review to understand the business context, then ran usability testing with six participants drawn from Known Source's target demographic.
Each session was structured around the same core task — find a specific item and apply filters — so we could directly compare behaviour across participants. The patterns that emerged were consistent and clear.
My specific contribution was a full accessibility audit of the existing mobile experience — mapping WCAG 2.1 violations, touch target failures, and contrast issues that compounded the usability problems already present.
Fig. 3 · Research synthesis — affinity mapping and usability findings from six participant sessions.
Three goals. Every design decision earned its place.
Reduce Cognitive Load
Simplify the filtering experience with persistent visual feedback — filter pills, clear active states, and a flattened hierarchy. Users should always know what they've selected and how to undo it.
Improve Search Relevance
Design a smarter search system that understands user intent and fashion-specific terminology. Reduce off-target results by supporting fuzzy input with strong visual cues and category suggestions.
Mobile-First Design
Rebuild the filter experience around touch-first principles — adequate tap targets, swipe-friendly interactions, and a layout that works within the constraints of a small screen without sacrificing access to advanced filters.
Three Variations. One Hybrid That Won.
We prototyped three variations of the filter experience, testing both horizontal and modal layouts with real users before committing to a direction.
- Horizontal filters proved more discoverable but consumed too much screen space on mobile
- Modal approach kept the product grid visible but felt disconnected from the browsing context
- We landed on a hybrid approach — persistent filter pills anchored to the top of the grid, with a modal for advanced options
The toggle handling Availability was a particular design challenge: we couldn't remove sold items entirely due to SEO requirements, so we introduced a toggle between in-stock and sold — preserving business needs while giving users immediate control.
When Business Needs & User Needs Conflict
Sold items needed to remain indexed for SEO. Users, however, found seeing sold-out products deeply frustrating during search. The solution — a prominent availability toggle — let users filter their view without the platform losing its search ranking for historical inventory. Real-world design always involves this kind of negotiation.
Fig. 4 · Lo-fi wireframe — first exploration of horizontal filter layout and mobile search bar.
Fig. 5 · Lo-fi wireframe — modal filter variation with persistent pill states.
Fig. 6 · High-fidelity mobile screens — final hybrid filter system with persistent pills, availability toggle, and touch-optimised interactions.
Five Users. Before & After. The Numbers Don't Lie.
We tested our high-fidelity prototype against the existing Known Source experience with five participants from the original research group. Each was asked to complete the same task under both conditions.
The Test
Search for a corset top and apply 3 filters you deem most important.
Users rated the following statements on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree), comparing the old design to the redesigned prototype.
Mid-point feedback (after initial prototype testing):
| Statement | Old | New | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy to find what I'm looking for | 2.5 | 4.3 | +72% |
| Filters are intuitive to use | 2.0 | 4.5 | 2.3× better |
| I understand my selected filters | 1.8 | 4.8 | 2.7× better |
| Search results are relevant | 2.3 | 4.0 | +74% |
Final testing results (post-iteration prototype):
| Statement | Old | New | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy to find what I'm looking for | 2.5 | 4.3 | +72% |
| Filters are intuitive to use | 2.0 | 4.5 | +125% |
| I understand my selected filters | 1.8 | 4.8 | +167% |
| Search results are relevant | 2.3 | 4.0 | +74% |
Fig. 7 · Final prototype walkthrough — redesigned mobile search and filter experience with persistent filter pills and availability toggle.
What I Carried Forward.
This project deepened my appreciation for micro-interactions and the power of clear visual cues in user flows. A filter pill is a small thing. But when it disappears after selection, it breaks trust. Getting those details right — persistently, across every state — is what separates a usable interface from an invisible one.
Working specifically on the mobile experience reinforced the value of touch-first design principles — how constraints can drive innovation, not just limit it. The thumb zone, tap target sizing, and the weight of a swipe gesture are all real design variables.
The balance between SEO requirements and user experience was a valuable lesson in real-world product design. Constraints from the business are not obstacles — they're part of the brief. The best solutions work within them, not around them.