About Aaron

Aaron is a multi-disciplinary designer with a focus on product design. With over 15+ years in the field, he’s had the opportunity to work with agencies, consultancies, in-house and non-profits but currently prefers helping out smaller start-up teams. Some previous experiences include IDEO, Google, R/GA, Frog, Verizon, Citi, GE, Betaworks and Instapaper.

At the moment he resides in California with his wife Tina and two parrots, Taco and Burrito.

aaronkapor@gmail.com
209.604.7702

About This Site

This site is an evolving work-in-progress with selected samples from current and past projects. Equal parts process and final deliverables, it’s meant to showcase thought patterns that are unique for each project in order to create a true variety of work. It was coded and compiled with Jekyll.

Sans-Serif: Atlas Grotesk
Monospace: Atlas Typewriter

Other Locations:

Appreciate / Explore

The explore feature was positioned as Appreciate’s version of a content feed. It was a way to drive users to the app initially by giving them something to do while we were building – and (still) defining the product behind the scenes.

The idea was to only include curated content that was relevant and informative. Keeping in mind that it would evolve over time, the key differentiator was that it revolved around item ownership.

Appreciate is/was an app/service based on the idea of putting aftermarket value on items that you buy – focusing on quality over quantity. Doing this would initially involve having a “digital twin” (NFT counterpart) of every item a customer buys.
Background:
A passion project for one of the co-founders, it had gone through many sketches and ideation but because of the size of the product team at the time (myself and a PM), we couldn't find the bandwith to build it.
Earlier on I put together a type of scaffolding that we could use a framework but it never left the backlog.
After a hiring spree and putting together a design team with a researcher, we decided to use this feature as primer.
Beliefs:
We believed that serving users content about items that they owned in their wallets would allow them to appreciate their items more. The more they knew about the items they owned, the more reason to value them.
We believed that serving users content about items related to items that they owned (wishlist, watchlist, items similar to their wallet contents) would allow them to make better purchasing decisions. Informed decisions were the best decisions; content could promote or prohibit a purchase based on what’s important to that user.
We also believed that user’s content would promote engagement with the application. We wanted users to continue interacting with the app, since that’s how they’d maximize their item utility. Good content was educational, which was a service to the users.
Questions:
  • How important is social to the user’s experience?
  • Non-Members: What do non-members want to see that will entice them enough to join appreciate?
  • New-Users: How can this feature add to the current onboarding UX?
  • Returning-Users: How does this feature help ensure return visits from onboarded users?
Assumptions:
  • Personal: Users like to see more items that are related to what they own.
  • Personal: Users like to see recommended items that are based on what they own.
  • Personal: Users like to learn more about what they own.
  • Social: Users like to see what other people own in their wallet.
  • Social: Users like to see other users that have items that might be interesting in their wallet.
Themes:
Relevant:
  • Your feed is built around the items you own in your wallet
  • Your feed is supplemented with items you have saved under your wishlist and watchlist
  • Your feed is augmented based on your content preferences (creators, content format, etc.)
Informative:
  • Content provides details about the item (history, price, etc.)
  • Content is produced based off user preferences.
  • Content is verified and/or produced by the brand.
Curated:
  • Content is sourced from users and publications.
  • Content is curated by appreciate’s internal team.
  • Content is sourced from brands and creators.
Relationship with other “social” features:
Feature:
Follow / Friend
Relevance:
Items marked as “public” or “friends only” from your friends can be shown on the feed and vice versa.
Feature:
Like / Love
Relevance:
Items that you “like/love” and items similar to them are more likely to be shown on the feed.
Feature:
Wishlist
Relevance:
Items that you put on your “wishlist” are more likely to be shown on the feed.
Feature:
Watchlist
Relevance:
Items that you put on your “watchlist” are more likely to be shown on the feed.
For testing, we put together five different thematic directions based on assumptions and questions we wanted answered.
Direction #1
Explore through connections (friends, people, etc.)
Stories:
  • As a user, I’d like to have a place (profile page?) where I can say about what I am collecting, items that I am interested, my preferences, my connections, and stuff.
  • As a user, I’d like to share my collection of items with my friends, and beyond.
  • As a user, I'd like to see what my friends/connections own in their wallets.
Direction #2
News feed and fashion content curated by Appreciate.
Notes:
  • Trending on the platform.
  • Not connected to social.
  • Fully curated content by Appreciate
Stories:
  • As a user I’d like to know what’s trending on the appreciate platform.
  • As a user, i’d like more information and data regarding products on appreciate.
  • As a user, I’d like to explore product materials, origins, history, articles, contents, interviews, etc.
  • As a user, I’d like to know more about fashion week trends, iconic items, editorials, curated content.
Direction #3
Full screen reels. Data-driven AI recommended content trends.
Notes:
  • All about the products and items on the appreciate platform.
  • Not connected to social.
Stories:
  • As a user, I’m interested in more than just fashion.
  • As a user, I’d like up-to-date information regarding the latest trending items.
  • As a user, I’d like to know what is trending on appreciate.
Direction #4
IG-inspired based on personal preferences, browsing history and product data.
Notes:
  • All about products on the platform, what’s behind those products, history, articles and contents.
  • Not connected to social.
Stories:
  • As a user, I'd like to learn more about what I own.
  • As a user, I'd like to seek out my next purchase based on what I own.
  • As a user, I’d like to explore item options based on my preferences,
  • As a user, I’d like to learn more about product materials, origins, history, articles, contents, etc.
Direction #5
Financial-focused commerce/auction balanced with info regarding items user currently owns.
Stories:
  • As a user, I’d like to know the current market value of items I own.
  • As a user, I’d like to receive value updates of similar items to those that I own.
  • As a user, I’d like to see suggestions on how to shop smarter.
  • As a user, I’d like options to buy trusted items from verified shops and stores.
We put together a few rounds of interviews for testing. It was a nice array of candidates considering our user base was slim.
Albert H.

Age:

18-25

Occupation:

Retail Assistant Buyer

Location:

New York, NY

Item Owned:

Dior Saddle Bag, LV Avenue Slingbag, Cartier Santos Watch

Bonnie X.

Age:

26-35

Occupation:

Product Manager

Location:

San Mateo, CA

Item Owned:

3 bags (Chanel, Prada, Burberry), 1 pair of shoes, 2 scarves, 3 pieces of jewelry

Linda B.

Age:

45-55

Occupation:

Previously Customer Service

Location:

Atlanta, GA

Item Owned:

Burberry, Etro, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, Hermes

Noriko M.

Age:

18-25

Occupation:

Supply Chain Operations Associate

Location:

San Diego, CA

Item Owned:

Bags, jewelry, shoes, sunglasses

Thuy Kieu H.

Age:

36-45

Occupation:

Business development, CRM, marketing

Location:

New York, NY

Item Owned:

Alaia, Alexander McQueen, Fendi

William L.

Age:

18-25

Occupation:

Hardware Engineering

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Item Owned:

LV Wallets, Hermes Wallets, Goyard Wallets, Goyard Bag, Balenciaga Bag

Shane P.

Age:

26-35

Occupation:

Sr. Data Scientist

Location:

Walnut Creek, CA

Item Owned:

Victorinox

Linda F.

Age:

25-35

Occupation:

Sourcer

Location:

Point Richmond, CA

Item Owned:

Kate space, Michael Kors, Tory Burch

Some Selected Highlights

Albert H.
  • Takes a lot of time to research before purchasing item.
  • Takes pride in being more of a practical shopper than feeding into trends.
  • He only gets what he really needs and what he really wants is usually already in his head.
  • Has a more classic style, not into anything too trendy.
  • Unboxing is just as important as the purchase.
  • He only shops online for brands he's super familiar and has intimate knowlege with. For luxury items, it has to be in person since he's not big on exchanges or returns.
  • He expects some care from Sales Associate but not over-reliant on them since he's done the research beforehand.
  • As far as content goes, he's big on seeing stuff that's personalized to him.
  • Would love to see the value change on items he already owns. Looking for an educational expereince as well.
  • He believes people would want to know what other people are buying – allowing a bit of connection and relateability.
  • He is concerned about privacy and security though.
Bonnie X.
  • Cares about sustainability.
  • For research, it starts with youtube then forums, and then resale websites to get average price and details.
  • She spends 2-3 months to researching and browsing before buying items for special occasions (a way of justification).
  • Remembers every moment of every unboxing of every special purchase.
  • Usually checks prices on the second-hand market before purchased anyting new.
  • Seeks out third-party repairmen for handbags she currently owns.
  • Hesitant about in-store shopping and the risk of being judged by the SA.
  • She'd like to see content from various sources – new sources.
  • She's a big fan of TikTok and prefers the short-format video consumption.
  • Would like to hear more stories behind the products themselves, stories about the designers.
  • Enjoys learning the history of what she already owns – as well as information for future purchases.
  • Very intrigued to hear about how the items she's invested in have changed value over time – would be curious to know where the data comes from.
  • Social: she'd definitely be curious to see what items her friends/contacts own and are intested in.
  • Social: she'd like to see how people use their items in different events and locations, see bags in action.
  • Social: she'd like to get inspiration from what others are currently wearing or own.
William H.
  • He tends to focus on the quality of products.
  • He's enjoys purchasing products while traveling – doubling as a souvenir or physical memory.
  • He sometimes purchases spontaneously.
  • He's big on personalized bags – appreciates the craftsmanship and history of items.
  • Seeks out TikTok reviews to discover new trends and to learn about details of specific products. Enjoys the more human approach to opinionated views.
  • Unboxing: this tends to be the most important part of after purchase for him.
  • Some care expected from sales associate.
  • He doesn’t really like to purchase online - prefers to try it on and seeing it in person.
  • Definitely interested in learning more about what he already owns but doesn't have the patience to read an entire article about it.
  • He’d like to learn new ways on how things he owns could be used. – this together with a more personalized approcah to the content feed.
  • Interested to see the updated value of his investments, but concerned that they all might be negative.
  • Would like to see what his friends own and use it as a reference.
  • He often shares what he owns with my friends – seeking validation from them.
  • He’d like the explore page to be about discovering new information on and ehancing items he already owns.
Noriko M.
  • She also waits for special moments/events to buy luxury items.
  • Timing is important to buy products, planning, look at resale value and market value.
  • She tends to plan, cross-check the resale value and market value from various sources and spends a good amount of time researching the longevity of certain products value than falling for trends.
  • Receives information and inspiration from social media, YouTube, influencers, etc.
  • Likes to view her pricey purchases in-store but the final purchase can be made online too.
  • Mentioned again that she isn't interested in much on trending or new but seeks out products that stand the test of time.
  • Avoids products that can be bought at many different stores – likes unique items.
  • Would like to view photo sets of products with reviews – from genuine customers who have purchased the products – showing how they're using them.
  • Not at all interested in seeing influencers who get paid for contents/reviews.
  • Something that shows how the value changes would be great to see but only if the contributing factors and sources are available.
  • To see the value of her personal collection sounded very interesting to her.
  • She wasn't really into the idea of sharing her purchases with people she knows – afraid it'll start feeling like a competition.
  • She thought it was a big security risk if anyone can add you as a friend on the app.
  • Wish list: always in her head, sometimes she takes screenshots and adds to her notes.
Consolidation of learnings: A majority of our assumptions/beliefs were validated.
When people purchase they thend to...
  • Perform hours of research prior to attaining a luxury item.
  • Consider timing when making a purchase.
  • Consider the longevity and resell value of an item before purchasing.
People want content that displays...
  • Updates on items already in their closets.
  • Value changes on items they own.
  • Insights and related information on items they own.
  • Historic information on items they own.
  • Stories on brands/designers that they are interested in.
  • Personalized information based on items in their wallet.
  • Items related to ones that they have invested in or have “liked”.
  • Short-form video that's quick and easy to digest.
Wish List is a feature that…
  • Didn’t resonate with most users.
  • Is definitely something to explore, reframe and test.
  • Could work better as a list of “likes” or “bookmarks”.
Social is interesting when it comes to...
  • Seeing what others are buying.
  • Seeing what others are interested in.
  • Seeing how items are used by other people.
By the responses, a combination of directions 1, 4 and 5 seemed to be the best course of action.
Scaffolding:
The idea was to design an expandable system of containers for content being built in phases.
For the first phase we decided to start with items related to those already in the user's wallet.
Phase_01_Wires
explore
Phase_01_Sketch
explore
The second phase would include related items and articles.
Phase_02_Wires
explore
Phase_02_Sketch
explore
Along with items and articles, the third phase would include video content and industry profiles/interviews – all personalized to the user.
Phase_03_Wires
explore
Phase_03_Sketch
explore
Tools to customize and filter would also allow the feed to tailor to the user's preference.
Profiles only
explore
Articles only
explore
Videos only
explore
Along with the personalized system created for the feed, we also wanted to use the data we had available and create a non-personalized resource (archive) to help with any research users might have.
Archive: Items
Database collected from users and brands.
Items / Browse by: Category
explore
Items / Grid View / Sort by: Alphanumeric
explore
Items / Grid View / Filter Overlay
explore
Items / Grid View / Filter Results
explore
Items / Info View
explore
Items / Item Modal
explore
Archive: Brands
Database collected from users and brands.
Brands / Browse by: Location
explore
Brands / List / Large
explore
Brands / List / Small
explore
Brands / Grid
explore
Brands / List / Sort by: Location
explore
Archive: People
Archive of profiles and interviews extracted the explore feed.
People / Grid
explore
People / List
explore
Archive: The Bin
"The Bin" was intended to collect special content such as features and lists.
The Bin / Results
explore
The Bin / List / Most Iconic
explore
History / Timeline
explore
History / Timeline
explore
History / Timeline
explore
Archive: Visualizations
Awareness-Popularity-Ownership-1
explore
Awareness-Popularity-Ownership-2
explore
Awareness-Popularity-Ownership-3
explore
Awareness-Popularity-Ownership-4
explore
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