astravilla
An app that aims to simplify the costume renting experience.
Detail
Domain: UX Case Study
Tools: Figma, AdobeXD, Google Forms
Duration: 9 weeks
ehance in
During the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in my apartment, I observed several challenges related to costume rentals. High demand made the process difficult and unorganized, leading to issues such as:
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Limited costume availability when required
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Time constraints and last-minute sourcing struggles
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Lack of awareness about nearby rental services
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No proper guidance on rental locations and navigation
I later realized that college students face the same problems while preparing for fests and events. This revealed a clear opportunity for a dedicated costume rental app, one that simplifies access, improves availability, and supports users with guidance throughout the rental process.
dea eneratio
Design roces
Building the costume rental app required moving from uncertainty to clarity, and the Double Diamond approach helped guide that transition. By exploring user needs, refining insights into actionable ideas, and validating each step with research, the solution evolved into a focused and user-centered experience.
Discove
Qualitative Research
Quantitative Research
Competitive Analysis
SWOT Analysis
Defin
Persona
Empathy Map
Journey Map
deat
User Flow
Information Architecture
Card Sorting
Desig
Wireframe
Visual Design
Prototype
User Researc
User research formed the foundation of the costume rental app. Through a mix of surveys, interviews, and usability discussions, I explored user behaviors, preferences, and existing pain points around renting costumes. These insights helped validate key assumptions and informed design decisions, ensuring the solution addressed real user needs with clarity and purpose.
To support the research with measurable insights, I conducted a quantitative survey with 117 respondents. The data helped identify key user demographics, preferences, and expectations around costume rentals. Findings from this survey validated recurring patterns—such as a strong preference for renting over buying, the need for pre-booking, and the importance of delivery and location-based discovery—providing clear, data-backed direction for product decisions.
54.7%
people prefer to rent costumes rather than buying them.
87.2%
people think pre-booking service would be helpful.
88.9%
people think delivery services will be useful for costume rentals.
82.1%
people think maps with location of rental shops will be useful.
a inerviewees ad o sa
While surveys provided quantitative validation, user interviews offered deeper context into the challenges people face when renting costumes. The following quotes capture recurring frustrations, needs, and expectations that helped shape key design decisions throughout the project.
"
My major concern while renting costumes is time. I have to rehearse and also collect my costumes and after the performance, I rush to return the costumes on time.
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The first time I rented costumes was very confusing. It would be helpful, if there was a guide to the rental shops.
"
During festivals, it is difficult to find what you need exactly because of the demand.
mpetitive nalysi
To understand the existing market and identify opportunities for differentiation, I conducted a competitive analysis of costume rental platforms and related rental services. This helped uncover common features, strengths, and gaps in current solutions. The insights revealed opportunities to improve costume discovery, availability tracking, pre-booking, delivery options, and location-based assistance, enabling the design of a more seamless and user-focused rental experience.
nalysi
To evaluate the feasibility of the solution and understand its position within the market, I conducted a SWOT analysis. This helped identify the app’s potential strengths, areas for improvement, market opportunities, and possible challenges. The exercise provided a strategic perspective, ensuring that design decisions not only addressed user needs but also aligned with business viability and competitive differentiation.
rength
Sustainability
Convenience
Cost-effective for users
Inventory management for sellers
eaknes
Logistics & Delays
Dependence on suppliers
Quality Control Concerns
Inventory Management Challenges
ppurtunitie
Subscription Model
Community-building features
Seasonal and Event Marketing
Expansion into adjacent markets
reat
Logistical challenges
Fraud and trust issues
Seasonal demand fluctuation
Changing consumer behavior
ser erson
To keep the design process focused on real user needs, I created a primary persona based on research findings and interview insights. This persona represents the target audience's goals, behaviors, motivations, and pain points, helping guide design decisions throughout the project and ensuring the solution remains user-centered.
Alan is a passionate dancer from Bangalore, who is active in his college's dance club. He thrives on creativity and needs stylish, eye-catching costumes for performances. With a limited student budget, Alan looks for affordable, flexible rental options that offer variety and group coordination to make his team shine on stage.
Pain Points
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Limited budget
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Struggles to find well-suited costumes.
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Needs group rental options.
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Needs flexible rental durations.
lan's
ersona
Goals & Motivations
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To access a wide range of costumes.
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To find affordable, stylish outfits.
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To browse group rental options.