Project Case Study
Target
Role: UX Designer
Project Type: Portfolio Project (School of UX)
Platform: Mobile App
Industry: Retail / Grocery
Tools: Figma, Canva and ChatGPT
This project explored how Sainsbury’s could reduce checkout time in response to the removal of weighing scales at checkout. The focus was on designing a faster, more intuitive scanning and purchase flow, particularly for customers buying loose fruits and vegetables.
Business Problem
Sainsbury’s planned to remove weighing scales from checkout areas, creating friction for customers purchasing loose produce.
The business needed to:
- Preserve brand loyalty during a high-friction moment in the journey
- Decrease time spent at checkout
- Maintain a smooth experience for loose fruits and vegetables
- Reduce customer frustration caused by slower scanning or manual lookup
Goal
Design a mobile app experience that:
- Speeds up checkout
- Minimises cognitive load during scanning
- Provides clear shortcuts for common purchases
- Encourages continued use of Nectar rewards
Quick Buy Feature
To reduce decision time at checkout, I introduced a Quick Buy option featuring commonly purchased categories:
- Baked goods
- Loose vegetables
- Loose fruits
- Meal deals
These categories reflect high-frequency items and allow customers to bypass manual lookup or scanning delays.
Quick Buy & Lookup
The Quick Buy and Lookup buttons were positioned side by side and styled similarly. This visual parity communicates that:
- Both options support product discovery
- Both offer recommended or common selections
- Users can choose the fastest route based on their needs
This reduced hesitation and improved scanning at the point of decision.
Loyalty Integration
A subtle reminder to use Nectar was embedded within the flow to:
- Encourage brand loyalty
- Reinforce value without interrupting checkout speed
- Align business goals with user benefit
Checkout Accessibility
To support fast completion:
- The Checkout button was available on every screen except the start and thank-you screens
- This allowed users to exit the journey at any point and complete their purchase quickly
- The design supported both linear and shortcut-based journeys
Outcome & Learnings
This concept demonstrated how:
- Strategic shortcuts can significantly reduce checkout time
- Familiar categories help users make faster decisions
- Persistent access to checkout improves perceived efficiency
- Users wanted to be able to see their additions in the basket alongside prices which necessitated the use of Figma variables
Key takeaways
Speed matters most during high-friction moments
Visual hierarchy can guide faster decision-making
Loyalty prompts work best when integrated, not intrusive
MtGo Design
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