Problem
First-time car buyers often enter the process with limited financing knowledge, weak vocabulary around loans and credit, and anxiety about hidden costs. The experience can feel like a test they were never taught how to pass.
UX Case Studies & Research
Research-led product work with complete stories, not just pretty screens.
These projects show how I move from ambiguity to structure: defining the problem, gathering evidence, organizing insights, prototyping solutions, and explaining why the design decisions matter.
Flagship UX Case Study
GoCapital Auto Quest
A mobile-first experience that helps college-aged, first-time car buyers understand financing, compare ownership costs, and prepare for dealership conversations without feeling lost or pressured.
RoleLead Designer
MethodsInterviews, surveys, synthesis
OutputHigh-fidelity prototype
FocusFinancial confidence
Design Challenge
Create a digital tool that meets first-time buyers where they are, demystifies the buying journey, explains the true cost of ownership, and gives users enough confidence to make informed decisions.
Audience
College-aged and young adult buyers preparing for their first major vehicle purchase, especially users balancing budget uncertainty, credit questions, and family or dealer influence.
Team
- Project Manager: Melody Berungan
- Lead Designer: Wyatt Spicer
- Lead Survey Researcher: Triston LaCroix
- Lead Interview Researcher: Taivia Milligan
- Lead Developer: Sumayya Ali
Research insights
Had checked credit scores
Many respondents had some awareness of credit, but the research showed uneven confidence around what credit actually changes in the buying process.
Did not understand lender vs. dealer financing
This pointed to a major education gap and helped justify the app’s glossary, calculator, and guided steps.
Expected family or friend guidance
Users wanted support, but not everyone had access to reliable advice. The product needed to act like a calm, always-available guide.
From findings to features
01
Personalized onboarding
Users enter budget, experience level, and buying timeline so the app can adapt the information sequence to their situation.
02
Step-by-step buying path
A structured checklist breaks the process into smaller decisions: credit, budget, financing, insurance, dealership prep, and ownership costs.
03
Glossary and explainers
Core terms are presented in plain language so users can understand conversations before they happen.
04
Calculator and car review
Users can estimate payments, down payments, loan totals, and affordability before getting emotionally locked into a vehicle.
05
Short-form learning feed
A familiar video format lowers the barrier to learning and makes preparation feel less like homework.
Wireframes, system, and prototype
Interactive prototype preview
The prototype demonstrates how users move from onboarding into guided education, calculators, profile tools, and practical dealership preparation.
Expanded UX Writeup
GoCapital now has a full long-form case study.
The dedicated page breaks down the brief, team roles, research signals, information architecture, visual system, prototype decisions, evaluation, and future improvements in the same depth as the web project case studies.
MovieHouse
An all-in-one restaurant and dine-in theater operations app designed from first-hand service industry frustration: too many disconnected systems, constant logins, poor shift communication, and scattered information.
Design Goal
Replace redundant tools for scheduling, time punches, training, payroll, theater assignments, guest alerts, and analytics with one centralized experience for servers and managers.
Research & insights decks
LGBTQIA+ Campus Research
Research examining campus experiences, safety, belonging, support systems, and barriers to expression for LGBTQIA+ students.
EchoBridge Tech
A civic communication concept exploring how law enforcement and communities can communicate more clearly, safely, and accountably.
Open deck