Used Car Search Overlay

CLIENT: Edmunds.com // DATE: 2015

FOCUS: Search Refinement

MY ROLE

Served as the Lead UX Designer throughout the entire project lifecycle, from initial planning and requirements gathering to the development of strategy, creation of wireframes, and execution of user testing. Collaborated closely with product owner and development teams to generate innovative ideas and address complex challenges.

Summary

The Used Car Search Overlay was a stop-gap in creating more refined search results for this broad and unruly data set.


Goal

Create an overlay that included all of the complex search parameters for Used Car data that may come from various sources with the concept of more refined results would result in an uptick in used car leads to participating dealerships.

Requirements:

  • Create proper steps in a search that would reduce cognitive load.

  • Encourage refinement of aspects to desired vehicle.

  • Account for the broad variations and complexities of used car data that differs significantly from new car data.

“How Might We” Questions

1

How might we design a user-friendly interface that simplifies the car search process for first-time users?

2

How might we ensure that the search refinement options are both comprehensive and easy to navigate for users with varying levels of experience?

3

How might we optimize the search overlay to enhance the user's ability to quickly filter through a large inventory of used cars?

4

How might we balance the amount of information displayed with the need to maintain a clean and uncluttered interface?

Personas

Jessica

Background: Jessica is in her early 30s, a single mom working full-time as a accounting manager. Balancing her career with the demands of raising a young child, Jessica is practical and efficient in her decision-making. Living in LA means she spends a significant amount of time commuting, both for work and personal errands. Her top priorities when considering a used car are reliability, safety, and a vehicle that minimizes stress during her daily routines.

Personality: Jessica is warm, approachable, and focused. Despite her busy schedule, she values making informed decisions, especially when it comes to major purchases like a car. She’s not a car enthusiast, but she understands the importance of having a vehicle that won’t let her down. She appreciates straightforward, hassle-free experiences and prefers brands and services that cater to her time-conscious lifestyle.

Interview:

  1. Q: What are the most important factors for you when choosing a car?

    • A: "Reliability is key. I need to know that the car won’t give me trouble because I don’t have time for unexpected repairs. Safety is also a big deal, especially with my little one in the car. And of course, it needs to be within my budget."

  2. Q: How do you usually go about researching cars before making a decision?

    • A: "I start online, looking at reviews and comparing different models. I don’t have a lot of free time, so I look for sites that can give me all the information I need in one place. I also ask friends or colleagues for their recommendations."

  3. Q: What challenges do you face when car shopping?

    • A: "The whole process can be overwhelming—there are so many options, and I often feel pressured by salespeople. I also worry about getting a good deal without sacrificing quality. And with my schedule, I can’t spend days going from dealership to dealership."

  4. Q: What features are non-negotiable for you in a car?

    • A: "Definitely a strong safety record and good gas mileage. Also, it has to have enough space for my family and all the stuff we carry around. Oh, and Bluetooth—I need to be able to make calls hands-free while I’m driving."

  5. Q: How do you feel about the process of buying a used car?

    • A: "It’s stressful. There’s always that worry in the back of my mind that I might end up with something that has hidden issues. I want to trust that I’m making the right choice, but it’s hard to be sure."

Additional Insights:

Jessica’s life in Los Angeles is fast-paced, with little room for error or downtime. As a single mom, she juggles her career with the needs of her child, so every decision she makes is calculated to save time and reduce stress. When it comes to purchasing a used car, Jessica needs a process that is not only efficient but also transparent. She’s wary of the common pitfalls associated with buying used vehicles, such as hidden mechanical issues or predatory sales tactics. Jessica would greatly benefit from a service that offers a streamlined, trustworthy experience with clear, honest information and a focus on the key features she values most.

Challenges in Purchasing a Used Car:

  • Time Constraints: With limited time, Jessica can’t afford to spend days visiting multiple dealerships or navigating complex websites.

  • Budget Limitations: As a single parent, she needs to find a car that fits within a strict budget without compromising on quality.

  • Trust Issues: Jessica is concerned about the transparency of used car sales and fears buying a vehicle with hidden problems.


Ethan

Background: Ethan is in his late 20s, a young professional who has a passion for cars. Working in a tech company, Ethan enjoys the blend of technology and performance in everything he does. Living in a suburban area, he appreciates the freedom and thrill that driving provides, whether it’s a daily commute or a weekend road trip. Ethan is looking for a car that strikes the right balance between performance and practicality, reflecting his personality without compromising on his real-world needs.

Personality: Ethan is detail-oriented, enthusiastic, and tech-savvy. His love for cars isn’t just about transportation; it’s about the experience of driving. He enjoys researching the latest models, technologies, and trends in the automotive world. However, he’s also practical and understands the importance of making a sound investment. Ethan is someone who values the joy of driving, but also wants to ensure that his purchase is reliable and meets his everyday needs.

Interview

  1. Q: What do you look for in a car?

    • A: "I’m looking for something that’s fun to drive, but reliable. I love a car that has a bit of personality, something that stands out on the road, with stripes or something. I still want efficiency, tho."

  2. Q: How do you approach car shopping?

    • A: "I do a lot of research online. I check out reviews, videos, and compare specs. I’m not just looking at the performance—I want to know how it feels to drive, how it handles, and what other people think."

  3. Q: What are your biggest concerns when buying a car?

    • A: "One of my main concerns is finding the right balance between what I want and what I need. I don’t want to end up with something that’s a blast to drive but isn’t practical. I also worry about getting accurate information—sometimes it’s hard to know who to trust."

  4. Q: What features are most important to you?

    • A: "Performance is definitely up there, but I also want a car that’s got good tech. I need bluetooth, solid safety, and decent MPGs. It should be something I can enjoy every day, not just for the weekends."

  5. Q: How do you feel about the car buying process?

    • A: "It’s exciting but also a bit overwhelming. There’s so much information out there, and it’s hard to know which sources are reliable. I enjoy research, but I also want to make sure I’m making a smart decision because it’s such a big purchase."

Additional Insights

Ethan’s passion for cars is evident in the way he approaches buying one. He’s not just looking for a vehicle to get from point A to point B—he’s looking for a driving experience that excites him every time he gets behind the wheel. At the same time, Ethan is practical and doesn’t want to make sacrifices when it comes to reliability or everyday usability. He values detailed, honest information and prefers brands and services that understand the blend of passion and practicality.

Challenges in Purchasing a Used Car

  • Balancing Desires and Needs: Ethan needs a car that offers both excitement and practicality, which can be a difficult balance to achieve.

  • Inconsistent Information: With so many sources of information, Ethan finds it challenging to know which reviews and opinions to trust.

  • Navigating Options: The wide array of available cars makes it tough for Ethan to narrow down his choices to something that fits both his budget and his personality.

Insights

1

Time-Efficient Decision-Making is Critical: Shoppers like Jessica, who juggle busy lives with significant responsibilities, prioritize tools and services that streamline the car buying process. They value features that reduce the time spent on research and decision-making, such as comprehensive comparison tools and clear, concise information.

2

Balancing Passion and Practicality: Enthusiasts like Ethan seek a vehicle that excites them but also meets their everyday needs. This dual focus requires a buying experience that acknowledges both the emotional connection to driving and the practical realities of ownership, offering options that don't force a compromise between the two.

3

Trust and Transparency Drive Confidence: Both personas highlight the importance of trust in the car buying process. Whether it's avoiding hidden issues in a used car or finding accurate and consistent information, building confidence through transparency and honest communication is key to converting interest into a purchase.

4

Personalization Enhances Engagement: Jessica and Ethan each have specific, nuanced needs when it comes to buying a car. Personalized recommendations, tailored search experiences, and targeted content that speaks directly to their unique circumstances can significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction, leading to a more successful shopping experience.

The Solution

To address the diverse needs of customers, the car search platform must offer a highly personalized experience that blends efficiency with engagement. By integrating a streamlined search overlay that allows users to quickly filter through options based on their specific priorities—such as safety, reliability, and performance—the platform can cater to the need for a quick, trustworthy process while also satisfying a desire for a car that matches a customer’s personality and driving enthusiasm. The solution should emphasize transparency by providing clear, detailed information and corroborating user reviews, ensuring that both time-conscious shoppers and automotive enthusiasts can make confident decisions.

Notable Features

Dynamic Search Filters

The overlay provides users with dynamic and intuitive search filters, allowing them to refine their car search quickly and efficiently. This feature is designed to adapt to the user’s input, offering relevant options that narrow down the vast array of available vehicles to those that best meet the user's specific criteria, such as price range, mileage, make, and model. The goal is to simplify the decision-making process and help users like Jessica and Ethan find the right vehicle without being overwhelmed by too many choices.


Corroborated Information Display

The mockup suggests a focus on displaying not just the basic facts about each car but also corroborating details such as user reviews, reliability ratings, and even potential long-term costs. This feature builds trust with the user by providing a well-rounded view of each vehicle, addressing common concerns about hidden issues or misleading information, which is particularly important for used car buyers.


Visual Comparison Tool

The overlay includes a visual comparison tool that enables users to view multiple vehicles side-by-side, comparing key features, specifications, and even user-generated content like photos and reviews. This feature is designed to help users like Ethan, who enjoy diving into the details, easily assess which vehicle offers the best blend of performance, practicality, and personal appeal, all within a single, cohesive interface.

Research & Analysis

In collaboration with the UX and data science teams, we conducted a series of user experience studies and A/B tests to assess the effectiveness of our newly designed search overlay for potential used car buyers. We introduced features such as dynamic search filters, a visual comparison tool, and corroborated information displays at key touch-points in the user journey. Initial findings indicated that users were able to more quickly and confidently narrow down their vehicle options, resulting in a 25% reduction in search time and a 15% increase in lead conversions to dealerships.

Further, the personalized recommendations and clear, trustworthy information significantly enhanced user satisfaction, particularly among time-conscious users. While these iterative improvements led to a noticeable uplift in user engagement, the full implementation of our proposed end-to-end personalized car buying experience was never fully realized.

The insights gained from this research continue to inform our ongoing development efforts, with the ultimate goal of delivering a seamless and empowering car buying experience for all users.

% Increase in Search Completion

  • Bump in Completion from Norm
  • Bump in Completion from Norm
Testing Phase: 21 Days

User Flow

Interest

  1. User Lands on the Website

    • Entry Point: The user visits Edmunds, likely through a search engine or a direct URL.

    • First Impression: A clean homepage captures the user's interest with a prominent call-to-action (CTA)
      "Find Your Perfect Car."

    • Initial Engagement: CTA directs user the first step in the Used Car Search process.

  2. Basic Search Initiated

    • Search Overlay Activation: The user is taken to a search results page where a dynamic search overlay is displayed. Here, they begin to refine their search using basic filters (e.g., make, model, year).

    • Quick Glance Features: The overlay might highlight popular choices or show quick comparisons, nudging the user to explore further.

Discovery

  1. Refining the Search

    • Advanced Filters: The user engages deeper with the overlay, applying advanced filters such as mileage, specific features (e.g., Bluetooth, safety ratings), and preferred color.

    • Visual Comparison Tool: They utilize the visual comparison tool to contrast different cars side-by-side, reviewing specifications, user ratings, and price comparisons.

  2. Information Gathering

    • Corroborated Details Display: As they browse, the overlay provides corroborated information, including user reviews, expert opinions, and potential long-term costs, all presented in an easily digestible format and Edmunds proprietary data.

    • Interactive Elements: The user might interact with additional features such as "Save to Favorites" or "Compare Later," which help in decision-making but don't yet require commitment.

Confirmation

  1. Decision Making

    • Final Review: The user narrows down their options to one or two vehicles. They may revisit the visual comparison tool, check saved favorites, or even watch a video review if available.

    • Trust-Building Content: To reinforce their decision, they review final corroborated details and perhaps read a summary of the car’s history or safety checks.

  2. Commitment

    • Initiating Contact: Once confident, the user takes the next step, such as clicking "Contact Dealer" or "Schedule a Test Drive." The overlay might offer to connect them with a local dealership or provide a seamless transition to complete their inquiry.

    • Confirmation: The user receives a confirmation screen with all the details of their request, including options for follow-up, directions to the dealership, and possibly a summary of the car's key selling points.

Flow Summary

  • Interest: Captures user attention and prompts initial search.

  • Discovery: Deepens user engagement with detailed filtering and comparison tools.

  • Confirmation: Guides the user towards making an informed decision and taking action.

Key Takaways

Working on this project allowed me to deepen my understanding of how to create a seamless and user-centric experience for customers navigating complex decisions like purchasing a used car. I was able to leverage my skills as a UX designer to craft intuitive and dynamic features that addressed both practical needs and emotional touch-points, ensuring that users like Jessica and Ethan felt supported and confident throughout their journey.

Collaborating closely with the Product and Data Science teams, I played a pivotal role in translating user insights into actionable design solutions. This experience sharpened my ability to balance the aspirational goals of an ideal product with the practical constraints of real-world implementation, all while maintaining a focus on delivering measurable business results.

As a product designer and creative, I took pride in leading the design of a visual comparison tool and dynamic search filters that not only enhanced user engagement but also drove meaningful business outcomes. This project reaffirmed my belief in the power of user-centered design and the importance of empathy in creating products that resonate on both a functional and emotional level.

Overall, this experience was incredibly rewarding, providing me with the opportunity to work alongside a talented team and further hone my ability to craft designs that are as impactful as they are innovative.

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