Mayor's Grocery Store
Mayor's Grocery Store
A Historic Site,
Redefined for the Future of Atlanta.
A Historic Site,
Redefined for the Future of Atlanta.
Design Role
UX Researcher
UI Designer
Duration
Fall 2024
10 Weeks
Team
Raven Glister
Ilayda Ozcan
+ 29 Others
Tools
Figma
Slack
A Community in Need
In downtown Atlanta, access to fresh, affordable food is a daily struggle for many. To address this, the city launched an $8M initiative, including revitalizing the historic Olympia Building.
Our project became part of this vision, transforming a historic site into a modern grocery hub where innovation meets community connection.
Explore the initiative driving this vision:
A Community in Need
In downtown Atlanta, access to fresh, affordable food is a daily struggle for many.
To address this, the city launched an $8M initiative, including revitalizing the historic Olympia Building.
Our project became part of this vision, transforming a historic site into a modern grocery hub where innovation meets community connection.
Explore the initiative driving this vision:
The historic Olympia Building
What we Set Out To Do
The map highlights existing and proposed housing within walking distance, emphasizing the site’s potential as a central hub for fresh food access in downtown Atlanta.
Mapping the Olympia Building’s accessibility
In collaboration with Savi Provisions and Mayor Dickens of Atlanta, we transformed a historic location into a modern grocery store that combines tradition and innovation. This project aimed to improve food accessibility while creating a welcoming space where the community could connect and thrive.
The map highlights existing and proposed housing within walking distance, emphasizing the site’s potential as a central hub for fresh food access in downtown Atlanta.
Atlanta officials approve more than $8M to bring grocery stores to Southside
In collaboration with Savi Provisions and Mayor Dickens of Atlanta, we transformed a historic location into a modern grocery store that combines tradition and innovation. This project aimed to improve food accessibility while creating a welcoming space where the community could connect and thrive.
Understanding the Community’s Needs
To design a grocery store that truly serves its community, we needed to understand the people who would use it. By conducting interviews, analyzing data, and observing behaviors, we uncovered the needs and challenges of downtown Atlanta's diverse population.
Understanding the Community’s Needs
To design a grocery store that truly serves its community, we needed to understand the people who would use it. By conducting interviews, analyzing data, and observing behaviors, we uncovered the needs and challenges of Atlanta's diverse population.
Our team explored the downtown Atlanta area, including the historic Olympia Building, and assessed both its interior and exterior. We also conducted street interviews with locals to better understand their grocery shopping habits and preferences.
Our team explored the downtown Atlanta area, including the historic Olympia Building, and assessed both its interior and exterior. We also conducted street interviews with locals to better understand their grocery shopping habits and preferences.
Our team conducting on-site research at the historic Olympia Building
Early Research Document
Early Research Document
Insights from our on-site exploration and street interviews informed this early research document, highlighting user needs like convenience, safety, and affordability. As the project progressed, we refined or let go of some initial ideas to better align with evolving community feedback and site constraints.
Insights from our on-site exploration and street interviews informed this early research document, highlighting user needs like convenience, safety, and affordability. As the project progressed, we refined or let go of some initial ideas to better align with evolving community feedback and site constraints.
Guided by Research
Understanding the community’s needs was pivotal to designing a grocery store that serves its diverse users. Through a detailed research process—including street interviews, expert insights, and secondary data—we developed user personas and research packets that laid the groundwork for actionable and inclusive design solutions.
Guided by Research
Understanding the community’s needs was pivotal to designing a grocery store that serves its diverse users. Through a detailed research process—including street interviews, expert insights, and secondary data—we developed user personas and research packets that laid the groundwork for actionable and inclusive design solutions.
Research Packets
Street interviews informed the creation of personas that represent downtown Atlanta’s diverse population. For example, 'Natasha' reflects a busy commuter seeking convenience and affordability, while 'Ken' highlights local residents valuing community connection and sustainability. These personas guided our user-focused design decisions.
Street interviews informed the creation of personas that represent downtown Atlanta’s diverse population. For example, 'Natasha' reflects a busy commuter seeking convenience and affordability, while 'Ken' highlights local residents valuing community connection and sustainability. These personas guided our user-focused design decisions.
Explores the integration of physical and digital interactions, including app and kiosk concepts, to enhance the customer experience and streamline shopping.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Personas: Understanding the Users
Phygital & Service Design: Enhancing User Experience
CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Board
Showcases cohesive color palettes, sustainable materials, and tactile finishes that create a functional, inviting, and eco-conscious grocery environment.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Maps customer and staff interactions to streamline operations, enhance convenience, and foster community connections through service blueprints and user journeys.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Outdoor & Indoor Environment: Designing Inviting Spaces
Focuses on creating a harmonious indoor and outdoor experience, with inviting interiors that prioritize comfort and functionality, and outdoor spaces designed for accessibility, greenery, and community connection.
Click either packet to view the full research.
Maps customer and staff interactions to streamline operations, enhance convenience, and foster community connections through service blueprints and user journeys.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Explores the integration of physical and digital interactions, including app and kiosk concepts, to enhance the customer experience and streamline shopping.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Showcases cohesive color palettes, sustainable materials, and tactile finishes that create a functional, inviting, and eco-conscious grocery environment.
Click the packet to view the full research.
Focuses on creating a harmonious indoor and outdoor experience, with inviting interiors that prioritize comfort and functionality, and outdoor spaces designed for accessibility, greenery, and community connection.
Click either packet to view the full research.
Research Packets
CMF (Color, Material, Finish) Board
Outdoor & Indoor Environment: Designing Inviting Spaces
Phygital & Service Design: Enhancing User Experience
Branding the Vision
After much iteration, the branding and advertising team developed these two distinct directions:
The interior design team further supported these directions by creating layouts that aligned with the brand identities. Our foundational research provided the teams with critical insights to guide their creative processes.
A community-centered concept symbolizing resilience and connection.
A modern and bold identity focusing on freshness and trustworthiness.
App Mockup
To complement the physical grocery store experience, we decided to create an app mockup that integrates key digital touchpoints. Using insights from the phygital research as a foundation, we developed features that prioritize user convenience and streamline interactions.
The app’s key features address the needs of all four personas: the Quick Payment & Barcode Screen supports Natasha’s need for speed, the Order Pickup Screen aligns with Ken’s focus on sustainability, the Recipes and Cooking Classes Screens cater to Corey’s curiosity, and the Digital Wallet and Loyalty Screens suit Burt’s grab-and-go lifestyle. These designs seamlessly bridge research insights with user needs.
App Mockup
To complement the physical grocery store experience, we decided to create an app mockup that integrates key digital touchpoints. Using insights from the phygital research as a foundation, we developed features that prioritize user convenience and streamline interactions.
The app’s key features address the needs of all four personas: the Quick Payment & Barcode Screen supports Natasha’s need for speed, the Order Pickup Screen aligns with Ken’s focus on sustainability, the Recipes and Cooking Classes Screens cater to Corey’s curiosity, and the Digital Wallet and Loyalty Screens suit Burt’s grab-and-go lifestyle. These designs seamlessly bridge research insights with user needs.
Presenting the Vision
To bring our work to life, we invited stakeholders, including Mayor Dickens and Paul, the founder of Savi Provisions, to review our progress. The UX and ID teams opened the session by presenting research posters that highlighted key insights and user-driven opportunities. This was followed by two presentations from the Branding & Advertising and Interior Design teams, showcasing both creative directions for the project.
Key Takeaways:
The stakeholders appreciated the depth of our research and the seamless integration of user insights into design solutions. The branding and interior teams' presentations provided a well-rounded vision of the project’s potential impact, sparking discussions about feasibility and implementation.
What I Learned:
This experience taught me the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and clear communication in conveying design decisions to diverse audiences. It also reinforced the value of grounding creative solutions in research to ensure they resonate with both users and stakeholders.
Presenting the Vision
To bring our work to life, we invited stakeholders, including Mayor Dickens and Paul, the founder of Savi Provisions, to review our progress. The UX and ID teams opened the session by presenting research posters that highlighted key insights and user-driven opportunities. This was followed by two presentations from the Branding & Advertising and Interior Design teams, showcasing both creative directions for the project.
Key Takeaways:
The stakeholders appreciated the depth of our research and the seamless integration of user insights into design solutions. The branding and interior teams' presentations provided a well-rounded vision of the project’s potential impact, sparking discussions about feasibility and implementation.
What I Learned:
This experience taught me the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration and clear communication in conveying design decisions to diverse audiences. It also reinforced the value of grounding creative solutions in research to ensure they resonate with both users and stakeholders.
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Rukhsar Khundmiri © 2024
User Experience Designer
CONTACT
NAVIGATE
Design experiences with me!
Rukhsar Khundmiri © 2024
User Experience Designer
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CONTACT
NAVIGATE
Design experiences with me!
Rukhsar Khundmiri © 2024
User Experience Designer
CONTACT
NAVIGATE
Design experiences with me!
Rukhsar Khundmiri © 2024
User Experience Designer
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