IKEA BUILDMASTER
I led the research and design of making the IKEA furniture assembly experience easier and more accessible.
Presented project to the University of Michigan College of Engineering and School of Information, with designs being considered for potential future collaborations with IKEA to improve customer satisfaction.
ROLE
Lead Researcher
Lead Designer
DURATION
Aug - Dec 2023
TEAM
3
Mentors
1
Researcher
1
Designer
CONTEXT
IKEA is a global leader in affordable home furnishings where a significant part of their business is their DIY assembly products, which allow customers to build their own furniture. I researched and designed a new feature implementation called "IKEA BuildMaster." BuildMaster allows users to access interactive, step-by-step digital manuals to simplify furniture assembly.
Problem
According to our research, over 60% of frustrations with IKEA's products stem from difficulties in understanding and following the assembly instructions. Manuals do not provide detailed depictions of pieces, lack clear assembly guidance, and fail to reduce the need for external help.
1
Unhelpful Visuals cute, yet don't convey useful assembly information.
2
Poor Part Identification: Small images with irrelevant six-digit numbers confuse users.
3
Misleading Wrong Instructions: Focus on incorrect steps distracts + confuses users.
4
Complex, Tiny Step Graphics are hard to interpret and follow.
Goal
Make the IKEA furniture assembly process easier, faster, and more intuitive by providing clear, detailed instructions and improving the organization and verification of assembly pieces.
Sucess Metrics
1
Reduce Time for Each Assembly Step:
Decrease the time for each assembly step by providing clear, sequential instructions that minimize confusion and backtracking.
2
Decrease Errors in Piece Identification:
Improve the detail and clarity of piece illustrations to ensure users can easily and accurately identify each part, reducing errors.
3
Minimize Need for External Resources:
Make comprehensive to reduce reliance on external help, while assisting easy navigation to external resources if needed.
4
Increase Confidence
Boost confidence and satisfaction by offering intuitive navigation, clear instructions, and helpful tips throughout the assembly process.
SOLUTION
IKEA BuildMaster is now a fully designed feature, optimized for comprehensive assembly. It now has a cohesive visual design consistent with the rest of the platform, along with streamlined navigation and detailed, interactive instructions.
1
Quickly find, assembly guides with search, filters, and barcode scanner.
2
Detailed product overviews with interactive step-by-step guidance.
3
Access and share reviews to guide assembly experience.
RESEARCH
These challenges prompted me to conduct 1 pilot interview and 5 official interviews with users of various skill levels to uncover the specific pain points and identify areas for improvement.
The initial problem we set out to solve was the difficulty and frustration associated with assembling IKEA furniture. However, our research narrowed it down to specific issues related to confidence levels and the usability of the instruction manuals, particularly their visual aspects.
1
Inconsistent Pre-Assembly Preparation
Users feel unprepared at the start of the assembly process due to lack of parts organization and understanding the initial steps.
2
Inadequate Visual Detail
Use oversimplified illustrations that lack the necessary detail, causing users to struggle with piece identification and proper assembly
3
Disorganized Information Flow
The sequence of instructions is often unclear, leading to confusion and errors during assembly, which diminishes user confidence.
4
Over Reliance on External Help
Due to the lack of clear instructions, users turn to external resources, such as videos and third-party guides
Signifigance
With over 2 million IKEA furniture products assembled daily and an average 1.25-star rating review related to assembly, an overwhelming preference for external videos (748k views versus IKEA’s 39k) shows major inefficiencies in the current manual system.
OPPORTUNITY
A more intuitive guide will lead to higher customer satisfaction and more positive reviews. If users can assemble their furniture with confidence, they are more likely to recommend IKEA products, increasing brand loyalty and driving future sales.
CHALLENGES
Challenge 1: Onboarding
How might we make the onboarding process less overwhelming for new users?
Breaking down the content into smaller, more manageable sections helps users get started without feeling overwhelmed. I restructured the material gathering flow, into a checklist categroized by each part making the process more approachable and organized.
Challenge 2: Descriptions
How might we improve overall instructional understanding?
Provide concise, clear descriptions throughout the app. I incorporated 3D visualizations and interactive guides, ensuring users fully grasp each assembly step and can easily access additional assistance when needed.
Challenge 3: Navigation
How might we create a navigation system that quickly get their answers?
Prioritize speed and ease of use regardless of preference. Focused on making every navigation element aligned with user expectations. Regardless of the preferred method, the process feels natural with each element prominently placed for immediate access.
FINAL DESIGN
Search Methods
Equipped with a search bar, filters and a barcode scanner, making it easy to find products, whether they know exactly what they’re looking for or need to browse.
Overview of Products
Each product has a detailed page with all the necessary basic information and reviews ensuring users know what to expect.
Pre-Assembly
Instruction guide on gathering materials, finding help, and using the app’s interactive tools.
During Assembly
Continuous guidance through step-by-step instructions, real-time part identification, and 3D visualizations to reduce errors. Interactive features cater to beginner and experienced users to build with confidence.
OUTCOMES
Validation
By receiving continuous weekly checkpoint feedback from professors and GSI mentors, I was able to iteratively enhance the project, ensuring it met and exceeded both academic and industry benchmarks.
Key Results
💡
Research gave me the confidence to propose a pivot from original thought issue
300+
attendees at presentation UMICH Engineering + Information programs
⏱️
Initial rudimentary testing has shown reduction in time spent on assembly
Takeaways