A matter of design

In an age marked by tech-driven progress, the interior design and furniture shopping realm saw a profound shift with the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This case study delves into the journey of A Matter of Design (AMOD) Platform, an innovative solution that helps customers enhance their furniture shopping and offers users a seamless AI-powered experience, liberating them from conventional design constraints.

This case study unfolds the story of AMOD, where technology meets user-centric design, creating a digital space for design enthusiasts and furniture aficionados. We will explore the platform's original goals, remarkable achievements, and the strategies that led to its success.

A Matter of Design: Where Design Transforms Everyday Life

At the core of A Matter of Design (AMOD) company lies a deep-seated belief - design is not just an aesthetic consideration it's woven into the very fabric of our daily existence. When executed masterfully, design has the power to enhance and simplify our lives, whether it's within the comforting walls of our homes, our bustling workspaces, or even the place where we store household trinkets.

With a rich history spanning more than five decades, A Matter of Design stands as a prominent player in the Asian furniture distribution landscape. Over the years, the company has garnered a strong reputation as the official distributor for numerous renowned European furniture brands.

How did the idea to create an Interior Design and Furniture Shopping Platform come about?

The idea for the Interior Design and Furniture Shopping Platform originated from several key factors. First, AMOD recognized the tremendous potential in the Chinese market, particularly among Millennials and Generation Z, driven by the significant presence of over 400 million millennials in China.

Second, the aim is to revolutionize furniture shopping, transforming it from a mere shopping experience into a comprehensive interior design solution. Additionally, the platform seeks to attract new partners by expanding its distribution to include a variety of furniture brands beyond its own.

Finally, the primary objective is to create a platform that generates value for all participants in the process, from users seeking innovative design solutions to the brands and partners involved.

1. Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence

Implementing AI for design generation was a major hurdle in the development of the AMOD Furniture platform. Training and fine-tuning AI algorithms to consistently deliver high-quality interior designs within acceptable time frames was a formidable challenge.

2. The Art of Subscription Management

Preventing users from manipulating the system to gain unauthorized benefits, whether through upgrades or downgrades, required intricate logic and airtight security measures. Balancing user convenience with system integrity was no small feat.

3. Navigating the Complex World of API Integration

The task of parsing data through APIs and then developing the Shop API with advanced filtering logic presented a formidable technical challenge. The intricacies of API integration required careful navigation to ensure seamless communication and data flow between different components of the platform.

1. Authentication and Authorization

Implement a system for user authentication and authorization to ensure secure access to user accounts and data.

2. Subscription and Payments

Develop a subscription system with various plans and integrate payment processing capabilities for subscription payments.

3. Favorites

Implement a feature that enables users to save and organize their favorite products and designs for easy access and reference.

4. Shop Functionality

Create a seamless e-commerce component that allows users to browse, search for, and redirect to distributors website for finishing purchasing.

5. Interior Design Customization

Provide users with the opportunity to create personalized interior designs by incorporating their own requests and preferences.

Be innovative, be Agile

The adoption of the SCRUM methodology has played a pivotal role in the accomplishments of the AMOD platform. Through the SCRUM framework, the project team achieved iterative development, enabling them to swiftly adapt to evolving requirements. Furthermore, SCRUM's collaborative nature allowed for continuous feedback from stakeholders at various stages of development.

User First

Our philosophy is simple - place the user at the core of the platform. We've built AMOD with user experience as the very bedrock of our design. Through the dedicated application of user-centered design principles, we've crafted interfaces that are not only intuitive but also profoundly user-friendly, directly appealing to our intended audience. At AMOD, it all begins and ends with the user.

Clear Communication

We fostered interactions among key players, including the product owner, developers, and various stakeholders. This collective effort was pivotal in simplifying the development process, clarifying requirements, and minimizing unnecessary complexities. In our world, clear communication isn't just a practice it's the very fuel that propels us to meet and exceed expectations.

Testing and Quality Assurance

Implementing clear procedures for testing helped in the early identification and resolution of issues. The inclusion of sanity checks and regression testing across different devices and browsers ensured a high-quality and reliable product.

Modular Development

Breaking down the development process into modular components offered numerous advantages. An incremental development strategy coupled with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices, enabling ongoing enhancements and user feedback integration.

Only numbers

At the heart of the data-driven approach is a profound shift from intuition and assumptions to data-backed decision-making. Data becomes the North Star, guiding us through the intricate process of creating solution.

👨‍💻 Back End Developer - 1

👩🏻‍💻 Front End Developer - 1

👨‍🎨 UI/UX Designer - 1

👩‍💻 QA Engineer - 1

👩🏻‍💼 Project Manager - 1

👨‍💻 DevOps Engineer - 1

The project timeline can be summarized as follows:

Discovery Phase (2 Weeks)

During this phase, the team gathered project requirements and created initial wireframes. Then, the project transitioned into an iterative development process following the Scrum framework.

First Module - Authentication and Authorization (2,5 Sprints)

This module encompassed user authentication, authorization, and user account details (changing password, user menu, sign out, etc.). Each sprint had a duration of two weeks.

Second Module - Subscription and Payment (3 Sprints)

This module involved the development of a comprehensive subscription system, including add-ons and the integration of promo codes. The duration of this phase was three sprints.

Third Module - Shop (2 Sprints)

The Shop module focused on implementing complex filtering logic, a global search feature, and integration with external APIs. It was completed within two sprints.

Fourth Module - AI Module (4 Sprints)

The AI module was an extensive component, including the development of filtering systems, prompting features, customization options, separate flows for different subscription levels. This module spanned four sprints.

General Fixes, Sanity Checking, Regression Testing, Hypercare (1 Sprint)

In the final phase, general fixes and testing activities, including sanity checks and regression testing, were conducted. This phase was addressed within a single sprint.

Throughout the project, these modules were developed in parallel, allowing for efficient progress and addressing interrelated tasks as needed.

The AMOD project represents a remarkable fusion of technology and design, providing users with a dynamic and user-centric platform. It not only simplifies interior design and furniture shopping but also opens opportunities for future growth and partnerships, ultimately enriching the lives of design enthusiasts and furniture connoisseurs. With a commitment to delivering value and a dedication to the user, AMOD has set new standards for the industry, promising a future where design is accessible to all.