Product Design + Dev
Shop A.Au
Shop A.Au
PRODUCT DESIGNER + DEVLOPER
IN A NUTSHELL
Shop A.au is a clothing brand made entirely in Nigeria with a mission of empowering communities through education and creativity. In order to bring the India Collection to market, I partnered with the company to redesign and rebuild its e-commerce website.
My primary goals in the website rebuild were to improve brand perception by reflecting the company mission & purpose, while generating revenue through commerce channels. The client desired a clean, minimal, and product-forward user interface. In addition, a proper CMS (Content Management System) needed to be selected to ensure the product team could manage the back end after project completion. In the end, I redesigned and developed the new e-commerce site, built a product-page template to dynamically populate with the onboarding of new products, and provided training to the team to update content without support.
Overview
Project Brief
To design an Elizabeth Suzann lookbook featuring their SS17 collections and distinct brand story.
Background
Elizabeth Suzann is an ethical clothing design studio homegrown in Nashville, TN. Their vision, founded on sustainability and careful consumption, drives their ethos and differentiates the products they create.

ES functions primarily as an e-commerce business, however they conduct all production operations in-house which ties a uniquely personal touch to each garment. Considering the strength of the story ES had built digitally, through e-commerce & social channels, I proposed the production of a brand book that would serve as a tactile representation of their ethos and further extend their story to customers.
Process
Deliverables
Brand Story Lookbook
Organization Type
Clothing Design Studio
Year(s)
2 weeks
Location
Nashville, TN
OUTCOMES +
view live site here
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Final Wireframe | Homepage
Final Visual Comp | Homepage
Shade Bakare
Hey, I'm Shade Bakare. An Atlanta-based Product Designer + digital nomad with a passion for curating relevant digital experiences at the intersection of simplicity and authenticity. I partner with my clients to draw the connections between who they are, why they are, and what they do to strategically position them to stand out in a sea of cookie-cutter digital experiences.
Is your name really pronounced "Shade"?
Nope. It's pronounced "shah-day". Exactly like the British-Pop singer Sade Adu. Haven't heard of her? Click here. Thank me later :)
Quick facts
1. I am a "full-stack" Product Designer with 5+ years of experience across Research, Interaction/Visual Design, and a sprinkle of FED.

2. I spent a little over 3 years as a Digital Product Designer and Strategist for the global consulting firm, Accenture Interactive, where I led efforts to transform and revitalize digital experiences for some of the world’s largest companies.

3. Traveling the world and experiencing new cultures is a huge passion of mine! I take great pride in my carefully manicured Instagram profile @fola.shade.

4. I think yoga, meditation, and all things mindfulness are the bomb. Digital Minimalism is the new wave I can't get enough of.

5. I'm the oldest of 3 and first-generation Nigerian-American. My parents are my inspiration and my siblings are the coolest kids around. #TheBakareBunch

Why I do this work
I believe that everyone has a story. A valid one. One that should be considered, valued, respected, and most importantly, designed for. With each individual comes a unique background that shapes perspective & fuels motivation. Therein lies an opportunity for designers.

Over the past three years while working at Accenture, I simultaneously built an ethos-driven digital studio where I execute Brand/Business Strategy and Product Design & Development for a wide array of clients in order to further define their missions and achieve their goals. 

This work means a lot to me. I get to be the bridge between an idea and a tangible product. The catalyst between a dream and a purpose driven life. I don't take this work lightly as it is my way of utilizing my professional talents to make an impact on my clients, and their ability to leave their marks on the world.
What I am curious about
I am most interested in developing solutions that democratize access to technology and address the inefficiencies that line the underbelly of societies in emerging markets. An enormous opportunity exists in utilizing inclusive design to develop new platforms that create culturally relevant technologies that both deliver impact and generate revenue. More specifically, I am eager to be a part of how newer innovations in AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Robotics can be leveraged to reach not only the saturated markets of the western world but the next billion users in developing countries around the globe.
My Four [Design] Agreements
1. Connect to the ethos. Find the ‘why’.
2. Never make assumptions.
3. It can always be better.
4. Design... Iterate. Iterate. Iterate.