Interaction Designer
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market
INTERACTION DESIGNER
Project Brief
To facilitate the development of a modernized digital experience through functional requirement definition, User Stories, User Flows, and Accessibility Guidelines.
Background
Out-of-date and out-of-style, Whole Foods sought to conduct a full redesign of their main website, incorporating user personalization, facilitating easy consumption of blog and recipe editorial content, and for the first time, introducing e-commerce.

As an Interaction Designer, I collaborated with Digital Marketing Executives, Product Owners, Content Managers, and Engineers through the design process: creating personas, user flows, and user stories. At each stage, I also closely monitored the compliance to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure the final product would be both delightful and accessible for future users.
Challenge(s)
• Serving as the primary advocate for inclusive design and verifying the adherence to accessibility for design decisions.
• Lack of current state UX documentation meant there was no pre-existing reference to grasp the scope of flows and interactions within the legacy site.
• Lack of standard business process models to define best practices for everyday tasks executed by editorial and digital marketing teams (i.e. editing a blog post and getting approval), which led to an endless variety of preferences to account for when designing the admin experience.
Organization Type
American Supermarket Chain
Deliverables
User Flows
Functional Specifications
Accessibility Requirements (WCAG 2.0, AA)
Client
Whole Foods Market
Duration
8 months
Location(s)
Austin, Texas
Approach
Accessibility

Furthermore than color contrast and text size, there were more hidden opportunities for inclusion such as including written transcripts for audio/video content and ensuring consistent use of iconography.

User Flows
(An in-depth example is shown below.)

Before diving into the nuts and bolts of the User Flow, I ask myself the following questions about the User’s context.
1) Entry Points. Where is the User entering this task from?
2) Business Objective. What does the business want the User to accomplish?
3) Personas. Who is the User and what are their relevant characteristics?

Next, I would think logically through each persona variation, and ensure an intentional experience is designed for every potential permutation. Lastly, Ensuring there were no dead ends in the User journey and a steady stream of content for the User to engage with.
Challenge(s)
Maintaining a high engagement rate from Users stemming primarily from social media(Instagram, Pinterest) by optimizing the UX for quick and simple use on a mobile breakpoint.
Results
• Collaborated with stakeholders to elicit, analyze, document and communicate Accessibility Requirements that met A, AA, & AAA levels of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0).
• Curated 60+ Accessibility User Stories to better convey the required functionality and necessity of accessibility guidelines.
• Owned the completion of User Flows for 40+ Functional Areas and translated 100+ User Stories into Acceptance Criteria.
• Facilitated 25+ requirements gathering meetings to garner insights from key WFM Digital Marketing and Editorial stakeholders.
• Completed a High-Level Requirements Matrix consisting of 400+ requirements that were used to communicate business goals to developers.

Overall, a total of 38 unique processes mapped out the interactions of users through the entire digital experience. Helping the client define the business case for each step and making certain the User’s interactions instinctively drove them closer to reaching that goal.
Methods/Components
InteractionDesign, User Flow Design, Web Content Accessibility (WCAG 2.0), ContentManagement Systems (AEM, Sitecore, Drupal)
Methods/Components
UserExperience Design, Responsive Design, Iconography, Illustration, VisualCommunication, Google Analytics, Web Development, Moderated Usability Testing
Location(s)
Cuba,Peru, Thailand, Singapore, Bali, Costa Rica, India
Overview
Process
IN A NUTSHELL
To facilitate the development of a modernized digital experience through functional requirement definition, User Stories, User Flows, Wireframes and Accessibility Guidelines.
RECIPE DETAIL PAGE
WIREFRAME
I
USER FLOW PROCESS
I
Entry Points.
Where is the user accessing this website from?
II
Business Objectives.
What does the business want the user to accomplish?
III
Personas.
Who is the user and what are their relevant characteristics?
I
II
II
III
"Our customers have a strong affinity for our brand and the creation of a brand book is the perfect gift or coffee table decoration that tells our story."
IV
V
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.