MARATHON BARBERSHOP

A cutting-edge product that empowers barbers and clients to effortlessly book appointments, communicate, request tailored services, and seamlessly integrate digital payments and premium amenities.

Marathon Barbershop in Los Angeles revolutionizes the customer experience by streamlining appointment booking, enhancing communication with barbers, and helping clients select the right services—all through a seamless app. This modern approach eliminates outdated booking methods, making the process more efficient and convenient.

MOBILE APP

UI/UX DESIGN

PROTOTYPING

INTERACTION DESIGN

PERSONAL CARE TECHNOLOGY

USER RESEARCH

USABILITY TESTING

PRODUCT DESIGN

BRANDING

Circa 2021

OVERVIEW

Goals

Instant Booking: Allow customers to quickly book appointments by selecting available time slots.
Flexible Scheduling: Enable users to choose dates/times and even reschedule/cancel appointments with ease.
Direct Messaging: Allow users to directly message their barbers for special requests, questions, or consultation.
Real-Time Updates: Provide real-time updates on their appointment status, waiting times, and any changes.
Review & Feedback System: After each appointment, users can leave feedback for their barber, helping them refine future services.
Style Gallery: A curated gallery of hairstyles categorized by trends, length, and type (e.g., curly, straight) that customers can browse and choose from.
Secure Payment System: Allow users to pay through the app with credit/debit cards, digital wallets, or store credits.
Customer Profiles: Allow users to create a profile where they can save their preferred barber, hairstyle history, and payment details for faster booking.

Pain Points

Clients must rely on memory to describe their desired haircut and expectations.
There is a lack of clear communication between barbers and customers regarding haircut selection and barber availability.
Barbers do not provide invoices, details about the products they use, or clear pricing for services.
At times, customers may feel uncomfortable, but the shop's atmosphere plays a role in their overall experience.

My Role

Project Duration: Upwork (8 months)
Design Process: Conducting user research, interviews, surveys, task flow, product map, storyboarding, visual design, usability tests brainstorming, user flow, low-hi fidelity Wireframes, Prototyping
Digital Tools: Figma, Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, LS Graphics

Solution

Seamless Appointment Booking – A mobile app that allows clients to book appointments effortlessly, view barber availability in real time, and receive automated reminders.
Haircut Preferences Saved – A profile system where customers can save their preferred haircut styles, previous services, and reference photos, eliminating the need to remember or repeatedly explain their desired look.
Improved Communication – In-app messaging between barbers and clients for consultation, haircut selection, and appointment confirmations, ensuring clarity before the visit.
Transparent Pricing & Invoicing – A built-in pricing menu that displays haircut costs, available services, and product offerings, along with digital invoices for better transparency.
Comfort & Ambiance Enhancements – Integrated customer feedback to improve the barbershop atmosphere, including music preferences, refreshments, and premium amenities for a more relaxing experience.
Digital Payments & Tipping – Secure, in-app payment processing that allows clients to pay effortlessly and tip their barber without needing cash.

RESEARCH

I visited a local barbershop to interview both barbers and customers to gain deeper insights into the challenges of booking haircut appointments. During these conversations, clients expressed a strong desire for an app that allows them to book appointments, communicate with their barber, and select their preferred haircut style. Many customers also voiced frustrations about the business lacking an intuitive app, which led to difficulties in booking and canceling appointments efficiently.

10

The total amount of haircut clients asked at the Barbershop

85%

Customers would like
to see a barbershop app developed for this business.

95%

Clients want an app that allows them to schedule appointments, make payments, and explore available services.

USER PERSONAS

Focused on understanding the needs and frustrations of a younger demographic to better address their expectations and pain points.

USER INTERVIEWS

Interviewed 10 clients using open-ended questions to understand their needs and expectations.

BRAINSTORMING

Focus on understanding the needs and desires of barbershop clients while exploring a journey map that guides them through the entire experience.

USER FLOWS

Mapping how haircut clients journey at the Barbershop is and how it could be better through the app experience.

WIREFRAMES

The goal was to create two profiles: one for the barber and one for the client. The client profile would include essential features such as appointment booking, amenities, digital payments, messaging, and other services tailored to their needs.

STYLE GUIDES

The app’s design will follow a dark mode, blue and cool grey color scheme inspired by iOS principles, ensuring a modern and engaging user experience.

PROTOTYPING & USABILITY TESTS

Created a prototype in Figma and conducted usability tests with clients for a barber shop app. During testing, I guided users to the profile page and ensured they could quickly access the menu status bar. Additionally, users could select their preferred haircut style and easily set an appointment.