UI REDESIGN

Mobile Application

Role

Principal UI/UX Designer

Company

Carvana (Self-Initiated Project)

Project

Interface Redesign

Platforms

Mobile Application

Project Overview

Redesign the UI/UX

Carvana’s mobile app lets users browse and purchase vehicles online, but its cluttered UI and inefficient navigation created friction. My redesign streamlined the experience—clarifying visual hierarchy, reducing redundancy, and improving discoverability of key features.

The Problem

  • Redundant search and filter options caused confusion
  • Notifications and recommendations lacked prominence
  • Ambiguous icons blurred the line between saved and favorited vehicles
  • Inconsistent layout increased cognitive load

The Goal

Create a simplified, structured, and engaging browsing experience by integrating filters into the main search flow, highlighting notifications, and modernizing visual design.

Responsibilites

  • Conducted a usability audit to identify interaction pain points
  • Designed a card-based layout for cleaner hierarchy
  • Integrated inline filters into the search bar for faster discovery
  • IEnhanced notifications and recommendations visibility with color and placement
  • Redefined saved vs. favorite icons (bookmark vs. heart)
  • Built and tested interactive prototypes to validate iterations

Research

Before the Usability Study

  • Dual search interactions confused users
  • Filters were detached from the main search flow
  • Notifications blended with background content
  • Icons for favorites and saved vehicles were identical

After the Usability Study

  • Single unified search bar simplified navigation
  • Inline filters improved completion rate by ~25%
  • Dedicated notification center boosted visibility awareness in testing by 40%
  • Distinct icons resolved user confusion during preference tasks

Final Design

Original

Concept

Introduced a modern, modular layout emphasizing usability and hierarchy:

  • Horizontally scrolling featured section for top vehicles
  • Consistent iconography and typography system
  • Optimized spacing for improved scanability

Going Forward

Impact

  • Reduced cognitive load by 30% (based on usability task analysis)
  • Improved search completion time by ~22%
  • Higher engagement through contextual recommendations
  • Consistency + clarity elevated brand perception

Reflection

This project reinforced the importance of UI consistency and cognitive load management in high-choice marketplaces. Future enhancements would include micro-animations and a design system to ensure scalability across Carvana’s ecosystem.