Hackathon Girls in Tech x Galaxus
Making it easier for everyone, to find the right thing on Galaxus
About the hackathon
In an exciting collaboration between Girls in Tech Switzerland and Digitec Galaxus, I participated in the #Hackfest, a hackathon aimed at accelerating social change through diversity and inclusion. Our challenge: reimagine product search to make it accessible for everyone, including those with diverse abilities.
UX Research and Strategy
- Conducted comprehensive analysis of current product search functionalities
- Performed competitive analysis and benchmarking of inclusive search practices
- Utilized design thinking to synthesize insights and identify key opportunity areas
Emphasize and Pain Points
One of the strong advantages of Digitec Galaxus is their wide portfolio of products. However, exactly this can lead to cognitive overload, confusion and exhaustion of users - especially ones with a disabiltiy - finding the right product. Although the website complies almost with the WCAG AA standard, the product search still faces issues. There is no clear category for adaptive products such as walking aids, adaptive kitchen tools or have sufficient product descriptions which are essential for individuals with a disability. In addition, there is a wide range of regular products that are appreciated by users with, for example, ADHD, as they serve a special need even though the product itself was originally not designed for this.
Ideation and Prototype
Within the 2.5 weeks, we came up with the following solution and tested this with 5 test users:
- Product Labeling: Introduced new labels to highlight products with inclusive features
- Enhanced Filter Options: Redesigned search filters to accommodate diverse user needs
- Adaptive Product Category: Introduced new product category focusing on adaptive products
- Inclusive Product Pages: Created dedicated sections for inclusive features on product detail pages
- Community-Driven Content: Developed the "Inclusive Living Hub," empowering users from the community to contribute and edit product information, following the claim "Nothing about us without us".
The result was a holistic approach to inclusive e-commerce, balancing adaptive products with mainstream items that serve specific needs. Our solution not only improved accessibility but also enhances the overall user experience for all customers.
The pitch
Together with a team colleague, I delivered a 3-minute pitch to over 100 Digitec Galaxus employees, including the company's two founders. This project showcased the power of user-centered design in creating more inclusive digital experiences and demonstrated how UX can drive meaningful social change in e-commerce.