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Redesigning the digital shopping cart

Design Lead (Contract Project) · 2013

Instacart shopping cart redesign
Instacart shopping cart redesign
Instacart shopping cart redesign

Identifying the problem

In real-life experiences, customers can view their shopping carts while browsing products, which is ideal when using a shopping list. Because Instacart's shopping cart overlayed on top of (and obstructed) the browsing view, Instacart needed to redesign their shopping cart interface.

Instacart icon design
Instacart product card design Instacart product card design Instacart product card design

Introducing a solution

To solve the problem, a sidebar sliding cart was designed, allowing customers to browse without obstruction. At any point while shopping, products are visible to the customer.

Dissecting and comparing the original design

The project started with a critique and review session of the original design. New ideas and features were sketched on whiteboards before the wireframing process began. After wireframes had been agreed upon, detailed visual concepts were designed for implementation.

Original Instacart design

Original design (before)

Obstructing the user's view

When the shopping cart is expanded, the shopping experience was nearly unusable.

Too few items in view

The shopping cart displayed too few products to allow customers to make educated decisions when checking out.

Instacart browsing redesign

New design (after)

More space for products

Without a sidebar or overlaying shopping cart, the browsing view displays more products per row.

Instacart shopping cart redesign

Expanded shopping cart

Reflowing content (never hidden)

When the shopping cart is expanded, content is reflowed (preventing the shopping and browsing view from disappearing behind the interface).