Arktura Samples Store
Led the redesign of the Samples Store, leveraging a Shopify template to create a streamlined and user-friendly shopping journey.
Shopify
Figma
Photoshop
Illustrator
Context
Arktura is a leading manufacturer of architectural products including ceiling systems, wall panels, and lighting solutions. As part of their brand refresh, the company needed to modernize its Samples Store to improve usability and reduce the workload on internal sales teams.
The original store was little more than a static page of diagrams, with no product photography, categorization, or ordering system. Ordering required manual coordination with the sales team, creating unnecessary friction for architects, designers, and reps.
The redesign introduced product photography, structured navigation, and an automated checkout process — transforming the store into a user-friendly, modern experience that aligned with Arktura's brand identity.
What customers struggled with
The original store presented three key issues:
Navigation Complexity
Products weren't categorized, making it difficult for reps and designers to locate specific samples.
Unclear Product Information
With only diagrams and no photography, customers lacked the detail needed to confidently evaluate materials.
Inefficient Ordering
No cart or checkout infrastructure existed, requiring reps to call the Sales team to place orders manually.
What the redesign provides
The redesigned Samples Store leverages Shopify's capabilities while implementing a modern design system. By combining intuitive navigation, product photography, and automated ordering, the new site streamlined the process for users while reducing the sales team's workload.
Key Improvements
Intuitive Navigation
Clear categories and grouping improved product discovery.
Product Photography
High-quality images replaced diagrams, providing clarity and confidence.
Streamlined Checkout
A cart + checkout flow automated the ordering process and reduced reliance on Sales.
Professional Branding
A consistent design system aligned with Arktura's updated brand identity.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Early wireframes were created to persuade leadership to green-light the redesign by visualizing how a modern store could improve usability.
Mid-Fidelity Mockups
Once a Shopify template was selected, mid-fidelity mockups refined the structure, navigation, and flow.
High-Fidelity Designs
Final designs incorporated edited product photography, refined UI components, and the automated checkout system.
Process
Initial Wireframes
Created to demonstrate the value of a redesign and secure leadership approval.
Photography & Asset Preparation
Secured budget to hire a photographer and edited hundreds of sample images in Photoshop and Illustrator.
UI Design & Template Customization
Customized a Shopify template to align with Arktura's brand and created a visual design system.
Development & Launch
Collaborated with developers across teams to implement the checkout system and launch the redesigned store.
Outcome
Outcome
The automated checkout process was the most impactful outcome. It eliminated manual ordering, reduced staffing needs, and freed resources for other projects.
Learnings
This project reinforced the importance of patience and iteration. Waiting on leadership decisions slowed progress but created opportunities to refine designs and return with stronger solutions.
Future Improvements
With more time and resources, I would explore adding an AI-powered chatbot to provide instant answers about sample details and support users directly.
Interested in more work?
Explore other case studies or reach out for a walkthrough.