Celestra is a native jewelry shopping app I dreamed up as a UI/UX passion project with the goal of making online jewelry shopping feel less “meh” and more ooh, I love that!. I wanted to create an experience that feels personal, joyful, and super easy to use (because shopping for pretty things should feel pretty great, right?).
In this case study, I’ll take you through my full design process from researching the audience needs and insights to polished mockups and pixel-perfect interface. Celestra isn’t just a shiny app it’s a look into how I solve problems, design with intention, and bring a little magic into everyday moments. 💫
To better understand my users, I conducted a survey to gain insights into their preferences, habits, and pain points when shopping for jewelry.
🔹Personalization: Users want a jewelry shopping experience that feels uniquely theirs tailored to their style, special occasions, and preferences, not just another generic catalog.
💡A smart, intuitive onboarding process that asks the right questions upfront—favorite styles, preferred metals, upcoming events—creating a curated shopping experience that feels personal from the start..
🔹Customization: Users want more than just pre-designed pieces—they crave the freedom to create jewelry that reflects their personal style and story.
💡A "Design Your Own" feature that lets users customize every detail—metals, gemstones, engravings—bringing their dream jewelry to life, right within the app.
🔹Try on AR: Users hesitate to buy jewelry online because they can’t visualize how it will look on them.
💡An AR try-on feature that lets users see the jewelry on themselves in real-time, helping them make confident, informed decisions.
🔹Product Detail: Users want in-depth product information but often find listings too vague, leaving them unsure about materials, sizing, and craftsmanship.
💡Expandable drop-down sections for every detail materials, care instructions, sizing guide, color giving users all the info they need, only when they need it.
I conducted usability testing with my peers and professors, assigning them specific tasks to complete within the app. This helped evaluate the navigation, accessibility, and overall user flow, allowing me to identify pain points and refine the experience for a smoother, more intuitive interaction.
Remote & In-Person Testing (via screen recording & interviews).
✅ Most users appreciated the guided onboarding, saying it made the experience feel personal.
❌ However, two users skipped onboarding entirely because they didn’t realize it impacted recommendations.
✅ Users were excited about trying on earrings in AR.
✅ The checkout process felt smooth, with clear payment options.
✅ Users loved the ability to personalize jewelry but wanted a clearer preview—some didn’t realize they had to tap to see changes applied.
❌ One user found it difficult to navigate back to previous selections, wanting a clearer way to modify their choices without starting over.
Task Success: Most users completed key tasks but struggled with navigation and modifying selections.
Time on Task: Some users took longer when trying to go back and adjust choices.
Error Rate: A few accidentally exited progress, suggesting the need for an autosave feature.
User Satisfaction: The AR try-on was a favorite, but filtering and back-navigation needed improvement.
Sketches
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Style Tile
Design Grounded in Real User NeedsWorking on Celesta reminded me how essential it is to design with users, not just for them. Through surveys and usability testing, I was able to identify pain points like navigation struggles, trust in online purchases, and the desire for personalization. These insights shaped meaningful features—from AR try-on to detailed product info—that made the app feel intuitive and relevant.
Feedback That Shapes FunctionalityUsability testing with peers and professors gave me more than just surface-level feedback—it helped me see where users hesitated, got stuck, or felt unsure. Rather than relying on assumptions, I made design decisions based on what real users experienced, which led to smarter UI tweaks like clearer back-navigation and better filtering.
Iteration is EverythingThis project showed me the power of small, thoughtful changes. With each round of feedback and revisions, the app became smoother and more user-friendly. Iterating on wireframes and flows helped catch issues early and build a stronger foundation before moving into visual design.
