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.
1. Primary Demographics: Predominantly women, ages 25–55, with a significant disposable income or aspirational buyers seeking luxury, exclusivity, and high-quality craftsmanship.
2. Secondary Demographic: Men purchasing jewelry as gifts for partners or family also form a smaller secondary audience.
3. Psychographics: Audience values premium, timeless designs and unique pieces that express personal style or commemorate special occasions. They often engage with high-end brands.
Ease of Use: A simple, intuitive shopping experience.
Personalization: Ability to customize jewelry (e.g., engraving, selecting materials).
Trust & Quality: Clear information on craftsmanship, materials, and certifications.
Convenience & Security: Fast, secure payment options and delivery tracking.
Customization Infuser Needs: A seamless, interactive, and flexible customization process that allows users to personalize their jewelry and express their unique style.
Problem:🔹Personalization Users want a jewelry shopping experience that feels uniquely theirs tailored to their style, special occasions, and preferences, not just another generic catalog.
Solution:💡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..
Problem:🔹Customization: Users want more than just pre-designed pieces they crave the freedom to create jewelry that reflects their personal style and story.
Solution:💡A "Design Your Own" feature that lets users customize every detail metals, gemstones, engravings bringing their dream jewelry to life, right within the app.
Problem:🔹Try on AR Users hesitate to buy jewelry online because they can’t visualize how it will look on them.
Solution:💡An AR try-on feature that lets users see the jewelry on themselves in real-time, helping them make confident, informed decisions.
Problem:🔹Product Detail Users want in-depth product information but often find listings too vague, leaving them unsure about materials, sizing, and craftsmanship.
Solution:💡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.
✅ 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.
✅ The checkout process felt smooth, with clear payment options.
✅ Users were excited about trying on earrings in AR.
✅ 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.
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.
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