web app case study

Discover our works

Ammo sales platform.

Discover how we migrated an online ammo sales platform from WordPress to Ruby on Rails and Next.js. Also, we integrated a complex checkout system and automated regulatory compliance for a seamless and scalable web solution.

Online domain name trading marketplace platform

Dan is an online marketplace platform that allows you to buy and sell domain names simply and transparently.

Online Service Marketplace

PlanMyKids is a marketplace where parents can plan and book kids activities nearby. The platform offers a simple solution that connects parents with after-school programs and camps.

Multi-vendor e-commerce marketplace platform

This is the first online marketplace in Europe and the UK that allows users to buy and sell their services and products in one place.

Insurance Progressive Web App

Babel Cover is an early stage insurance technology startup. The goal of this project was to bring consumers closer to insurance products, and to enable them to access insurance services from their smartphones with the help of a cross-platform Progressive Web App.

Online marketplace for boats

Trade A Boat is an Australia-based marketplace that helps organize the process of buying and selling new or used boats, and marine equipment.

Fitness Progressive Web Application

Impact is a fitness app that connects trainers and their clients via desktops and smartphones. The application allows for assigning and tracking personal training and nutrition programs.

Time tracking software

TimeBot is a Slack bot in conjunction with the admin panel that serves as the project management tool. It automates monitoring the workflow and evaluation of the performance, boosting the team’s productivity.

Real Estate Portal

The SaaS allows for showing real estate listings with 3D virtual tours. The real estate portal lets users see an apartment on the screen as if they are already there. You can post a listing and change details if needed on the platform.

Online travel marketplace

iExpedition is an Australia-based expedition and adventure travel company that offers polar cruises. The travel marketplace platform allows tourists to search and book Arctic and Antarctic trips.

Online collaboration marketplace

Digital Village is a platform in Australia that brings a job network of digital professionals together to develop software and solve business technology issues.

Intelligent Job Match System

Wowner is an online job search solution for the Netherlands market. It helps people to find new relevant jobs based on their preferences and skills.

Recreational vehicles marketplace platform

TradeRVs is a leading marketplace in Australia where private sellers and dealers can sell or buy new or used caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, parts and accessories, and other recreational vehicles.

SaaS platform for bakery business

CakerHQ is an Australian website for bakery businesses where cake makers sell flavorful desserts, and customers can book the confectionery easily and quickly.

Online marketplace for selling collectibles

Learn how Codica created a collectible marketplace from scratch. The platform helps appraise and insure collectibles and is a place for social sharing.

Online news portal DUMA™

DUMA™ is the #1 entertainment news website in Africa. It shares articles and real-time news about celebrities, fashion, sports, lifestyle, and more.

Dental Imaging Management System

Ref Dental is a dental imaging management system that allows the imaging center to exchange referral forms and communicate with dental clinics.

Multi-vendor vehicle marketplace

This is the first vehicle marketplace platform in Africa, and it consists of 90+ independent marketplaces, fully localized for each country. The marketplace was initially designed, developed and optimised with focus on mobile experience.

Recruitment Progressive Web Application for RecruitEverywhere

RecruitEverywhere is a product of the Intelligence Group that specializes in talent acquisition and labor markets. The recruiting platform allows hiring specialists all over the world in a couple of clicks.

Accommodation Search Website

This is a world-first service for finding long-term accommodation. The company set out to simplify the relocation process, and help people who move to Australia for work to quickly find new accommodation.

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How to write the perfect web design case study to win more clients

An immersive digital portfolio is the key to landing new clients. Learn how to show off your skills with a winning web design case study.

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A design portfolio without case studies is like a movie with no dialogue — visually present but lacking the substance needed to convey its full meaning.

Dialogue and case studies both communicate meaning. Without dialogue, audiences struggle to understand a film’s plot, characters, and themes, similar to how clients will struggle to understand the problem you solved, your design process, and the impact of your work without a thorough case study.

When you’re competing against other designers for a project or role, a well-written web design case study sets your portfolio apart , showing potential clients what you’ve done and what you’re capable of.

What is a case study?

A case study is an in-depth investigation into a person or group of people, a situation, event, or a product. A web design case study is a visual and textual analysis of a successful web platform, landing page , website design, or other web-based product. These types of case studies can be physical documents, but they’re often digital: PDFs, infographics, blog posts, or videos. Screenshots are an essential component, as are wireframes and mockups. But a robust web design case study also features detailed written explanations.

These visual and written elements work together to create a comprehensive assessment of the design process from start to finish, including the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the results achieved.

5 benefits of web design case studies

Now that we’ve touched on how case studies sell prospective clients on your work, here are a few other benefits of adding web design case studies to your portfolio website:

1. Demonstrate expertise

Case studies are a powerful marketing tool for designers to demonstrate their capabilities to potential clients or employers. A good web design case study showcases your skills and expertise in solving complex design problems.

2. Build credibility

In case studies, designers often include the name of the business, client, or project they’ve worked on, building credibility by providing real-world examples of their past work. You can even add testimonials and reviews to highlight positive feedback directly from those you’ve worked with.

3. Inspire future projects

Examining and analyzing your own work can inspire your next website build — maybe you’ll try one of the layouts that was nixed for this project or center the next design around an element you ended up loving. It also provides guidance and best practices for design projects, setting the bar for innovative design.

4. Encourage personal growth

Writing an investigation of your own design portfolio pieces after completing a project provides an excellent avenue for self-reflection. Reflecting on past projects, the struggles you’ve faced working on them, and what you’ve learned from the process will help you identify your strengths as a designer and areas of improvement to work on.

5. Improve communication

Presentations of your own work don’t just communicate the design process, decisions, and outcomes to clients. They also speak to stakeholders, including clients, team members, and management. A well-written case study illustrates a designer’s ability to effectively communicate complex design ideas and concepts, and writing it will improve your communication skills and offer insight into how effectively you work and collaborate with others.

What makes an effective web design case study?

A web design case study describes the process you took to solve a challenge with a particular web design project. A successful case study features a notable client project, a well-written narrative structure, and an engaging visual design.

Think of it as a story with an identifiable beginning, middle, and end. Throughout the story, show clients your approach to successful web design — the problem, the research you did to prepare for the project, the steps and iterations you completed throughout the process, and the final results you delivered. This narrative structure helps clients understand the project’s evolution and details your design process, making it key to an effective case study.

Case study curation and criteria

We’ve covered the basics of what a good case study looks like. But how do you determine which projects to include? If a project meets all the following criteria, it’s a good candidate for a detailed case study.

Is it relevant to the future projects you hope to explore?

If there’s a type of project you’ve completed in the past that you’d like to avoid in the future, that particular portfolio piece might not be a great option for a case study. You’re not just trying to sell yourself to clients — you’re trying to land jobs you actually want to do.

Does it have a defined initial problem?

Web design projects often arise as a result of a problem. These projects are perfect for case studies because the product design goes beyond appearance and functionality. Here are some of the issues your designs might solve:

• Poor user experience: To create a smooth, enjoyable experience for users, user experience (UX) design focuses on identifying and solving issues that cause frustration, confusion, or difficulty while using an app or a website, such as confusing navigation, misleading icons, or slow load times. Addressing these challenges lets you showcase your understanding of your target audience’s needs and demonstrates your ability to apply your creative and technical skills to solve them.
• Low search engine ranking: Redesigning a website with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind will improve its ranking in the search engine results pages, and you’ll have metrics to include in your case study to quantify the claims you’re making.
• Inconsistent branding: Brand design is a massive part of a company’s identity. A lack of alignment between the logo, colors , and other visual elements of a brand’s identity and its digital assets reflects negatively on the company, leaving customers with more questions than answers about who’s behind the brand. Good web design can bring a sense of cohesion to the company’s digital products, an achievement you can speak to in your case studies.

Does the outcome deliver measurable success?

Good design is subjective, but the best projects for case studies have data to show how successful they are. Search engine ranking is one example. You might also highlight impressive metrics for user engagement (bounce rate, time spent on the site), conversion rate (the percentage of visitors who make a purchase or fill out a form), or web traffic (the number of visitors to the website).

Is the project visually suitable for presentation?

When preparing a web design case study, consider the various formats it can be presented in, such as a video, static webpages, or interactive web content.

Selecting projects that fit your chosen presentation format is essential to showcasing your web design skills. As a web designer, it’s a given that whatever you’re presenting to potential clients needs to use thoughtful, aesthetically pleasing designs.

Design for display

There’s no single right way to present a case study. What’s most important is that your case study tells the story of the journey from an initial problem or idea to a finished product that meets the client’s needs.

A minimalist design will help you achieve this goal. But don’t confuse minimalist with boring. You can (and should) get clever with the presentation. Instead of using basic screenshots, for example, consider exhibiting your work in modern frames with immersive features. Or display screenshots of the product in its natural habitat. Webflow designer Karen Huang uses a digital screen in this user experience case study to feature a screenshot of the user interface (UI) on a smartphone screen just as users would experience it:

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How do you structure a case study?

The contents of every web design case study will vary, but they should all follow this basic structure:

1. A challenge

Start your case study with an introduction to your client and the problem your design solved. Include details about the project’s context, goals, and constraints. This section sets the stage for the rest of the case study and ensures the readers clearly understand what the project — and your solution — is all about.

2. A solution

Detail your approach to solving the challenge introduced in the previous section. Include information about your research, its methodology, and the data you gathered to develop your solution. Focus on your skills, not diagnostics — this is the place to showcase your intelligent approach, reasoning, and innovative ideas that ultimately resolve the challenge.

For this section, it’s helpful to break each key resolution into separate paragraphs and introduce images in chronological order to detail your design process. Screenshots of wireframes and strategy phases will paint a vivid picture of the project’s journey.

If you face any challenges or roadblocks while designing your solution, discussing them provides insight into your problem-solving skills and shows potential clients how you overcome difficulties. End this section with multiple pictures of the final product, and be sure to include a direct link to the project for potential clients and employers to peruse.

3. The impact

This section is where you’ll highlight metrics and data that back up the project’s success. Leverage metrics, user feedback, or whatever data is available to illustrate how your solution solved your client’s challenges and achieved the project’s goals. You can also include information about the potential longitudinal impact of your work and future opportunities for the project.

4. Key quotes

A case study is a perfect place to share client testimonials and add quotes from team members to help readers learn what the experts behind the project think about the build. Get creative but use quotes sparingly, sprinkling them throughout the case study to support the image or project stage the quote relates to.

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Design, UI, UX , Inspiration

15 excellent ux case studies every creative should read.

• By Sandra Boicheva
• October 21st, 2021

In a previous article, we talked about UX portfolios and how they carefully craft a story of how designers work. Interestingly enough, recruiters decide if a UX freelance designer or an agency is a good match within 5 minutes into the portfolio . In order to persuade these recruiters, the portfolio needs to present an appealing story that showcases the skill, the thought process, and the choices taken for key parts of the designs. With this in mind, today we’ll talk about UX case studies and give 15 excellent examples of case studies with compelling stories.

The Storytelling Approach in UX Case Studies

An essential part of the portfolio of a UX designer is the case studies that pack a showcase of the designer’s skills, way of thinking, insights in the form of compelling stories. These case studies are often the selling point as recruiters look for freelancers and agencies who can communicate their ideas through design and explain themselves in a clear and appealing way. So how does this work?

Photography by Alvaro Reyes

Just like with every other story, UX case studies also start with an introduction, have a middle, and end with a conclusion .

• Introduction: This UX case study example starts with a design brief and presents the main challenges and requirements. In short, the UX designer presents the problem, their solution, and their role.
• Middle: The actual story of the case study example explains the design process and the techniques used. This usually starts with obstacles, design thinking, research, and unexpected challenges. All these elements lead to the best part of the story: the action part. It is where the story unveils the designer’s insights, ideas, choices, testing, and decisions.
• Conclusion: The final reveal shows the results and gives space for reflection where the designer explains what they’ve learned, and what they’ve achieved.

Now as we gave you the introduction, let’s get to the main storyline and enjoy 15 UX case studies that tell a compelling story.

1. Car Dealer Website for Mercedes-Benz Ukraine by Fulcrum

This case study is a pure pleasure to read. It’s well-structured, easy to read, and still features all the relevant information one needs to understand the project. As the previous client’s website was based on the official Mercedes Benz template, Fulcrum had to develop an appealing and functional website that would require less time to maintain, be more user-friendly, and increase user trust.

• Intro: Starts with a summary of the task.
• Problem: Lists the reasons why the website needs a redesign.
• Project Goals: Lists the 4 main goals with quick summaries.
• Project: Showcases different elements of the website with desktop and mobile comparison.
• Functionality: Explains how the website functionality helps clients to find, and order spare parts within minutes.
• Admin Panel: Lists how the new admin panel helps the client customize without external help.
• Elements: Grid, fonts, colors.
• Tech Stack: Shows the tools used for the backend, mobile, admin panel, and cloud.
• Client review: The case study ends with a 5-star review by the marketing director of Mercedes Benz Ukraine, Olga Belova.

This case study is an example of a detailed but easy to scan and read story from top to bottom, featuring all relevant information and ending on the highest note: the client’s review.

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2. Galaxy Z Flips 5G Website by DFY

This is a big project that covers every aspect of the website, including the UX strategy. The creative studio aimed to fully illustrate and demonstrate the significant upgrades over previous models and to enable two-way communication with the customers through an interactive experience.

• Intro: Summary of the project and roles.
• Interactive Experience: The main project goal.
• Demonstration: Explains the decision to feature 360-degree views and hands-on videos instead of technical terms.
• Screens: Includes high-quality screenshots of significant pages and features.
• Ecosystem: Highlight a page with easy navigation across different products as a marketing decision that makes cross-selling seamless.
• Essentials: Showcases a slider of all products with key features that provide ample information.
• Showroom: Interactive experience that helps the user “play around” with the product.
• Credits: As a conclusion, DFY features the stakeholders involved.

A strong presentation of a very ambitious project. It keeps the case study visual while still providing enough insight into the thought process and the most important decisions.

3. Jambb Social Platform by Finna Wang

Here we have a beautiful case study for a platform that aims to help creators grow their communities by recognizing and rewarding their base of supporters. It tackles a curious problem that 99% of fans who contribute in non-monetary ways don’t get the same content, access, and recognition they deserve. This means the creators need a way to identify their fans across all social platforms to grow their business and give recognition. To get a clear picture of what the design has to accomplish, Finna Wang conducted stakeholder interviews with the majority of the client’s team.

• Intro: Listing roles, dates, team, and used tools.
• Project Overview: The main concept and the reasons behind it.
• Exploration: What problem will the platform solve, preliminary research, and conclusions from the research.  The section includes the project scope and problem statement.
• Design Process: A thorough explanation of the discoveries and the exact steps.
• User Flows:  3 user flows based on common tasks that the target user/fan would do on the site.
• Design Studio: Visualization process with wireframes, sitemap, prototypes.
• Design Iterations: The designer highlights the iterations they were primary behind.
• Style Guide: Typography, colors, visual elements breakdown.
• Usability Testing: Beta site vs Figma prototype; usertesting.com, revised problem statement.
• Prototype: Features an accessible high fidelity prototype in Figma you can view.
• Takeaways: Conclusions.

An extremely detailed professionally made and well-structured UX case study. It goes a step further by listing specific conclusions from the conducted research and featuring an accessible Figma prototype.

4. Memento Media by Masha Keyhani

This case study is dedicated to a very interesting project for saving family stories. It aims to help users capture and record memories from their past. To do so, the design team performed user research and competitive analysis. The entire project took a 6-week sprint.

• Overview: Introducing the client and the purpose of the app.
• My Role: Explaining the roles of the designer and their team.
• Design Process: A brief introduction of the design process and the design toolkit
• Home: The purpose of the Homepage and the thought process behind it.
• Question Selection: The decision behind this screen.
• Recording Process: Building the recording feature and the decisions behind it.
• User research: a thorough guide with the main focuses, strategies, and competitor analysts, including interviews.
• Research Objectives: The designer gives the intent of their research, the demographics, synthesis, and usability testing insights.
• Propositions: Challenges and solutions
• User Flow: Altering the user flow based on testing and feedback.
• Wireframes: Sketches, Lo-Fi wireframing.
• Design System: Typography, colors, iconography, design elements.
• The Prototype: It shows a preview of the final screens.

This UX study case is very valuable for the insights it presents. The design features a detailed explanation of the thinking process, the research phase, analysts, and testing which could help other creatives take some good advice from it for their future research.

5. Perfect Recipes App by Tubik

Here we have a UX case study for designing a simple mobile app for cooking, recipes, and food shopping. It aims to step away from traditional recipe apps by creating something more universal for users who love cooking with extended functionality. The best idea behind it is finding recipes based on what supplies the user currently has at home.

• Intro: Introducing the concept and the team behind it.
•  Project: What they wanted to make and what features would make the app different than the competitors.
• UI design: The decisions behind the design.
• Personalization: Explaining how the app gives the user room for personalization and customizing the features according to their personal preferences.
• Recipe Cards and Engaging Photos: The decisions behind the visuals.
• Cook Now feature: Explaining the feature.
• Shopping List: Explaining the feature.
• Pantry feature:  The idea to sync up the app with AmazonGo services. This case study section features a video.
• Bottom Line: What the team learned.

This UX case study is a good example of how to present your concept if you have your own idea for an app. You could also check the interactive preview of the app here .

6. SAM App by Mike Wilson

The client is the Seattle Art Museum while the challenge is to provide engaging multimedia content for users as well as self-guided tours. Mile Wilson has to create an experience that will encourage repeat visits and increase events and exhibition attendance.

• Intro: Listing time for the project, team members, and roles.
• The Client: A brief introduction of Seattle Art Museum
• The Challenge: What the app needs to accomplish.
• Research and Planning: Explaining the process for gathering insights, distributing surveys, interviews, and identifying specific ways to streamline the museum experience.
• Sloane: Creating the primary persona. This includes age, bio, goals, skills, and frustrations.
• Designing the Solution: Here the case study features the results of their research, information architecture, user flows, early sketching, paper prototypes, and wireframes.
• Conclusion: Explaining the outcome, what the team would have done differently, what’s next, and the key takeaways.

What we can take as a valuable insight aside from the detailed research analysis, is the structure of the conclusion. Usually, most case studies give the outcome and preview screens. However, here we have a showcase of what the designer has learned from the project, what they would do differently, and how they can improve from the experience.

7. Elmenus Case Study

This is a case study by UX designers Marwa Kamaleldin, Mario Maged, Nehal Nehad, and Abanoub Yacoub for redesigning a platform with over 6K restaurants. It aims to help users on the territory of Egypt to find delivery and dine-out restaurants.

• Overview: What is the platform, why the platform is getting redesigned, what is the target audience. This section also includes the 6 steps of the team’s design process.
• User Journey Map: A scheme of user scenarios and expectations with all phases and actions.
• Heuristic Evaluation: Principles, issues, recommendations, and severity of the issues of the old design.
• First Usability Testing: Goals, audience, and tasks with new user scenarios and actions based on the heuristic evaluation. It features a smaller section that lists the most severe issues from usability for the old design.
• Business Strategy: A comprehensive scheme that links problems, objectives, customer segment, measurements of success, and KPIs.
• Solutions: Ideas to solve all 4 issues.
• Wireframes: 4 directions of wireframes.
• Styleguide: Colors, fonts, typeface, components, iconography, spacing method.
• Design: Screens of the different screens and interactions.
• Second Usability Testing: Updated personas, scenarios, and goals. The section also features before-and-after screenshots.
• Outcome: Did the team solve the problem or not.

A highly visual and perfectly structured plan and process for redesigning a website. The case study shows how the team discovers the issues with the old design and what decisions they made to fix these issues.

8. LinkedIn Recruiter Tool by Evelynma

A fresh weekend project exploring the recruiting space of LinkedIn to find a way to help make it easier for recruiters to connect with ideal candidates.

• Background Info: What made the designer do the project.
• Problem and Solution: A good analysis of the problem followed by the designer’s solution.
• Process: This section includes an analysis of interviewing 7 passive candidates, 1 active candidate, 3 recruiters, and 1 hiring manager. The designer also includes their journey map of the recruiting experience, a sketch of creating personas, and the final 3 personas.
• Storyboard and User Flow Diagrams: The winning scenario for Laura’s persona and user flow diagram.
• Sketches and Paper Prototypes: Sticky notes for paper prototypes for the mobile experience.
• Visual Design: Web and mobile final design following the original LinkedIn pattern.
• Outcome: Explaining the opportunity.

This is an excellent UX case study when it comes to personal UX design projects. creating a solution to a client’s problem aside, personal project concepts is definitely something future recruiters would love to see as it showcases the creativity of the designers even further.

9. Turbofan Engine Diagnostics by Havana Nguyen

The UX designer and their team had to redesign some legacy diagnostics software to modernize the software, facilitate data transfers from new hardware, and improve usability. They built the desktop and mobile app for iOS and Android.

• Problem: The case study explain the main problem and what the team had to do to solve it.
• My Role: As a lead UX designer on a complicated 18-month project, Havana Nguyen had a lot of work to do, summarized in a list of 5 main tasks.
• Unique Challenges: This section includes 4 main challenges that made the project so complex. ( Btw, there’s a photo of sketched wireframes literally written on the wall.)
• My Process: The section includes a description of the UX design process highlighted into 5 comprehensive points.
• Final Thoughts: What the designer has learned for 18 months.

The most impressive thing about this case study is that it manages to summarize and explain well an extremely complex project. There are no prototypes and app screens since it’s an exclusive app for the clients to use.

10. Databox by FireArt

A very interesting project for Firearts’s team to solve the real AL & ML challenges across a variety of different industries. The Databox project is about building scalable data pipeline infrastructure & deploy machine learning and artificial intelligence models.

• Overview: The introduction of the case study narrows down the project goal, the great challenge ahead, and the solution.
• How We Start: The necessary phases of the design process to get an understanding of a product.
• User Flow: The entire scheme from the entry point through a set of steps towards the final action of the product.
• Wireframes: A small selection of wireframe previews after testing different scenarios.
• Styleguide: Typography, colors, components.
• Visual Design: Screenshots in light and dark mode.

A short visual case study that summarizes the huge amount of work into a few sections.

11. Travel and Training by Nikitin Team

Here’s another short and sweet case study for an app with a complete and up-to-date directory of fitness organizations in detailed maps of world cities.

• Overview: Explaining the project.
• Map Screen : Outlining the search feature by categories.
• Profiles: Profile customization section.
• Fitness Clubs: Explaining the feature.
• Icons: A preview of the icons for the app.
• App in Action: A video of the user experience.

This case study has fewer sections, however, it’s very easy to read and comprehend.

12. Carna by Ozmo

Ozmo provides a highly visual case study for a mobile application and passing various complexities of courses. The main goal for the UX designer is to develop a design and recognizable visual corporate identity with elaborate illustrations.

• Intro: A visual project preview with a brief description of the goal and role.
• Identity: Colors, fonts, and logo.
• Wireframes: The thinking process.
• Interactions: Showcase of the main interactions with animated visuals.
• Conclusion: Preview of the final screens.

The case study is short and highly visual, easy to scan and comprehend. Even without enough insight and text copy, we can clearly understand the thought process behind and what the designer was working to accomplish.

13. An Approach to Digitization in Education by Moritz Oesterlau

This case study is for an online platform for challenge-based learning. The designer’s role was to create an entire product design from research to conception, visualization, and testing. It’s a very in-depth UX case study extremely valuable for creatives in terms of how to structure the works in their portfolio.

• Intro: Introducing the client, project time, sector, and the designer’s role.
• Competitive Analysis: the case study starts off with the process of creating competitive profiles. It explains the opportunities and challenges of e-learning that were taken into consideration.
• Interviews and Surveys: Listing the goals of these surveys as well as the valuable insights they found.
• Building Empathy: The process and defining the three target profiles and how will the project cater to their needs. This section includes a PDF of the user personas.
• Structure of the Course Curriculum: Again with the attached PDF files, you can see the schemes of the task model and customer experience map.
• Information Architecture: The defined and evaluated sitemap for TINIA
• Wireframing, Prototyping, and Usability Testing :  An exploration of the work process with paper and clickable prototypes.
• Visual Design: Styleguide preview and detailed PDF.
• A/B and Click Tests: Reviewing the usability assumptions.
• Conclusion: A detailed reflection about the importance of the project, what the designer learned, and what the outcome was.

This is a very important case study and there’s a lot to take from it. First, the project was too ambitious and the goal was too big and vague. Although the result is rather an approximation and, above all, at the conceptual level requires further work, the case study is incredibly insightful, informative, and insightful.

14. In-class Review Game by Elizabeth Lin

This project was never realized but the case study remains and it’s worth checking out. Elizabeth Lin takes on how to create an engaging in-class review game with a lot of research, brainstorming, and a well-structured detailed process.

• Intro: What makes the project special.
• Research: Explaining how they approached the research and what they’ve learned.
• Brainstorming: the process and narrowing all How Might We questions to one final question: How might we create an engaging in-class math review game.
• Game Loop and Storyboarding: Sketch of the core game loop and the general flow of the game.
• Prototyping: Outlining basic game mechanics and rounds in detail.
• Future Explorations: The case study goes further with explorations showing how the product could look if we expanded upon the idea even further.
• What Happened?:  The outcome of the project.

This case study tells the story of the project in detail and expands on it with great ideas for future development.

15. Virtual Makeup Studio by Zara Dei

And for our last example, this is a case study that tells the story of an app-free shippable makeover experience integrated with the Covergirl website. The team has to find a way to improve conversion by supporting customers in their purchase decisions as well as to increase basket size by encouraging them to buy complementary products.

• Intro: Introducing the project and the main challenges.
• Discovery and Research: Using existing product information on the website to improve the experience.
• Onboarding and Perceived Performance: Avoiding compatibility issues and the barrier of a user having to download an app. The section explains the ideas for features that will keep users engaged, such as a camera with face scan animation.
• Fallback Experience and Error States: Providing clear error messaging along with troubleshooting instructions.
• Interactions: explaining the main interactions and the decisions behind them.
• Shared Design Language: Explaining the decision to provide links on each product page so users could be directed to their preferred retailer to place their order. Including recommended products to provide users with alternatives.
• Outcome and Learning: The good ending.
• Project Information: Listing all stakeholders, the UX designer’s role in a bullet list, and design tools.

In Conclusion

These were the 15 UX case studies we wanted to share with you as they all tell their story differently. If we can take something valuable about what are the best practices for making an outstanding case study, it will be something like this.

Just like with literature, storytelling isn’t a blueprint: you can write short stories, long in-depth analyses, or create a visual novel to show your story rather than tell. The detailed in-depth UX case studies with lots of insights aren’t superior to the shorter visual ones or vice versa. What’s important is for a case study to give a comprehensive view of the process, challenges, decisions, and design thinking behind the completed project .

In conclusion, a UX case study should always include a summary; the challenges; the personas; roles and responsibilities; the process; as well as the outcomes, and lessons learned.

Video Recap

Take a look at the special video we’ve made to visualize and discuss the most interesting and creative ideas implemented in the case studies.

In the meantime, why not browse through some more related insights on web development and web design?

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Flipkart triples time-on-site with Progressive Web App

Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce site, decided to combine their web presence and native app into a Progressive Web Application that has resulted in a 70% increase in conversions.

In 2015, Flipkart, India’s largest e-commerce site, adopted an app-only strategy and temporarily shut down their mobile website. The company found it harder and harder to provide a user experience that was as fast and engaging as that of their mobile app. But then, Flipkart decided to rethink their development approach. They were drawn back to the mobile web by the introduction of features that made the mobile web run instantly, work offline, and re-engage users.

Key insights

• Users time on site with Flipkart lite vs. previous mobile experience: 3.5 minutes vs 70 seconds .
• 3x more time spent on site
• 40% higher re-engagement rate
• 70% greater conversion rate among those arriving via Add to Homescreen
• 3x lower data usage

Download PDF Case study

Flipkart Lite

They soon began building Flipkart Lite, a Progressive Web App that combines the best of the web and the best of the Flipkart native app. It leverages new, open web APIs to offer a mobile web experience that loads fast, uses less data than before, and re-engages users in multiple ways. Users visit via their browser and find a fast app-like user experience. When they come back, it loads nearly instantly, even on flaky networks. Users can choose to add the site to their homescreen with just two taps, making it easier for them to come back. Amar Nagaram, an Engineering Director at Flipkart shares, "We know that everyone needs to build mobile-first experiences. With Flipkart Lite, we've developed a powerful, technically-advanced web app that performs as well as our native app. We now feel we have the best of both worlds."

A fast and streamlined site

With 63% of Flipkart Lite users reaching the site via a 2G network, a fast user experience was essential. To decrease load times, Flipkart added service workers and streamlined the site to help consumers quickly reach the product they are looking for. Users can even continue to browse categories, review previous searches, and view product pages—all while offline.

Taking advantage of the web's low friction

Reaching a broad set of users is important for Flipkart. With Flipkart Lite, users are one click away from accessing content and many new users are first-time internet users. In addition to easy access, Flipkart Lite requires less data. A key metric for Flipkart is tracking data usage to complete first transaction: when comparing Flipkart Lite to the native app, Flipkart Lite uses 3x less data. Nagaram continues, "Having a strong and engaging mobile website means we’re no longer turning away potential shoppers who don’t want to use data or space to download an app."

Bringing users back with home screen icon

Flipkart wanted to be able to re-engage with mobile web users just as they would with mobile app users.

The company implemented an "Add to Home Screen" prompt. Now, 60% of all visits to Flipkart Lite come from people launching the site from the homescreen icon. Add to Home Screen also delivers high-quality visits, with customers converting 70% more than average users.

These two activities alone resulted in engagement numbers that were 40% higher than before.

Building for future success for the evolving online shopper

Flipkart will continue using progressive web technology to reach their evolving online shoppers. Nagaram concludes, "Flipkart Lite has enabled us to find some of our highest-value customers. We will continue to expand progressive web app technology across all of our platforms, investing significant resources to maximize the potential scale. We truly believe that this is a new way to experience mobile and we’re just getting started."

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License , and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License . For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies . Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2016-03-28 UTC.

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Front-end Development Case Studies And Success Stories

by Ideamotive Talent

Here is the collection of some front-end development and web design case studies showcasing what Ideamotive’s developers and UX/UI designers can do. From quick frontend, body-leasing stories to full web product development - take a look at how our tech talent helps startups and big companies worldwide, what value we provide, and how the collaboration with us looks like

JRPass: Marrying web development and business processes support

How to optimize booking system for a Japanese railway network and increase sales?

CustomEase: cloud-based application for day-to-day operations automation

How we created a cloud-based application to automate operations of an interior design company with custom CRM, CMS, ERP, and team communication features.

eCommerce, Interior Design

AMLD: building a web app for managing an AI event with hundreds of speakers and thousands of attendees

How we leveraged the full power of Ruby on Rails and created an event management web app with a complex admin panel.

Switzerland

Education, Event

Mediatask: building a marketplace for hundreds of draftsmen and architects

How we re-written the product completely with intelligent algorithms and introduced various business automation solutions allowing to scale almost infinitely.

Marketplace, Manufacturing

TRAVELDUCK: building a marketplace for boutique adventure trips and activities

How we created a fully functional digital marketplace from scratch and helped the Client validate the business model for scaling up.

Travel, Marketplace

SnowShow: building a booking system for one of the biggest European winter tours operator

How we created the new architecture and introduced Machine Learning based solutions to the system and increased the digital sales of over 70%.

Travel, Event, Media & Entertainment

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Event Manager, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

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Web Design Case Studies

Real-world examples.

Web design case studies offer a detailed analysis of successful web design projects, showcasing the challenges faced, the strategies employed, and the results achieved.

In this article, I'll explore several web design case studies for companies based in the United States, highlighting the unique aspects and outcomes of each project.

These case studies will cover various industries, from e-commerce and tech startups to healthcare and financial services, providing valuable insights for web designers, developers, and business owners alike.

Table of Contents

• E-commerce Redesign: Wayfair
• Startup Success: Airbnb
• Healthcare Portal: WebMD
• Educational Transformation: Khan Academy
• Tech Industry Excellence: Google
• Financial Services Redesign: American Express
• Tech Startup Excellence: Slack
• Retail Revolution: Walmart
• Automotive Industry: Tesla
• Fashion Retail Redesign: Nordstrom

E-commerce Redesign- Wayfair

• Company : Wayfair
• Industry : E-commerce
• Challenge : Improving user experience, navigation, and site performance
• Key Success Metrics : Increased conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, improved page load times

The Challenge

Wayfair is a prominent e-commerce company in the United States specializing in home goods and furniture. In 2020, they faced several challenges that prompted a complete website redesign. The existing website had usability issues, slow page load times, and a high bounce rate. The challenge was to overhaul the website, enhancing user experience, and ultimately driving more sales.

Strategies and Solutions

• User-Centered Design : Wayfair conducted extensive user research to understand customer preferences, pain points, and expectations. The design team used this data to create a user-centered design that focused on improving navigation and product discovery.
• Performance Optimization : They optimized the website's performance by reducing image sizes, utilizing content delivery networks (CDNs), and implementing lazy loading for images. This significantly improved page load times.
• Mobile Responsiveness : With a growing number of users accessing the site on mobile devices, Wayfair made sure the website was fully responsive. This involved designing a mobile-first experience to ensure a seamless transition between desktop and mobile.
• Clear Call to Action (CTA) : They redesigned the product pages with clear and compelling call-to-action , making it easier for users to add items to their cart and proceed to checkout.
• Personalization : Wayfair implemented personalization features, such as product recommendations based on user preferences and previous purchases, enhancing the user's shopping experience.
• Conversion rates increased by 8%, leading to a significant boost in revenue.
• Bounce rates decreased by 12%, indicating improved user engagement.
• Page load times were reduced by 30%, resulting in better overall site performance.

Startup Success- Airbnb

• Company: Airbnb
• Industry : Travel and Accommodation
• Challenge : Creating a user-friendly platform for hosts and guests
• Key Success Metrics : Increased listings, user satisfaction, and bookings

Airbnb is a well-known startup based in the United States that disrupted the travel and accommodation industry. In the early stages, Airbnb faced the challenge of creating a user-friendly platform that could attract hosts to list their properties and provide a seamless experience for guests looking to book accommodations.

• User-Generated Content : Airbnb focused on user-generated content, allowing hosts to create detailed listings with photos and descriptions. This not only empowered hosts but also provided valuable information for potential guests.
• Trust and Safety : To address concerns about safety, Airbnb implemented a robust identity verification system, reviews and ratings, and secure payment processing, ensuring a level of trust on the platform which in turn increased branding recognition.
• Responsive Design : Airbnb invested heavily in responsive web design to provide a consistent and intuitive experience on desktop and mobile devices. This approach enabled users to browse and book accommodations from any device.
• Local Insights : They introduced a feature that provided local insights, tips, and recommendations from hosts to enhance the guest experience.
• Continuous Iteration : Airbnb continuously gathered user feedback and iterated on its design and functionality, adapting to changing user needs and preferences.
• Airbnb became a global success, with millions of listings and users in various countries.
• The platform has a high level of user satisfaction, with a strong community of hosts and guests.
• Airbnb is a household name and has transformed the travel and accommodation industry.
• The design style of Airbnb has also help to create a new type of web design trend .

Healthcare Portal- WebMD

• Company : WebMD
• Industry : Healthcare
• Challenge : Creating a reliable and trustworthy healthcare portal
• Key Success Metrics : Increased user engagement, trust, and information accuracy

WebMD is a popular healthcare information portal in the United States, offering a wide range of medical content. The challenge was to design a website that could be trusted as a reliable source of medical information and engage users in their health and wellness journey.

• Expert Content : WebMD invested in a team of medical experts and writers to create accurate, evidence-based content. They made sure to provide clear citations and references for all medical information while using a clean typography .
• Interactive Tools : To engage users, WebMD developed interactive tools, such as symptom checkers, BMI calculators, and medication trackers, to empower users to take control of their health.
• User-Friendly Layout : A user-friendly layout design was implemented with intuitive and effective navigation menus , making it easy for visitors to find the information they were looking for.
• Community and Forums : WebMD incorporated community features, such as forums and discussion boards, to encourage users to connect, share experiences, and seek advice from others.
• Mobile Accessibility : Recognizing that people often search for health information on their mobile devices, WebMD ensured that the website was mobile-responsive and provided a seamless experience across devices.
• WebMD is a trusted source of medical information for millions of users.
• The website sees high levels of user engagement, with users regularly accessing the site for health-related queries and information.
• WebMD has maintained its reputation for providing accurate and reliable medical content.

Educational Transformation- Khan Academy

• Organization: Khan Academy
• Industry : Education
• Challenge : Providing free, accessible, and high-quality educational content
• Key Success Metrics : Increased user engagement, reach, and educational impact

Khan Academy, a non-profit educational organization, aimed to make high-quality education accessible to anyone, anywhere. They needed to create a website that not only provided free educational content but also engaged users effectively.

• Vast Content Library : Khan Academy created a vast library of educational content, covering various subjects and grade levels, making it a one-stop destination for learners of all ages.
• Adaptive Learning : They integrated adaptive learning features, where the website could assess a learner's proficiency and recommend appropriate content to match their skill level.
• Progress Tracking : Khan Academy introduced tools for users to track their progress, complete exercises, and earn badges and certificates, providing motivation for continued learning.
• Community Interaction : They fostered a sense of community by incorporating forums, discussion boards, and the ability for users to ask questions and help each other.
• Mobile Accessibility : Recognizing the importance of mobile access, Khan Academy ensured that their website was fully responsive, allowing users to learn on any device.
• Khan Academy's website has reached millions of learners worldwide, making a significant impact on education accessibility.
• The organization's adaptive learning approach has led to higher engagement and improved learning outcomes.
• Khan Academy's online community has become a valuable resource for learners, facilitating peer-to-peer support and collaboration.

Tech Industry Excellence- Google

• Company : Google
• Industry : Technology
• Challenge : Improving search engine user experience and expanding services
• Key Success Metrics : Increased search engine market share, user satisfaction, and service offerings

Google, a tech giant based in the United States, has consistently faced the challenge of improving its core product, the search engine, while also expanding into new services and products. This case study focuses on their core search engine.

• User-Centered Design : Google's design philosophy has always been user-centered. They have continually improved the search engine's user interface, making it clean, simple, and efficient.
• Algorithm Innovation : Google invests heavily in search algorithms to provide more relevant search results and a better user experience. This involves understanding user intent, content quality, and mobile-friendliness.
• Localization : Google offers localized versions of its search engine in numerous languages and regions, ensuring that users worldwide have access to information in their preferred language.
• Voice Search : As voice search became more popular, Google developed voice search capabilities, enabling users to search by voice commands.
• Instant Answers : Google introduced instant answers and featured snippets, providing users with quick and direct responses to common queries.
• Google maintains its dominant position as the leading search engine globally, with a market share of over 90%.
• The company's commitment to user experience and innovation has led to high user satisfaction.
• Google has successfully expanded its services beyond search into areas such as cloud computing, mobile operating systems, and artificial intelligence.

Financial Services Redesign- American Express

• Company : American Express
• Industry : Financial Services
• Challenge : Enhancing online banking and credit card management experience
• Key Success Metrics : Improved user engagement, increased online transactions, and customer satisfaction

American Express is a major player in the financial services industry. They faced the challenge of modernizing their online banking and credit card management platform to offer a seamless and user-friendly experience to their customers. The existing platform had become outdated and required a significant redesign.

• User-Friendly Interface : American Express focused on creating a user-friendly interface, making it easy for customers to manage their accounts, track expenses, and perform online transactions.
• Mobile App Integration : Recognizing the shift towards mobile banking, they integrated their website with a mobile app, allowing customers to access their accounts on the go.
• Personalized Dashboard : After conducting A/B testing research, they introduced a personalized dashboard that displayed essential account information, transaction history, and spending patterns to provide users with actionable insights.
• Enhanced Security : American Express implemented advanced security features, including multi-factor authentication and real-time transaction monitoring, to ensure customer data remained secure.
• Customer Support Integration : They integrated customer support features, such as live chat and a comprehensive knowledge base, to assist customers with their inquiries and issues.
• American Express witnessed an increase in online transactions, with more customers using their online platform for payments and account management.
• User engagement improved significantly, with customers spending more time on the website and mobile app.
• Customer satisfaction ratings rose as a result of the improved user experience and security measures.

Tech Startup Excellence- Slack

• Company : Slack
• Challenge : Creating a collaborative and user-friendly messaging platform
• Key Success Metrics : Increased user adoption, team collaboration, and business growth

Slack is a popular communication and collaboration platform for businesses. In its early stages, it faced the challenge of designing a user-friendly and efficient messaging platform that could facilitate seamless team communication and productivity.

• Simplified Messaging : Slack introduced a user-friendly chat interface with features like channels, direct messaging, and integrations to simplify team communication.
• Third-Party Integrations : They allowed seamless integration with a wide range of third-party apps, enabling teams to work efficiently and access all their tools within Slack.
• Mobile Accessibility : Recognizing the importance of real-time communication on mobile devices, Slack developed a robust mobile app to ensure users could stay connected on the go.
• Customization and Personalization : Slack provided customization options for users to personalize their workspace, choose notification preferences, and integrate apps that best suit their workflow.
• Community and Support : They built a strong community and provided comprehensive support resources, including a help center and user forums.
• Slack has become a go-to communication platform for businesses, with millions of users and numerous organizations adopting it for team collaboration.
• The platform's ease of use and third-party integrations have enhanced business productivity and efficiency.
• Slack's success has led to business growth, making it a prominent tech startup.

Retail Revolution- Walmart

• Company : Walmart
• Industry : Retail
• Challenge : Expanding e-commerce and enhancing the online shopping experience
• Key Success Metrics : Increased online sales, customer satisfaction, and mobile accessibility

Walmart, one of the largest retailers in the world, faced the challenge of expanding its e-commerce presence and providing a seamless online shopping experience for customers while also providing a stronger visual hierarchy . The company needed to compete effectively in the online retail space.

• E-commerce Expansion : Walmart invested in expanding its e-commerce infrastructure, including online product listings, inventory management, and shipping logistics.
• Mobile-First Approach : Recognizing the growing importance of mobile shopping, they adopted a mobile-first approach to ensure a smooth shopping experience on smartphones and tablets.
• Personalized Shopping : Walmart introduced personalized shopping recommendations, based on user browsing and purchase history, to encourage customers to discover new products.
• Online Grocery Shopping : They facilitated online grocery shopping with features like curbside pickup and home delivery to meet the evolving needs of customers.
• Customer Service : Walmart improved customer service with features like live chat support and an easily accessible customer support hotline.
• Walmart's e-commerce platform has experienced significant growth, with increased online sales and a broader customer base.
• The company's mobile-first approach has contributed to high mobile accessibility and a seamless shopping experience on smartphones and tablets.
• Walmart remains a retail giant, successfully competing in the online retail space.

Automotive Industry- Tesla

• Company : Tesla
• Industry : Automotive
• Challenge : Designing a user-friendly electric vehicle configurator
• Key Success Metrics : Increased customer engagement, conversion rates, and lead generation

Tesla, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, faced the challenge of creating a user-friendly online configurator for their electric cars. The configurator needed to provide a seamless and informative experience for potential customers, allowing them to customize and order their vehicles online.

• Intuitive Configuration : Using aspects of web design psychology , Tesla designed a highly intuitive configurator that guided users through various options, such as model selection, color choices, and features, using a step-by-step process.
• Real-time Pricing Updates : The configurator provided real-time price updates as users made selections, allowing them to see the cost implications of their choices immediately.
• Visual Customization : Users could see a visual representation of their custom vehicle, complete with 3D models, interactive panoramas, and interior views.
• Educational Content : Tesla included educational content about electric vehicle benefits and features, ensuring users were well-informed during the configuration process.
• Lead Generation Forms : The configurator seamlessly transitioned users to lead generation forms, enabling potential customers to submit their configured vehicles for further information or purchase.
• Tesla's configurator significantly improved customer engagement and conversion rates, with many users completing the configuration process.
• The real-time pricing updates gave users confidence in their choices and pricing transparency.
• The configurator served as an effective lead generation tool, helping Tesla capture potential buyers' information.

Fashion Retail Redesign- Nordstrom

• Company : Nordstrom
• Industry : Fashion Retail
• Challenge : Updating the e-commerce website for modern shoppers
• Key Success Metrics : Increased online sales, improved user experience, and mobile accessibility

Nordstrom, a well-established fashion retailer, faced the challenge of updating their e-commerce website to meet the evolving needs and expectations of modern online shoppers. This involved creating a more engaging and user-friendly online shopping experience.

• Modern Design Aesthetics : Nordstrom adopted modern design elements and color tones, including a clean and elegant layout, high-quality product images and graphics , and a focus on user experience.
• Mobile Optimization : They ensured the website was fully optimized for mobile devices, with responsive design and a user-friendly mobile app for seamless shopping on smartphones and tablets.
• Personalization and Recommendations : Nordstrom implemented personalized shopping recommendations based on user browsing and purchase history, helping customers discover new products.
• Product Search and Filtering : The website featured advanced product search and filtering options, allowing customers to quickly find products by category, size, brand, and price.
• User Reviews and Ratings : Nordstrom incorporated user reviews and ratings, providing valuable social proof and assisting customers in making informed decisions.
• Nordstrom's website redesign led to increased online sales and customer engagement, with customers spending more time on the site and making more purchases.
• The mobile optimization efforts significantly improved the user experience for mobile shoppers.
• Personalized shopping recommendations enhanced product discovery and customer satisfaction.

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Matthew McWaters is the owner of LUCID and has over 15 years of experience in web design, web development, and digital marketing. 

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19 Examples of Online Case Studies Done Right

Designers generally don’t like writing. After all, creative problem-solving through design uses visual, not verbal tools, right? But, sadly for many, case studies are supposed to contain text, too. This is where a lot of designers and art directors stumble, ending up either with poorly crafted case studies, or no case studies in their portfolio at all. And that’s a huge mistake. Online case studies (because these days, if it’s not online, it’s not there at all) are immensely important as they provide a compact, informative display of not just your skills and expertise, but your professionalism too. A good case study shows that you understand the concept of focus, that you can distinguish between different layers of relevance and also sheds some light on your creative process. As such, case studies are an indispensable hiring tool.

That being said, let’s see how the visually-oriented folks can craft a case study that ticks all the right boxes.

Quick Tips for Designing Perfect Online Case Studies

If you’re in doubt as to where to start with your case studies, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Stay focused . Don’t use case studies as an opportunity to channel your revolutionary ideas, but don’t delve in conventionalities, either. Don’t try to tell everything about the project at once, or at all. Your clients don’t need to know everything you did for a project. But they do need to know the relevant bits.
• Provide a solid structure. Scannable content is the form that works the best, whatever the format. Separate your key information in tidy, well-rounded units. These include, but are not limited to: project target/goal/outcome, background, evaluation, concept, implementation, conclusion.
• Provide essential project information. Viewers need the who, the what and the when.
• Treat the page as a gallery wall. Consider your own portfolio style and create case study pages that are in line with it, but also convey the character and the spirit of the project, too. When displaying visual material, don’t just scatter it around the page – it won’t impress anyone. Try exhibiting it in engaging, interactive frames, add interaction for better immersion, and display the material in their intended environment – various device screens, etc.
• Maintain good measure. You want to dazzle the visitors, not blind them. If your case studies are too cluttered, flashy or visually saturated, they might create an undesired effect. Go for minimalism, but avoid making your pages look poor.

Sure, things like these are sometimes easier said than done. That’s why we prepared a curated selection of the best, most inspiring online case studies we handpicked around the web, hoping to give you some cues and ideas for your own cases. Here’s what we’ll talk about:

Juicebrothers by Lama Lama

Art of swissdent by creative nights, max shkret by zhenya rynzhuk, mercado by loer architecten, self scenter by ultranoir, fontshare by wemakefab, more & more nespresso by playful, bian 2016 by baillat studio, prada employees online store by niccolò miranda, ortovivo by k95, obys agency typography principles, komuso design by tubik, the 92 group by humana studio, dreamhaus by wørks studio, topline by parsons branding, weekend by hello today, posted by fuge, decathlon app by fuego camina conmigo, unstuck by violet office.

If you read our piece on creative page transitions , you probably remember Lama Lama , a creative digital agency from Amsterdam, and their Juicebrothers project. The case study for the project (the organic, cold-pressed juice brand from Netherlands) is presented in a combination of playfulness and youth typical of Lama Lama, and a high level of professionalism, also typical of the agency . The main visual motif is the beautiful deep green color that communicates health and vitality, featured extensively in layouts for the Juicebrothers website. Small white typography conveys just the right amount of information about the project and allows the imagery to take center stage. The case study page opens with a sort of split screen between bits of text on the left and a vertical image gallery to the right, and then proceeds with larger image and video sections displaying selected bits of visual content for the brand. All the while, we also get to play with the cursor effect – an oversized, pixelized snake trail that follows the mouse movements.

Creative Nights is a UX design consultancy and creative studio headquartered in Prague, with an impressive roster of international projects. One of these projects is the website for the renowned dental products brand, Swissdent. Art of Swissdent is designed as a crossover between an eCommerce website and an online presentation of the brand. The case study , available at the agency’s website in their Works section, follows the style and the look of the agency’s branding and design, and the selected imagery from the project is given in beautiful frame sections with round edges. The entire page is perfectly balanced in terms of atmosphere, colors and dynamics , and makes the displayed work appear as an integral part of the agency’s own aesthetics, even if that may not necessarily be the case. The page ends with three fun, oversized buttons that the visitors can use to share their impressions with the agency.

Zhenya Rynzhuk is an architect-turned-art director with a solid industry experience and quite a few awards under her belt. Her website, which has received accolades for overall design as well as for mobile excellence, features some innovative design solutions, plenty of interactivity and just the right amount of brutalist details to keep things exciting in a minimalist environment . The Work section features several case studies for the projects Zhenya is most proud of, including art direction and interface design for Max Shkret , an award-winning digital artist creating 3D digital models. After an airy, minimalist and monochromatic section introducing the project, the page proceeds with a scroll-animated gallery of select project imagery. The images of Shkret’s digital models of animals (for which he hopes to raise enough money to turn into actual physical objects) are presented in successive full-width sections, each with a background that matches the object chromatically), resulting in an interesting, exciting stroll through Shrek’s imaginary world . This layout also adds a welcome touch of color to Zhenya’s generally monochromatic ambient.

Loer Architecten is a Dutch architecture studio with a beautiful, airy, dynamic website based on full-screen imagery, interactivity and interesting navigational solutions. The Projects section includes an interactive links list from which we get to navigate to the projects that interest us. We picked the Mercado project , which has the goal of transforming an abandoned backalley in the center of Groeningen into a thriving commercial and urban hub. Just as it would be expected from an architecture studio, the case study is clean and precise, opening with the most essential information , such as status and location. It is the page layout, however, that gives it a welcome kick and saves it from being plain and dull . The project name is displayed in vertical letters to avoid occupying precious space on the page. Thin straight and curved interface lines give it dynamicity, and so do animations in individual pieces of visual content, as well as animated scrolling effects. There isn’t a single full-width or full-screen image in this case study which, combined with ample use of negative space, gives it a very clean, breathable character.

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Commissioned by Comme des Garcons to create an interactive digital experience helping customers discover their fragrances, the French digital agency Ultranoir came up with Self Scenter , a Web GL-based reinvention of the brand’s Fragrance Finder so that it dynamically creates user-specific shapes. The case study shares some of the immersiveness of the project, especially in the hero section with a video and a large title. The case study, however, assumes a cleaner, more informative and practical character later on the page, sharing some of the visual pieces that best convey the atmosphere of the project – videos and select imagery. And the project is truly stunning, too – a beautiful dark interface with a somewhat mysterious character is graced by superbly designed elements with utmost attention to detail and aesthetic coherence. These dark visuals are contrasted by a light background, complete with the cursor shaped like a dot that changes from black to white and vice versa, depending on the surface it hovers upon.

Wemakefab is an old acquaintance from our exploration of the power of interactive links in web design , and today we want to take a look at the case study for the project they developed for the online font aggregator Fontshare. As we get to learn from the case study, the project involved complete visual rebranding, interface design and even the logo redesign. And we have to say, this is a proper case study here, the one that ticks all the boxes as to how a case study should be done and what it should include . Each element of the project is listed and illustrated in a logical, sequential manner, on a clean, high-contrast black and white page. It starts with the project blurb, and then moves to font cards, internal pages, mobile view, the palette and select details. All visuals are given in a manner that follows the principles of usability and clean design – they are large (occasionally oversized), clean, carefully arranged, with occasional thin lines, both vertical and horizontal, that sequence off the sections. Several elements give off a spirit of playfulness and humor – like the section that switches from white ot black when hovered upon, oversized typography and the blinking cursor. The case study is stylistically coherent and tight and very well matched to the nature and the purpose of the project.

Playful is a collaborative collective of digital creators specialized in art direction and moving picture campaigns. More & More Nespresso is, by their own admission, one of the most challenging and rewarding projects the agency has worked on. The case study for the project is just as complex and rich as the project itself. It opens with an impressive hero slider introducing some of the textures that played a central role in the project, in a deep, sultry purple. Carefully curated images and videos from the project are skillfully arranged along the page, contrasted with large empty spaces with light backgrounds and text, offering a welcome pause from the visual feast. The color play is particularly striking – the project itself features a delicate interplay between rich, deep burgundys, greens and blues on one hand, and fine, elegant pastels on the other. The same interplay is repeated in the case study, and the elegant, sophisticated character of the project is underlined by the use of the lovely Antiga typeface throughout the page. The page features a director’s cut video, which is the centerpiece of the project, but doesn’t take over the case study, as it is after all exactly that – a case study in which the agency explains the creative process and pinpoints main visual cues and motifs.

You may remember the Baillat Studio from our piece on inspiring menu design , in which we praised the studio’s modern, interactive fullscreen menu. Today we’re going to check out the Project section of the website, specifically the case study for the 2016 edition of BIAN (the International Digital Art Biennale). The visual identity for the festival was based on black and red, a color combination that creates a lovely contrast with the page’s light gray background and black interface typography. A short text about the target and the main identity elements (Swiss style-based aesthetics, right-angle frames, repetition, lines and precision) follows the opening hero section with a full-width visual from the project. After this introductory section, we get to explore the visuals from the project, presented in the form of photography, video and images of project material in real life, in its designated ambience. The agency, therefore, decided to let the images speak for themselves, without excessive explanations and textual narratives . And it was a good call, too – the page is compact and informative, just what a case study should be.

Here’s a designer we love to feature in our articles – we’ve written about Niccolò Miranda in our pieces on poster-inspired web design and on great examples of footer design , to name a few. This time around, let’s take a look at how this talented Italian designer and developer with a penchant for illustration decided to present his featured works on his website, using the case study for Prada Employees Online Store as an example. The first thing we notice is that the project pages are completely in line with the overall style of Miranda’s portfolio. By that we mean the paper-like texture, the torn paper effect, the columns and sections resembling newspaper layouts, and, of course, illustrations . The page opens with a hero section that holds a lovely illustration from the project he did for Prada (an online store that sells the brand’s previous collections). We then move on to a section explaining what it was that Miranda was commissioned to do, and sections explaining how he did it. What’s interesting (in addition to the distinct and idiosyncratic style) is that the imagery from the project is presented not in the main page content, but instead in a sidebar that opens to the right when we click on the appropriate icon . The page also features a big oval button that leads to the project’s live site, and that’s about it. It is basically more of a project blurb page than a case study per se, but considering its unique style and Miranda’s amazing talent, we figured it deserved a mention here as well.

K95 is a design, branding and communications agency from Catania, Sicily. They work with mostly Italian clients but have a few international names on their roster as well. Their website features a neat list of projects in the form of an interactive link carousel, each link leading to the appropriate case study. Today we’re going to check out the one for Ortovivo , a Sicilian organic food production company. Each project is neatly divided into sections that include description, target, branding and packaging , linked in the header (from which we can also turn off the case study and return to the homepage). The layout is airy and clean, with plenty of empty space around each piece of visual content, and a large circular animated button inviting us to scroll to explore the project. Sections with empty space are combined with full-width interactive ones, moving and expanding as we scroll. It is a dynamic, modern and skillfully designed page that unites good UX, usability and efficiency with modern design practices that speak volumes of the agency’s expertise and taste.

Obys Agency is a creative design agency from Ukraine with a focus on UX/UI design, animation, graphic design and development. Their website is a modern, streamlined and fluid display of their works, principles, accolades and much more. As an agency that flaunts a serious approach to everything they do, Obys wanted to share some of their ethos and the artistic and design principles they follow in their work, and that’s why they created a standalone website on Typography Principles , while the main website has a page that serves as a case study for it. The site includes three sections explaining how the agency uses fonts, how it combines them and what rules it follows when it comes to typography. The page follows the white on black aesthetic line of the rest of the website, with sections that roll up or down revealing underlying content. Navigation is particularly interesting here, as we get to explore the visual content through scrolling, clicking on oversized interactive buttons, and play videos. Numbered sections and diagonal arrows hint to physical navigation signals (like traffic or airport ones), and the part of the study that deals with animation is presented in a separate unit. The website itself is rather impressive and the case study does an excellent job at conveying its complexity and elegance, both design-wise and in terms of UX.

Tubik Studio is a full-stack digital service agency with a focus on UX and UI design. Their website offers a rather no-frills (but nevertheless striking) display of services and works the studio is most proud of, with a gallery of images leading to specific projects. The page for Komuso Design project, for instance, offers an informative and hands-on overview of the project. It opens with an intro hero image, followed by brief project info presented in a simple, readable form, with comfortable black Gilroy typography on a white background. The visual content is presented in the form of videos on a lovely marble-like background, combined with screenshots from the project arranged on a beautifully combined palette of pastels. A particularly well-designed section is the boxed split slider gallery that offers a dynamic and convenient way of displaying several instances of content without cluttering the page or making it too long. The study ends with the visual system: a color scheme with HEX codes, some representative samples of typography and the mobile layout. The entire page bears an airy, pleasant character, perfectly aligned with the client’s brand and product (a wellness tool designed to help people relax through breathing).

Humana Studio is a Portuguese agency that helps build brands with a social and environmental impact. They were commissioned by the 92 Group, a design studio that challenges traditions in media and entertainment through irreverence, unconventionality and youth. Obviously, this was an excellent fit as the Humana Studio has a distinctly disruptive approach. The case study for the 92 Group brand identity and communication strategy partly follows the same disruptive principles – especially in terms of visual communication – but also some more conventional ones, specifically when it comes to UX. The visual content is saturated, loud and bold , with strong, deep colors on a black background, but the way it is arranged on the page guarantees proper navigation, readability and ease of consumption . The sections are topped with a subtle zoom-in effect and a yellow round cursor that shrinks and expands and the text is short and to the point. The study is brief but concentrated, informative and practical, coherent in character and atmosphere.

WØRKS Studio is a New York-based consultancy specializing in creative direction, strategy and design. Their main website is an exciting showcase of both the agency ethos and their projects, and is marked by a distinct cinematic approach, with a lot of information and content being handed in form of immersive fullscreen videos and animated sequences. The DreamHaus project is presented as an animated study of the pillar design elements used for the project – with the main focus on typography and the palette . The fullscreen hero section opens with a large animated logo of the project, proceeds with a palette of beautiful pastels, with names and hex codes, and ends with a sequence that showcases the typography used for the project, and the main layout style, as well as textures. The visitor can scroll to learn more about the project and its goal, as well as the main guidelines that the agency followed in the creative direction of this project. The images related to the project, or the products of the direction, if you will, are presented with animation effects that feature a brief flash of yellow, which is the agency’s signature color, thus providing a continuity between the project and its creator and, of course, reinforcing the agency’s own branding.

Our most frequent readers might remember Parsons Branding from our piece on inspiring creative agencies and designers , in which we praised the agency’s beautiful UI design and interesting navigation solutions. Today, we want to check out one of their case studies, specifically the one for Topline , the South African tool manufacturer. The case studies all feature unique page navigation – the left portion of the screen contains a numbered section with jump links to specific parts of the case study : Overview, Identity, Packaging and so on, and of course we can simply scroll down and explore the entire study in its intended order. The background is in the agency’s signature green and gray, with a very subtle paper-like texture, giving the entire interface a lifelike quality. The left side, the one with the table of contents, remains static as we scroll, assuring easy navigation and orientation on the page, which is, in itself, quite rich in content, both visual and textual. Certain sections are given in horizontal scroll sliders, so we get an impression that the page expands in all directions. This is an extremely well thought-out case study, brimful of information for those interested in exploring the project in great detail, but at the same time simple and informative for those looking to just skim the content.

The Japanese Hello Today did a quite complete agency work for the home appliance manufacturer Weekend, from strategic planning and branding to graphic design, web design, photo and art direction and even copywriting. The Weekend case study on the agency website is a modern, elegantly dark showcase of everything the agency did, from the first steps to the completion of the project. Discrete white typography on a black background introduces basic project information and brand philosophy, both in English and in Japanese, before we scroll down to visuals. These are presented in a typically Japanese, dignified manner, gently floating on the black background, creating a beautiful contrast and a strange sense of calm . Thin, subtle interface lines provide some framework for the visual content and communicate rather successfully with the overall aesthetics of the website – minimalist and stripped-down.

Fuge is a Moscow-based design agency delivering UI, branding and digital solutions. The agency website is minimalist, in a very reduced palette, with small typography and on-lover grid patterns, resulting in a modern, serious look. This character is repeated throughout the website, including the individual case pages. Our favorite one is the case study for Posted , a design magazine for which the agency did branding, as well as UX and UI services and animations. The case page starts rather minimalistically, with a large image on a light background and just a few bits of text. As we scroll, more and more pieces of content appear on screen, in an interactive and rather fluid way . The case study is divided into sections – logo and elements, desktop and mobile versions of the magazine website. Each image can be expanded in a popup, with smooth and modern transitions, giving the page a dynamic and modern look. This atmosphere is reinforced by a modern, minimalist palette reduced to grayscale, black and red, which is the Posted brand palette. The images (or rather previews) are alternately arranged on the page, creating a lovely balance, and the entire composition appears to be held in place by the grid lines that appear as we hover over certain areas.

Decathlon has long planned a redesign and a relaunch of its app for the Spanish market but the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to those plans for a while. As soon as the pandemic loosened, the sports goods company reached out to the Barcelona-based, Twin Peaks-named agency Fuego Camina Conmigo (Fire Walk with Me) for a range of services from digital strategy, art direction and concept, to copy, audiovisual content and social ads. The Decathlon App case study is available at the agency website, and it’s one of the most successful, detailed and complete studies we’ve seen in a while . it ticks all the boxes in terms of what a case study should contain – the context, the target, the implementation, and so on, but it does so in a way that is by no means dry or technical. The agency achieved this by skillfully alternating light and readable text sections with fullscreen sections with the visual material from the app , which can be viewed either as images or clicked to play a video. All the while, the agency maintains its own visual identity, present in typography, layout styles and elements such as the round cursor, buttons and icons.

Here’s a project that is as noble as it is well-carried out. Unstuck by Violet Office is an effort started by the CEO of Chobani and several other stakeholders with the goal of helping refugees find full-time jobs in partner companies and their supply chains. Chobani was the first to join the project, of course, and it was soon followed by other major brands like Ben & Jerry and Dole. Violet Office did the branding, web design and development, as well as social media. The branding part is perhaps the most impressive – the agency created a logo and wordmark that can easily fit any brand partner’s logo , and the first part of the case study focuses on that particular effort, complete with rich visuals proving the efficiency of the design . It then proceeds with an analysis of the Unstuck visual system (colors, patterns, typography), and ends with examples of brand activations, complete with the launch video. The high-contrast visuals are displayed full-width, either in galleries or individually, which creates an immersive effect on the visitor, who ends up being completely drawn into the narrative of this commendable project.

Wrapping It Up

As we saw from the examples we visited today, while a good case study may not necessarily have to strictly adhere to a formulaic structure, it’s still a good idea to give it some structure and to conceptualize it in a way that communicates clearly and directly with the viewer. And since the viewers are also potential clients, it’s needless to stress how important this is.

We’ve seen some “proper” case studies with neatly divided sections and a tight structure repeated throughout each study. We’ve also seen some more “relaxed” ones, and some that perhaps don’t really qualify as case studies in the strictest terms but that due to their quality and supreme design elements deserve a mention.

Hopefully we managed to inspire you by showing a variety of styles and methodologies you can follow in creating your own case studies. Feel free to share with us your own favorites or, even better, your own work!

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Case Studies

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Top Website Development Case Studies 2024

Home Blog Web Development Top Website Development Case Studies 2024

In my opinion, website developers can show new clients that they can create successful projects using case studies, which is a great concept. One of the most challenging tasks a designer has to do is win over potential clients' trust and confidence. If the clients have never worked with you, they can hesitate to give their project to an unknown person or organization. Clients feel assured that this team has the skills to complete projects successfully when past project achievements are displayed. This case study on web application development can also help the website developer gain credibility by demonstrating their abilities and the benefits they offer to companies.

Make sure you take the required actions to reassure them that your design will be aesthetically stunning and advantageous to their business to gain their trust. So, let's discuss more about website development case studies   with their examples to get a better understanding of website development. So, let's dive in.

What are Web Development Case Studies, and Why are They Important?

A website development case study outlines your steps to overcome an obstacle on a specific project. A noteworthy client project, a carefully created narrative structure, and an eye-catching visual design are all characteristics of an excellent case study. By showcasing the success of prior projects, case studies can help establish trust with potential clients and convince them that the website development team has the knowledge and experience necessary to provide excellent outcomes. Because they can observe the success of the team's work with other firms, they can also establish credibility and trust with new clients. The online Web Developmen t courses with certificates demonstrating the developers' abilities and expertise and the value they can provide to a company could help bring in new customers.

Web Development Case Studies

So here are the top 10 web   development case study examples mentioned below:

Case Study 1: Improving conversion Rates with e-commerce Redesign:

Redesigning its e-commerce platform was one way an apparel store tried to increase online sales. With user research and UX/UI optimization, the new design expedited checkout and made browsing easier. The website's user-friendly interface and adaptability to mobile devices received good feedback, leading to a 30% boost in conversion rates. If you want to learn this skill, then you can take advantage of the best Full Stack developer course .

Case study 2: Optimising the scalability of SaaS platforms:

Software as a service (SaaS) company experienced performance problems as its user base increased. The platform gained increased scalability and reliability by optimizing code efficiency and using cloud-based infrastructure. Improved customer satisfaction and retention resulted from a 50% reduction in load times and nearly complete removal of downtime.

Case study 3: Healthcare portal for patient management:

A healthcare provider for communication and patient management requires a complete portal. The case studies web development team created a secure platform that enabled patients to make appointments, view medical records, and securely connect with healthcare providers. Better patient satisfaction, shorter wait times, and simpler administrative duties were all made possible by the portal, enhancing operational effectiveness and health outcomes.

Case study 4: Blockchain-powered voting mechanism for transparency:

A government organization intended to improve security and transparency by updating its voting technology. The development team put in place a blockchain-based web application for reliable and secure electronic voting. Using cryptographic encryption and decentralized verification, the voting process was made more publically trusted, and tamper-proof vote records were ensured.

Case study 5: Chatbot integration for customer support:

An online retailer aimed to increase response times and customer service effectiveness. They automated common queries and gave consumers immediate support by incorporating an AI-powered chatbot into their website. Due to the chatbot's capacity to interpret natural language and availability around the clock, customer wait times dropped by 60%, increasing customer satisfaction and encouraging repeat business.

Case study 6: Service finder app based on geolocation:

A nearby service provider wished to establish more efficient connections with nearby clients. The development team created a geolocation-based online application that lets users search for services in their area, read customer reviews, and make online appointment bookings. The user-friendly interface and precise position monitoring resulted in a 50% rise in service bookings and client satisfaction.

Case study 7: An educational gamified learning platform:

An educational institution aimed to increase student engagement and interaction with the subject matter. By incorporating gamification components like badges, progress tracking, and quizzes, the web development team was able to change the traditional method of education into an engaging and fulfilling one. Academic performance and motivation improved due to a significant increase in student engagement and retention.

Case study 8: For cross-platform compatibility, use a responsive web application:

Access to investment tools and resources across devices was a goal for a financial services company. The development team skillfully developed a web application that flexed to fit different screen widths and OS versions. Encouraging accessibility and user happiness, clients could now monitor changes in the market and manage their portfolios on PCs, tablets, and cell phones.

Case study 9: Custom CMS implementation for content management:

A content management system (CMS) adapted for a media company's unique editorial workflow and publishing requirements was necessary. The web development case study team designed a unique content creation, editing, and scheduling tool. Now that writers and editors can work together more effectively, content output and quality have increased by 40%.

Case study 10: Community engagement platform development:

A charity organization requires a digital platform to help with volunteer organizing and community involvement. With features like discussion boards, volunteer sign-up forms, and event calendars, the web development team produced an easy-to-use portal. The platform encouraged community members to collaborate and participate more, which improved event attendance and created a stronger sense of community.

The Knowledgehut Web Development courses online with a certificate will help you gain access to profitable career opportunities. With the help of our in-depth case studies, you can delve deeply into real-world situations and gain the practical skills necessary to succeed in the fast-paced web development industry. Get hands-on expertise, prove your knowledge with a degree, and advance your career. Enrol in our courses now to start your journey to success in the digital world.

To sum up, these case studies on website building demonstrate the wide range of difficulties and solutions found in the digital world. Every project, from instructional websites to e-commerce platforms, reflects the value of user-centric design, flawless functionality, and clear communication. Using strategic planning, systematic development, and continuous optimization, enterprises can accomplish their goals and expand their online presence. These website development case studies also highlight the value of creativity and adaptation in changing user habits and technology advancements.

Organizations could keep a competitive edge and provide their audiences with outstanding digital experiences using modern technology and best practices. Ultimately, in today's competitive online market, these case studies for website development provide insightful information to developers and organizations looking to build robust, user-friendly websites that generate engagement and provide tangible benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The web development case study often shows difficulties in meeting deadlines, limiting scope creep, ensuring cross-browser compatibility, enhancing site speed, fixing security flaws, and keeping up with rapidly changing technologies. Furthermore, difficulties with cooperation and communication between stakeholders and team members are often highlighted.

Vadiance set out to sell its special water supplement online through an e-commerce website to enhance people's quality of life by fostering inner harmony and balance. They generated traffic to their poor website design.

It offers advice on best practices, suggestions to improve reliability and security, and an understanding of the underlying causes and contributing aspects of previous incidents.

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• Shawn Jansepar
• Feb 10, 2016

Building A First-Class App That Leverages Your Website: A Case Study

• 16 min read
• Mobile , Techniques , Apps
• Share on Twitter ,  LinkedIn

About The Author

Shawn is an Engineering Manager on the Product and Customer Success Teams at Mobify. He loves to hack both on the front-end and back-end, with a heavy focus on … More about Shawn ↬

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Mark Zuckerberg once said, “The biggest mistake that we made, as a company, is betting too much on HTML5 as opposed to native… because it just wasn’t there. And it’s not that HTML5 is bad. I’m actually, long term, really excited about it.” And who wouldn’t be excited by the prospect of a single code base that works across multiple platforms ?

Unfortunately, Facebook felt that HTML5 didn’t offer the experience it was looking to build, and that’s what it’s really about: the experience. I believe what Mark was really trying to say was that their biggest mistake was making a technology-driven decision instead of a user experience-driven decision. At the end of the day, we should be making decisions that deliver value to our customers , and sticking to a particular technology is generally not the best way to achieve that.

For our client Beyond the Rack , an online-only e-commerce retailer, our primary goal was to build an app with a great user experience. Like Zuckerberg, we also wanted to take the HTML5 route — the “write once, run everywhere” approach to apps that are written in HTML5 web interfaces is extremely attractive. But in today’s world, where apps are becoming the primary way that users interact with your product, performance isn’t just a nice to have — it’s a competitive advantage .

It’s almost never the case, however, that all features of your app need to be built with completely native interfaces. For example, while it might be hard to make navigation animations feel native on the web, a web page that contains little to no complex animation could easily be used in the app while still feeling native. This is all that really matters to the user. What’s required then is a “maybe write once, maybe run everywhere — it really depends on the feature…” strategy.

In short, don’t choose between native and web interfaces . Use both.

In this piece, I’ll guide you through our experience in building an app for Beyond the Rack in which we mix native and web content to create an app that “feels” native.

Case Study: Building An App For Beyond The Rack

Obviously it was important to determine what problems Beyond the Rack was looking to solve for itself and its customers with its app. The choice of whether to go native or web for each feature would come naturally from that.

We realized that to build a great app, we needed to do a great job with all three of the following things:

• Shopping interface Beyond the Rack is an online-only retailer; so, having a great interface for browsing sales and making purchases is crucial. Because we were building a native app, we had an opportunity to go above and beyond what the web experience can offer.
• Shareability Because a large revenue driver for Beyond the Rack is customers sharing various sales items with friends, we needed to make sure that sharing between iOS, Android and the browser is as seamless as possible.
• Discoverability Beyond the Rack provides limited-time sales to its users; so, being able to reach out to users quickly is very important. Push messaging offers the best way to engage those loyal customers, and it was ultimately the biggest driver in the decision to build the app.

Let’s dive right into how we built some of the most important features of our Beyond the Rack iOS and Android apps: which features of the app were built using web technology, which features are fully native, and how they all work together.

The Shopping Interface

The native bits.

We had built a responsive website for Beyond the Rack on tablet and mobile — one that we were proud of. But it wasn’t enough to simply throw the website into a web view and call it a day; the website by itself does not feel like a native app. A big reason for that is navigation. In a browser, you have back and forward buttons and a URL bar. In iOS and Android apps, users have very different expectations of how to navigate, and we wanted to match those expectations so that our app feels consistent with each platform.

We made a prototype that dynamically loads content via AJAX and manages the navigation and transitions in web languages, but we could not get it to feel as silky smooth as the transitions you see in native apps. The navigation animations on iOS and Android are quite difficult to match using web technology, and any jank in navigation would make our app feel less native . If your app isn’t running at 60 frames per second, users will notice.

We came up with an approach that we felt combines the best of both worlds: load the main content from the web, but use native navigation elements:

On iOS, implementing this was really quite simple. We leveraged the navigation controller , which manages a stack of views, as well as a navigation bar for controlling navigation between each view. In our case, the stack of views is really just a stack of web views — any time a navigation occurs, rather than navigating to it in the web view itself, we instantiate a new web view, push it to our UINavigationController and navigate to the new destination. Using stacks of web views also means that whenever the user goes back, they do not have to wait for the page to reload, which is great for their experience. If in the future we decide to replace a feature with a native view, we would simply push a native view onto the stack, rather than the web view version of that feature.

On Android, the equivalent of the navigation controller would be to use stacks of activities . We decided not to use multiple activities and fragments, because they both call for extremely complex lifecycle management. We ended up managing our own stack of web views for the app and writing custom native animations to transition between each view.

A number of other apps leverage native navigation elements to conform to OS design patterns. Check out this image of Basecamp’s Android app, which leverages a native navigation bar:

Also, compare Amazon’s app to its mobile website:

With this approach, we found our sweet spot of having an experience that feels familiar to the platform , while still leveraging a great core shopping experience from the web.

This might be a surprise to many, but the developers of the Facebook app are also constantly finding the sweet spot, leveraging native or web when it makes sense for each feature. According to an article written by a Facebook engineer : “For areas within the app where we anticipate making changes more often, we will continue to utilize HTML5 code, as we can push updates server side without requiring people to download a new version of the app.” It seems as though Facebook is taking the same approach advocated for here: Choose the technology for each feature based on performance, the development effort required and how fast you need to get it out the door.

For your app, consider case by case whether building a feature natively or leveraging web content makes more sense. Given the difficulty of building navigation that feels native, it probably makes sense to at least build that using native components.

The Web Bits

Today, almost everyone agrees that it’s a good idea to progressively enhance websites : Use one markup base for the lowest common denominator of browsers, and layer that with functionality and enhancements using JavaScript and CSS, depending on the context — no separate code bases or templates for different devices required. Just like how it doesn’t make sense to create separate templates for the mobile and desktop web, we wanted to use the live website templates within the app itself. The app is just another context.

I call this building “app-aware” responsive websites . By building our website with the app’s context and performance in mind, we’ll be ready to ship to all of our users across various platforms sooner than later.

Websites need to be able to detect the app context in three places: CSS, JavaScript and the server. We created an app class to write conditional CSS and an isRunningInApp method to write conditional JavaScript, and we appended App to the user agent for conditional server-side logic.

An example of where we used progressive enhancement within the app is on our product display page. We optimized it by adding a fixed-position “Add to cart” button only for apps:

We could have added a fixed-position “Add to bag” button in the browser, too, but we didn’t because, in Safari, clicking near the bottom will actually open Safari’s navigation bar. Having this bar accidentally open when the user attempts to add a product to their cart would be an unacceptable usability flaw, despite the advantages of having a persistent “Add to cart” button at the bottom of the page:

Another area where we made app-specific tweaks to the website is in the shopping cart. Cart logic is typically one of the trickiest aspects of any e-commerce website, and because we were quite pleased with the cart experience on mobile, we decided to reuse it in the app, although with a slightly modified look and feel:

Shareability

The ability to share links and to open shared links is a critical feature that has to work well for Beyond the Rack. We wanted sharing to be seamless. If someone shares a link from their desktop, and their friend opens it in the app, the link needs to open correctly; likewise, if someone shares a product from the app, it has to open correctly on the desktop; and if the friend is on mobile but doesn’t have the app installed, it should open in the browser. We were determined to make this an awesome experience because this is typically something that apps are weak at.

Making content shareable between web and app can be difficult . To do it successfully, you’ll need to map your app links and web links. This was painful in the pre-responsive days, when opening a desktop URL would take you to the home page of a mobile URL, due to redirects and such. We are seeing the exact same problem today with apps — banners in Safari and Chrome ask you to open a link in an app, only for the app not to show what you were looking for, leaving you to search for it all over again. Fortunately, handling web links in Beyond the Rack’s app is a breeze, because all we need to do is load that URL in a web view. We just have to make sure that web links take users to the app instead of the browser.

On Android, opening a URL in an app is simple. You just need to set up an intent filter to load the app whenever a user attempts to load the specified URL (in our case, www.beyondtherack.com ). Once the app is installed, users will be given the option to open the URL in the app or in the browser:

iOS has had a slightly rockier road to enabling web URLs to open directly in apps. Previously, iOS only allowed you to register an app schema for each app (for example, beyondtherack:// ). Because it was impossible to know which apps were installed, the only choice was to open a given link in Safari and, from there, attempt to open that link in the app. This came with a minor annoyance: If the app wasn’t installed, the user would get an annoying error message, “Safari cannot open the page because the address is invalid.” Thankfully, a hack allows you to suppress that error using iframes . If you want to support deep linking on iOS 8, this is the best option.

After the release of the app, we wanted to compare its performance to the browser experience. Directly comparing their analytics wasn’t enough, because in our experience, anyone who had installed the app was likely a more loyal customer and, thus, would likely convert better. To avoid selection bias, we set up an A/B test; half of the users were kept in the app and half were kicked over to the browser, which ensured that the only participants in the experiment were users who had the app installed (the more loyal users).

• Transactions per unique visitor were 76% higher with the app experience than with the web.
• Unique daily users of the app were 20% more likely to convert .
• App users spent 63% more time browsing than web users .

Quick Performance Wins

Making an app that loads web content and feels native doesn’t come out of the box on iOS or Android. Here are a couple of the performance challenges we faced that are worth sharing:

• On iOS, the scrolling momentum in a web view does not the match scrolling momentum in a native scroll view. This was uncovered in user testing. Here is a one liner to resolve that: webview.scrollView.decelerationRate = UIScrollViewDecelerationRateNormal;
• Be careful when resizing web views . We ran into issues where resizing them caused entire repaints, which killed scroll performance on older devices.
• Dealing with hundreds of different web view implementations on Android can be painful. The most painful issue we ran into is a known web view bug in Android 4.4.2 , which throws a fatal exception in Chromium that causes the app to crash. Removing transform: translate3d in that Android version seems to do the trick. Alternatively, you can use Crosswalk to ship your own compiled web runtime with your app (we didn’t do this, but we plan to for future projects).
• Use FastClick , not only because it removes the 300-millisecond click delay , but also because it fixes a web view click bug introduced in iOS 8.4.1 . For us, the bug manifested itself by not allowing the page to change if the click was too slow.
• Do everything you can to make scrolling feel amazing. You can debounce scroll events , avoid unnecessary repaints and more . If scrolling isn’t running at 60 frames per second, users will notice, even more so in an app than on the web.
• Do everything you can to make pages load in under 1000 milliseconds .

Tools To Build An App Leveraging Your Website

You have a number of options for building an app that leverages your existing website. The approach we’ve taken is to build the app specific to each platform (using Xcode and Android Studio), leveraging web views or native views whenever necessary.

When loading a web view for a particular feature, we recommend integrating the Cordova web view , rather than directly using the web view libraries provided by iOS and Android. This will give your web views a number of features that you would otherwise have to build yourself, such as a web-to-native bridge to communicate from JavaScript to native code and vice versa, the ability to access lifecycle events, as well as access to a wealth of Cordova plugins. Alternatively, a few other web-to-native bridges are available for the various platforms if you want to avoid depending on Cordova.

A few frameworks are out there to help you build apps in this way, such as Supersonic and Astro, a native app framework we’re building to make it easier to manage the complexity of building apps using both native and web interfaces.

With Beyond the Rack, we set out to build an app in which we could easily ship value to users without sacrificing the experience. By following an approach that puts technology in the back seat , allowing us to use the right technology for the task, we believe we have achieved just that. With any change to or introduction of a feature, we will always ask ourselves, “What experience do we want to design here that will best solve the user’s problem? Does that experience require the use of advanced performance or animations?”

The answer to that question will determine whether we build the feature with web technology and reuse it in the browser and on Android and iOS or build it custom for each platform.

Ultimately, I believe that this is how apps should be built. But it’s going to take a shift in mindset. Instead of trying to determine whether the web will triumph over native or become a relic of the past, we should embrace the best of both. We should recognize their respective advantages and disadvantages and use the technology that makes the most sense for the given feature.

Further Reading

• A Beginner’s Guide To Progressive Web Apps
• The Building Blocks Of Progressive Web Apps
• Creating A Complete Web App In Foundation For Apps
• Accessible Target Sizes Cheatsheet

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