A Centralized Marketplace and Toolkit for Fiber Artists


Collaborative project with Affan Ashraf, Kareena Patel and Mustafa Arshad

A Centralized Marketplace and Toolkit for Fiber Artists


Collaborative project with Affan Ashraf, Kareena Patel and Mustafa Arshad

A Centralized Marketplace and Toolkit for Fiber Artists


Collaborative project with Affan Ashraf, Kareena Patel and Mustafa Arshad

Role

UX Research &

Design

UX Research

& Design

UX Research & Design

Timeline

November 2024,

4 weeks

November 2024,

4 weeks

November 2024, 4 weeks

Methods

Contextual Research, Participatory Design,

Figma Prototyping, Usability Testing

Contextual Research, Participatory Design, Storyboards, Figma Prototyping, Testing

jump to designs

jump to designs

Context & Opportunity

As an avid crocheter, I pitched an idea to my classmates: a space to buy, sell, and turn Pinterest boards into a list of suggested materials, getting straight to the fun part. (Crafting ASAP!)

Our project concluded in 2024, however…

In early 2025, JOANN Fabrics (our primary research site) unfortunately shut down all their outlets.


This retroactively turned LoopyLoop from a simple concept into a viable solution to keep the joy of crafting alive.

Our project concluded in 2024, however…

In early 2025, JOANN Fabrics (our primary research site) unfortunately shut down all their outlets.


This retroactively turned LoopyLoop from a simple concept into a viable solution to keep the joy of crafting alive.

Our project concluded in 2024, however…


In early 2025, JOANN Fabrics (our primary research site) unfortunately shut down all their outlets.


This retroactively turned LoopyLoop from a simple concept into a viable solution to keep the joy of crafting alive.

Initial Research Findings

We analyzed the typical digital toolkit for crafters, from major retailers to niche marketplaces, and identified a disconnect.

Platforms like Etsy and Ribblr focus on finished items and patterns, while retailers focus on supplies. No single platform connects these stages, forcing users to constantly toggle between sites.

Before designing a solution, we needed to validate our assumption: Did crafters find this disconnect frustrating, or was the hunt actually part of the joy of making?

We analyzed the typical digital toolkit for crafters, from major retailers to niche marketplaces, and identified a disconnect.

Platforms like Etsy and Ribblr focus on finished items and patterns, while retailers focus on supplies. No single platform connects these stages, forcing users to constantly toggle between sites.

Before designing a solution, we needed to validate our assumption: Did crafters find this disconnect frustrating, or was the hunt actually part of the joy of making?

We explored this hypothesis by interviewing four types of crafters, from beginners to sellers, and mapping their workflows. The results highlighted the fragmented ecosystem that creates friction at multiple stages, chipping away at the joy of the craft as users get tangled in the logistics of it all.

Contextual Research

We analyzed the typical digital toolkit for crafters, from major retailers to niche marketplaces, and identified a disconnect.

Platforms like Etsy and Ribblr focus on finished items and patterns, while retailers focus on supplies. No single platform connects these stages, forcing users to constantly toggle between sites.

Before designing a solution, we needed to validate our assumption: Did crafters find this disconnect frustrating, or was the hunt actually part of the joy of making?