Zest Website Design

Designing a sleek, modern e-commerce experience for a new customizable furniture brand launching in China.

Role

UI Designer

Industry

Furniture, E-Commerce

Duration

2017

The Challenge

Zest was a brand-new furniture concept under Markor Furnishings, aimed at a younger demographic with modern, customizable products. At launch, they had no established branding or content. The challenge was to design a digital experience that felt simple, modern, and globally appealing, while also respecting Chinese cultural and market expectations.

The Challenge

The Approach

We approached the project with speed, flexibility, and cross-cultural collaboration:

Design from Scratch: Built the first iteration of Zest’s digital presence without existing branding, establishing the foundations of its identity in the process.
Cross-Cultural Sensitivity: Balanced a clean, American-inspired aesthetic with Chinese web design practices to ensure the product resonated with both stakeholders and customers.
Template System: Delivered over 25 modular, template-style interfaces to give Zest the flexibility to scale content and customize experiences across categories.
Collaboration: Worked closely with Zest’s team in China, adapting design strategy to meet both cultural nuances and technical requirements under a very tight timeline.

The Approach

We approached the project with speed, flexibility, and cross-cultural collaboration:

Design from Scratch: Built the first iteration of Zest’s digital presence without existing branding, establishing the foundations of its identity in the process.
Cross-Cultural Sensitivity: Balanced a clean, American-inspired aesthetic with Chinese web design practices to ensure the product resonated with both stakeholders and customers.
Template System: Delivered over 25 modular, template-style interfaces to give Zest the flexibility to scale content and customize experiences across categories.
Collaboration: Worked closely with Zest’s team in China, adapting design strategy to meet both cultural nuances and technical requirements under a very tight timeline.

The Solution

The result was a responsive e-commerce platform designed to highlight customization. Every interface emphasized clarity and usability, allowing customers to easily choose size, material, color, and hardware. The templates balanced structure with flexibility, giving Zest the ability to build pages quickly while maintaining consistency.

Collaboration

Because Zest was headquartered in China, language and cultural differences added complexity. Through ongoing communication and feedback loops, we aligned around design choices that felt premium, modern, and globally competitive, while still meeting local expectations.

The Impact

Delivered 25+ interfaces on time under compressed deadlines
Helped Zest establish a distinct identity at launch, differentiating them from competitors
Created a flexible system that supported long-term scalability and adaptation
Supported the early growth of Zest as part of the Markor Furnishings portfolio

a pair of cell phones on a concrete block

a cell phone with a yellow rectangular screen

Key Takeaways

Zest demonstrated the value of designing with adaptability and cultural awareness at the core. By creating a modular system from scratch and balancing global aesthetics with local expectations, we helped launch a new brand identity and e-commerce platform that was both scalable and user-centered.

Key Takeaways

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MICHELLE FLACKS

MICHELLE FLACKS

MICHELLE FLACKS