SNEAKER
CON
SNEAKER CON MOBILE AP / NFC LEGIT TAG
An omni-channel iOS mobile e-commerce app utilizing NFC tags for buying, selling, and trading collectable sneakers.
PRODUCT DESIGN
UX DESIGN
UI DESIGN
NFC TECHNOLOGY
BRAND DESIGN
USER RESEARCH
View Site
OVERVIEW
CHALLENGE
I worked with Sneaker Con, and their technology partners to build an iOS mobile e-commerce app for buying, selling, and bidding on shoes. In addition to creating seamless and functional UX, security was paramount in an industry known for fakes. We worked closely with them to transform their experience, learning from the subject matter experts first-hand and further elevating their brand and culture for shoes built from their existing events-based platform.

Our job was very complex from a cultural perspective. We considered how we would capture the unique energy of the event, and translate the language, terminology, and values of Sneaker Con into a mobile experience while still maintaining a robust feature set, and security layers like Fort Knox, and not end up looking like another marketplace app.
APPROACH
Initially, our primary objective was to grasp the fundamental requirements for transforming into a FinTech company with the characteristics of a bank. After successfully setting up partnerships, obtaining the necessary insurance, and fulfilling the licensing requirements, we could then move forward with defining our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive competitive analysis and immediately set to work. Using the Design Sprint framework, I identified the essential MVP features that would pave our way to entering the market.
DISCOVER THE CAPABILITIES OF THE NFC HARDWARE, MAQKE IT BULLET-PROOF WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRODUCT UX GOALS, PROVE IT WORKS WITH TEH SCEPTICS
A big part of the process was immersing ourselves into the Sneaker Con culture. By doing what UX designers do best, we understand the user's wants and needs while adding value by thinking outside the box when it comes to utilizing technology. After endless research and observing what some other industries have done recently, we created a new way of authentication.
INTEGRATE NFC UX
"We had essentially solved the security issue, created a new branded physical component that looked rad to the sneakerhead, and introduced a whole new technology."
OVERVIEW
Sneaker Con implemented a robust security measure to safeguard event attendees by mandating that vendors wishing to participate in The Trading Pit undergo a rigorous sneaker authentication process. This entailed a meticulous manual inspection by authenticators to ascertain the legitimacy of the sneakers in question. Once a sneaker received the authenticator's seal of approval, an NFC-enabled LEGIT tag was activated, featuring pertinent details such as brand, model, size, condition, and an official Sneaker Con digital authentication stamp.

The LEGIT tag was securely affixed to the sneaker, with the activation process rendering the digital information immutable and irreversible. Moreover, the tag was attached using a tamper-proof mechanism, making it necessary to physically damage it in order to transfer it to another shoe. This multi-layered system effectively thwarted the sale of counterfeit sneakers within The Trading Pit. The LEGIT tag served as a conspicuous indicator of authenticity, enabling event attendees to independently verify the legitimacy of sneakers by utilizing Blue Bite's Decode app, which, when tapped against the tag, would authenticate the sneakers.
PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS
MOBILE APP
NFC READER
UX DESIGN
UI DESIGN
USER TESTING
E-COMMERCE
CMS
MULTI-TENNANT SUPPORT
OVERVIEW
Sneaker Con introduced a groundbreaking innovation by crafting a digital marketplace app tailored for sneaker enthusiasts to relish the Sneaker Con convention experience from the comfort of their own homes. This strategic move served as a definitive means for the company to augment the value it offered to its dedicated fan base. What's more, the app seamlessly harmonized with the enhancements instituted in the authentication process during the physical event.

Following an authenticator's certification of a sneaker's authenticity, event attendees could effortlessly integrate it into their digital inventory. This was accomplished with utmost simplicity, as they only needed to tap the newly embedded LEGIT tag equipped with NFC technology, facilitating a smooth and intuitive process for users to curate their virtual sneaker collections.
ROI
Sneaker Con becomes the standard for authenticity
Implementing the new authentication process, along with the integration of the app, played a pivotal role in Sneaker Con's strategy to enhance its offerings for attendees. This dual objective involved creating a digital marketplace and fostering a vibrant community for sneaker enthusiasts, all while setting the standard for authenticity within the industry. Blue Bite played a pivotal role in making this vision a reality by powering Sneaker Con's robust authentication ecosystem, ultimately delivering heightened value to their users and endowing sneakers with a distinct digital identity.

Sneaker Con's remarkable success and the unwavering loyalty of its dedicated fanbase have spurred the company to explore even more profound ways to enrich the experience for their growing community of enthusiasts. A recent order for 50,000 NFC tags signals a clear commitment to incorporating digital experiences as a significant part of their strategic plan, indicating the evolving and innovative direction in which the brand is headed.
50,000
Downloads in the first month
3,235
LEGIT tags enabled in the first 60 days
2M
Shoes authenticated
CONCLUSION
Sneakercon wins VANUX awards 2018, Best UX for Digital Products, and Best UX of the Year
The VanUX Awards program distinguishes and celebrates excellence in the creation of digital experiences by brands and digital product agencies. Judges evaluating the "Best UX" category consider various factors beyond aesthetics. They prioritize how the user experience design effectively addresses real-world problems, the seamlessness and consistency of user interactions, the emotional resonance between users and the intended experience, and the solutions provided for both end-users and business objectives.

Notably, the criteria of innovation and impact hold particular significance, especially in the context of awarding "Best UX for Product," a distinction proudly claimed by Aequilibrium. Innovation highlights what is novel, distinctive, or captivating about the work and how it compares to established conventions and prevailing design paradigms. Meanwhile, impact pertains to the tangible outcomes traceable to the user experience, including measurable effects on both the business and its users.
TIRED
OF THINKING?
LET'S CHAT.
matthew@dontmakemethink.ca
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© 2024 don't make me th!nk
SNEAKER CON
SNEAKER CON MOBILE AP / NFC LEGIT TAG
An omni-channel iOS mobile e-commerce app utilizing NFC tags for buying, selling, and trading collectable sneakers.
PRODUCT DESIGN
UX DESIGN
UI DESIGN
NFC TECHNOLOGY
BRAND DESIGN
USER RESEARCH
View Site
OVERVIEW
CHALLENGE
I worked with Sneaker Con, and their technology partners to build an iOS mobile e-commerce app for buying, selling, and bidding on shoes. In addition to creating seamless and functional UX, security was paramount in an industry known for fakes. We worked closely with them to transform their experience, learning from the subject matter experts first-hand and further elevating their brand and culture for shoes built from their existing events-based platform.

Our job was very complex from a cultural perspective. We considered how we would capture the unique energy of the event, and translate the language, terminology, and values of Sneaker Con into a mobile experience while still maintaining a robust feature set, and security layers like Fort Knox, and not end up looking like another marketplace app.
APPROACH
Initially, our primary objective was to grasp the fundamental requirements for transforming into a FinTech company with the characteristics of a bank. After successfully setting up partnerships, obtaining the necessary insurance, and fulfilling the licensing requirements, we could then move forward with defining our Minimum Viable Product (MVP). To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive competitive analysis and immediately set to work. Using the Design Sprint framework, I identified the essential MVP features that would pave our way to entering the market.
DISCOVER THE CAPABILITIES OF THE NFC HARDWARE, MAQKE IT BULLET-PROOF WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRODUCT UX GOALS, PROVE IT WORKS WITH THE SCEPTICS
A big part of the process was immersing ourselves into the Sneaker Con culture. By doing what UX designers do best, we understand the user's wants and needs while adding value by thinking outside the box when it comes to utilizing technology. After endless research and observing what some other industries have done recently, we created a new way of authentication.
INTEGRATE NFC UX
"We had essentially solved the security issue, created a new branded physical component that looked rad to the sneakerhead, and introduced a whole new technology."
OVERVIEW
Sneaker Con implemented a robust security measure to safeguard event attendees by mandating that vendors wishing to participate in The Trading Pit undergo a rigorous sneaker authentication process. This entailed a meticulous manual inspection by authenticators to ascertain the legitimacy of the sneakers in question. Once a sneaker received the authenticator's seal of approval, an NFC-enabled LEGIT tag was activated, featuring pertinent details such as brand, model, size, condition, and an official Sneaker Con digital authentication stamp.

The LEGIT tag was securely affixed to the sneaker, with the activation process rendering the digital information immutable and irreversible. Moreover, the tag was attached using a tamper-proof mechanism, making it necessary to physically damage it in order to transfer it to another shoe. This multi-layered system effectively thwarted the sale of counterfeit sneakers within The Trading Pit. The LEGIT tag served as a conspicuous indicator of authenticity, enabling event attendees to independently verify the legitimacy of sneakers by utilizing Blue Bite's Decode app, which, when tapped against the tag, would authenticate the sneakers.
PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS
MOBILE APP
NFC READER
UX DESIGN
UI DESIGN
USER TESTING
E-COMMERCE
CMS
MULTI-TENNANT SUPPORT
OVERVIEW
Sneaker Con introduced a groundbreaking innovation by crafting a digital marketplace app tailored for sneaker enthusiasts to relish the Sneaker Con convention experience from the comfort of their own homes. This strategic move served as a definitive means for the company to augment the value it offered to its dedicated fan base. What's more, the app seamlessly harmonized with the enhancements instituted in the authentication process during the physical event.

Following an authenticator's certification of a sneaker's authenticity, event attendees could effortlessly integrate it into their digital inventory. This was accomplished with utmost simplicity, as they only needed to tap the newly embedded LEGIT tag equipped with NFC technology, facilitating a smooth and intuitive process for users to curate their virtual sneaker collections.
HARDWARE MEETS SOFTWARE
Working alongside the Sneaker Con team, we developed a wholistic and unified experience between brand culture, hardware and software– building trust amongst sneaker heads and solving real business problems.
ROI
OVERVIEW
Sneaker Con becomes the standard for authenticity
Implementing the new authentication process, along with the integration of the app, played a pivotal role in Sneaker Con's strategy to enhance its offerings for attendees. This dual objective involved creating a digital marketplace and fostering a vibrant community for sneaker enthusiasts, all while setting the standard for authenticity within the industry. Blue Bite played a pivotal role in making this vision a reality by powering Sneaker Con's robust authentication ecosystem, ultimately delivering heightened value to their users and endowing sneakers with a distinct digital identity.

Sneaker Con's remarkable success and the unwavering loyalty of its dedicated fanbase have spurred the company to explore even more profound ways to enrich the experience for their growing community of enthusiasts. A recent order for 50,000 NFC tags signals a clear commitment to incorporating digital experiences as a significant part of their strategic plan, indicating the evolving and innovative direction in which the brand is headed.
50,000
Downloads in the first month
3,235
LEGIT tags enabled in the first 60 days
2M
Shoes authenticated
CONCLUSION
OVERVIEW
Sneakercon wins VANUX awards 2018, Best UX for Digital Products, and Best UX of the Year
The VanUX Awards program distinguishes and celebrates excellence in the creation of digital experiences by brands and digital product agencies. Judges evaluating the "Best UX" category consider various factors beyond aesthetics. They prioritize how the user experience design effectively addresses real-world problems, the seamlessness and consistency of user interactions, the emotional resonance between users and the intended experience, and the solutions provided for both end-users and business objectives.

Notably, the criteria of innovation and impact hold particular significance, especially in the context of awarding "Best UX for Product," a distinction proudly claimed by Aequilibrium. Innovation highlights what is novel, distinctive, or captivating about the work and how it compares to established conventions and prevailing design paradigms. Meanwhile, impact pertains to the tangible outcomes traceable to the user experience, including measurable effects on both the business and its users.

In 2019 Sneaker Con would sell its authentication and marketplace business to eBay, including six global warehouses, authentication intellectual property and on-line marketplace.
TIRED OF THINKING?
LET'S CHAT.
© 2024 DON'T MAKE ME THINK