Ask Val

Problem: Consumers need a way to find the right color paint for their projects
What I did: Created & iterated on an interactive paint finder that drove customers to purchase in store
‍Outcome: Stores saw increased traffic and Askval.com became a hit with sales people. The experience still lives on today
Client: Valspar Paint
Users: Frustrated active consumers who needed help getting started

Highlights
Role: UX designer
Skills & Methods: Concept design, sketches, evaluative research, user testing, ui design, interaction design
Tools: InVision, Sketch, Lookback, Google Docs
Artifacts: Flows, wireframes, sketches, screens, prototypes, decks

The Story

When Valspar approached FCB they asked for help driving a younger demographic into stores to buy paint. Their research showed younger people were often doing projects but felt frustrated at the many types of and options for paint when it came time to pick out a color. Their new campaign to help customers was called Ask Val.

Our creative team worked with Valspar to create a few interactive experiences that would make the paint selection process easier. We used a JavaScript library to allow users to take photos with their phones or upload images of their projects to Ask Val. Then, we were able to analyze the image and suggest colors from the Valspar library and show users where in store they could make a purchase. I was able to run moderated user testing sessions with the final product to make sure it met our goals.

We also added Pinterest integration and a few other social elements. The project was a big success for Valspar and they saw a significant lift in sales and web engagement. Ask Val still lives on today with most of the original experience.

A sample of some of the original wireframes and current Ask Val site.

What I did

Wireframes
User Testing
Pitch & Presentation