Laced

Laced

The Ultimate Sneaker Companion

January 2025
3 months
Role: Lead Designer

CONTEXT

A new way to collect & connect

A new way to collect & connect

Laced is a sneaker collection app that helps enthusiasts track their kicks, discover new releases, and connect with a like-minded community. As Lead Designer, I focused on creating an intuitive, visually engaging experience that supports both personal collection management and community interaction.

RESEARCH

The rise of sneaker culture

The rise of sneaker culture

The sneaker industry has grown massively over the past two decades, evolving from athletic gear into a global form of self-expression and status. Collaborations with artists, designers, and athletes helped bring sneaker culture into the mainstream, while digital platforms like SNKRS, StockX, and GOAT transformed how collectors access limited releases. As a result, the market hit $80.1 billion in 2020 and is projected to surpass $100 billion by 2030.

I analyzed and compared 3 sneaker apps to gain insight into the competitive landscape, with those being: Unboxed, Arbit, and SoleDeck. While all three apps provide useful functionalities, I believe there is an opportunity to build upon and create a more comprehensive sneaker collection platform that not only tracks inventory and market trends, but also fosters and caters to the community-driven experience.

I analyzed and compared 3 sneaker apps to gain insight into the competitive landscape, with those being: Unboxed, Arbit, and SoleDeck. While all three apps provide useful functionalities, I believe there is an opportunity to build upon and create a more comprehensive sneaker collection platform that not only tracks inventory and market trends, but also fosters and caters to the community-driven experience.

Fragmented Experience — Most competitors focus on either trading or collection management, but not both. Users are forced to juggle multiple apps to meet their needs, highlighting the opportunity for a more unified experience.

Most competitors focus on either trading or collection management, but not both. Users are forced to juggle multiple apps to meet their needs, highlighting the opportunity for a more unified experience.

Fragmented Experience

Lack of Community Connection — While sneaker culture thrives on community, many platforms neglect social features. Building spaces for discussion, inspiration, and connection is key to long-term engagement and interaction.

While sneaker culture thrives on community, many platforms neglect social features. Building spaces for discussion, inspiration, and connection is key to long-term engagement and interaction.

Lack of Community Connection

Missed Drop Opportunities

Missed Drop Opportunities — Without timely drop and restock alerts, users risk missing out on limited releases. Real-time notifications are essential to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the sneaker world.

Without timely drop and restock alerts, users risk missing out on limited releases. Real-time notifications are essential to keep up with the fast-paced nature of the sneaker world.

No Personal Inventory Support

No Personal Inventory Support — Apps like Arbit overlook personal collection management, focusing solely on analytics. For collectors, being able to easily catalog and track their sneakers adds everyday value beyond investment.

Apps like Arbit overlook personal collection management, focusing solely on analytics. For collectors, being able to easily catalog and track their sneakers adds everyday value beyond investment.

Understanding user needs

Understanding user needs

To better understand the needs of sneaker collectors, I identified three core goals: efficiently managing collections, staying up-to-date on upcoming releases, and connecting with a like-minded community. A well-designed sneaker app should offer a user-friendly cataloging system, real-time alerts for drops and market trends, and a community space for reviews, discussions, and events.

To shape a user-focused app, I used object mapping and a MoSCoW analysis to define core features such as inventory management, market tracking, and community engagement. Utilizing an object oriented approach helped simplify how different types of data would be structured and related, bridging the gap between design and development.
To shape a user-focused app, I used object mapping and a MoSCoW analysis to define core features such as inventory management, market tracking, and community engagement. Utilizing an object oriented approach helped simplify how different types of data would be structured and related, bridging the gap between design and development.

On the other hand, a MoSCoW analysis categorizes these features based on priority, distinguishing between core functionalities that must be included and those that can be considered for future iterations. By analyzing user roles, I determined varying levels of access and permissions required for each user.

On the other hand, a MoSCoW analysis categorizes these features based on priority, distinguishing between core functionalities that must be included and those that can be considered for future iterations. By analyzing user roles, I determined varying levels of access and permissions required for each user.

DEVELOPMENT

Form meets function

Form meets function

To better understand the needs of sneaker collectors, I identified three core goals: efficiently managing collections, staying up-to-date on upcoming releases, and connecting with a like-minded community. Guided by these goals, I explored a range of of potential features focusing on how users would interact with elements throughout the app.

Key Insights

Key Insights

Sneaker Entry Methods

Sneaker Entry Methods

Utilizing barcode scanning and photo recognition to make collection management efficient and user-friendly.

Utilizing barcode scanning and photo recognition to make collection management efficient, intuitive, and user-friendly.

Drop Alerts and Release Feed

Drop Alerts and Release Feed

Keeping users in the loop with a personalized feed or newsletter highlighting upcoming sneaker drops, restocks, and releases.

Keeping users in the loop with a personalized feed or newsletter highlighting upcoming sneaker drops, restocks, and releases.

Community Focused

Community Focused

Including features that drive engagement such as discussion forums and private messaging.

Including features that drive engagement such as discussion forums and private messaging.

System Sketches

System Sketches

I explored three different screen states for Laced: the Home, Product, and Forum pages. For each, I experimented with different layouts and interactive elements to optimize usability and engagement for the user.

  • Strengths

    • Trending showcase

    • Global trending heatmap
    • Different views for

    collectors vs. sellers

    Improvements

    • Hierarchy

    • Experimenting with

    screen orientations
    • Meeting user expectations

    within the layout

  • Strengths

    • Highlighting important

    details

    • Including product image

    and description
    • Providing related options

    and recommendations

    Improvements

    • Navigation bar placement

    • Backwards navigation on

    all pages
    • Prioritizing call-to-action

    on product page

  • Strengths

    • Ability to sort by topic,

    post, & user

    • Search utilization
    • Like, comment, and

    bookmark system

    Improvements

    • Testing various navigation

    bar placement and layout

    • Carousel utilization
    • Include other filter options

    such as date, replies, etc

Home screen elements

Home screen elements

I experimented with icon design and layout positioning on the home screen to improve visual hierarchy, usability, and user interaction. By testing different styles and arrangements, I aimed to create a clear and engaging entry point that guides users seamlessly through the app experience.

TESTING

Validating the design

Validating the design

The next step is paper-prototype testing to evaluate the app’s early usability through various tasks and user flows. Using sketches of key screens, I’ll test essential interactions and gather feedback to improve navigation and validate key features.

LOOKING AHEAD

Final notes

Final notes

Working on Laced gave me a deeper understanding of the sneaker community’s needs and how design can enhance both collecting and connecting. This case study emphasized the value of clear navigation, visual hierarchy, and personalization—especially in features like collection tracking and release discovery. Through competitive research and iterative design, I gained insight into how to balance style with usability, shaping a more focused and engaging experience for sneaker enthusiasts.