THE APPROACH
QuickCycle will operate as a large visual map, initially displaying an overwhelmingly vast selection of bikes, but immediately offering points of specification which the customer will use to narrow down his or her search. These difference points will be displayed as simple drop-down windows above the grid. They will light up when a product attribute has been specified, and remain dim when you have identified no preference. For the more performance-concerned shoppers, there will be an option to filter out bicycles by performance statistics (like weight, handle, etc.) rather than product attributes. This alternative will be provided as a separate tab window within the interface. Finally, there will be a Randomizer feature, which will let users disregard attribute specifications and just select a randomly generated bicycle from the library. This will be good for users who prefer the spontaneity of a blind pick.
References
This snowboard retailer lays out a dimensional grid, visually identifying the differences between snowboards along different variables. The customer answers simple questions at the top of the grid, which filters out certain choices until he or she has found the right fit.
Verizon Wireless does a very good job at splitting the product library into various camps on the basis of different product attributes, such as price and key features. QuickCycle will utilize this same variability of attributes to give the user lots of control in his or her search.
Skate Warehouse features a “Pick of the Week” for the customers who just want to be quickly directed to a popular option without having to think too much or do the research themselves. QuickCycle’s Randomizer feature will operate very similarly to this, by allowing the less-committed users to just grab and examine a random bicycle without needing to weed out specific attributes.