Patroa Studio

Redesigning for "Conscientious Beauty"

Patroa Studio is a Berlin-based creative collective founded in 2022 by Maryna Bittencourt.

Named after the Brazilian slang for “Female Boss,” the brand celebrates independent women and Queer identities through ethical, high-quality art prints that blend vintage inspiration with contemporary design.

Check the case study

Team

André Hummeres

Rafael Boavida

Role

UX Researcher

UI Designer

Tools

Figma 

Sketchup

Duration

2 weeks

AI

Google Gemini

Context

While a brick-and-mortar location is vital, it is no longer enough.

Many local shops remain offline or are restricted to static landing pages, creating a disconnect between the brand and the modern, “digital-first” consumer.

Project Scope

For this project we were tasked with creating:

  • Responsive Design: Developing a seamless cross-platform experience.

  • Information Architecture: Organizing complex data into intuitive, user-friendly structures.

  • Market Intelligence: Conducting in-depth benchmarking and secondary research to define the competitive landscape.

  • UX Optimization: Auditing existing digital assets to identify friction points and implement evidence-based design improvements.

What are we solving?

A heuristic analysis and stakeholder deep-dive revealed that the existing platform lacked the narrative depth required for a premium art brand. We identified three core UX pillars to drive the redesign:

  • Narrative Integration: Developing a compelling brand story around Maryna’s solopreneur journey.
  • Value Proposition Alignment: Explicitly highlighting Patroa Studio’s core ethical values within the UI.
  • Artist Visibility: Redesigning the hierarchy to provide greater spotlight and attribution to the creative collective.

solution

Moving from an e-commerce website,to an engaged hub that supports their artists!

A hub for female and queer artists

Our solution centers on a narrative-driven UI, prioritizing artist advocacy and the strategic amplification of Patroa Studio’s mission.

Enhanced Artist Visibility

A core component of the redesign is the dedicated Artist Page, designed to to foster a deeper connection between the creator and the consumer. By spotlighting the artist’s journey and creative philosophy, we transform a transactional interaction into a narrative-driven experience.”

  • Biographical Narrative
    Establishing a personal connection through the artist’s story.
  • Dynamic Portfolio Reel
    A focused showcase of the artist’s specific collection to streamline the browsing experience.
  • Multimedia Integration: A personal video feature to heighten authenticity and brand trust.

Moving from an e-commerce website, to an hub that supports their artists

Building the solution

Competitor analysis

  • Main Competition
  • SWOT
  • Competition mapping

User interviews

  • 4 interviews
  • Online shoppers, Artists
  • Age range : 25-50

Key insights

While mass-market e-commerce platforms rely on quick transactions and minimal text, art buyers on Patroa Studio experience immediate friction because the platform treats its inventory like generic commodities. To convert visitors into buyers, the digital experience must evolve across three shared pillars:

Meet Lidia (36, France): An independent event producer who recently moved into her own apartment. A passionate art and decor enthusiast, she curates a collection of local and travel-acquired pieces. Lidia is actively seeking unique prints to complement her space, prioritizing accessible art from businesses that align with her personal values.

Lidia K.

“I support businesses I believe in”

Lidia K.

“I support businesses I believe in”

ideation

With the problem statement clearly defined, the transition to ideation required a systematic approach to feature set development. 

How Might We

reassure visitors of Patroa Studio’s quality work?

How Might We

highlight the story behind Patroa Studio and artists, businesses to the mindful activist consumer?

How Might We

help visitors identify themselves with Patroa Studio?

Design

  • Wireframes
  • Brand chart
  • UX Enhancement &
    Core Features

UX Enhancements & Core Features

1. Information Architecture & Navigation

  • Streamlined Navigation: Simplified the global navigation by nesting overlapping menus together, improving discoverability.
  • Direct Artist Discovery: Integrated a dedicated artist slideshow, allowing users to navigate straight to the creators they appreciate.
  • B2B Growth Channels: Added a dedicated contact channel tailored for future creative and community partnerships.

2. Homepage Experience & Storytelling

  • Immersive Hero Section: Upgraded the static header to a full-width hero slideshow featuring targeted CTAs to immediately capture user intent.
  • Early Mission Alignment: Positioned the “Engagement Section” directly below the hero area to establish the brand’s mission early in the user journey.
  • Humanizing the Brand: Prominently featured the faces of collaborating artists within the engagement section to reinforce authenticity and value alignment.
  • Optimized Visual Flow: Redesigned product galleries to showcase larger images while reducing the overall number of homepage galleries, eliminating visual fatigue and adding critical breathing space.

3. Product, Artist, & Brand Strategy

  • Comprehensive Artist Profiles: Created dedicated artist pages featuring a short biography, behind-the-scenes “how they work” videos, and a consolidated catalog of their creations to build consumer trust.
  • Reimagined Product Customization: Overhauled the product page interface to clearly display all framing, material, and sizing customization options.
  • Elevated Brand Identity: Developed a vibrant new brand chart to transition the platform from a transactional storefront into an expressive artistic hub.
  • Handcrafted Appeal: Redesigned the brand logo to convey a bespoke, handmade feel that reflects independent artistry.

Final product

Prototype

Reflection

Key Takeaways

  • The Challenge: Modern urban transit has evolved into a landscape of fragmented and complex commuting options.

  • The Necessity: To ensure punctuality and peace of mind, commuters now require more than schedules—they need real-time, adaptive navigation.

  • The UrbanSync Solution: We bridge the information gap by synthesizing hyper-personalized routing with crowdsourced intelligence.

  • The Impact: By providing high-fidelity data, we transform the user experience from transit-uncertainty to total navigational confidence.

Future Roadmap

Moving forward, our strategy centers on a continuous improvement loop. We will initiate rigorous usability testing to gather direct user insights, embracing a #FailFast philosophy to rapidly identify and resolve friction points. This iterative process will culminate in the design of high-fidelity prototypes, transitioning UrbanSync from a refined concept to a fully developed, market-ready solution for global urban mobility.

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