✺ Case study

NCY — An Online Shopping Aggregator for North Cyprus

"What if every store in North Cyprus could fit into one app — so customers could find what they need without endless searching?" That's the vision behind NCY, an online shopping platform designed to bring together stores across North Cyprus into one convenient digital marketplace.

Year

2024

Client

NCY Shopping Platform

Scope of work

I was responsible for the UX and UI design of the NCY platform, creating a centralized shopping platform for stores across North Cyprus.

NCY Shopping Aggregator

The Challenge

The owner's goal was to create a centralized shopping platform where customers can:

  • Browse stores across different categories
  • View store details, including addresses and links to their websites
  • Register, search, and discover products in one place

The challenge was to design an app that feels simple, trustworthy, and easy to navigate, while also being flexible enough to represent multiple stores — each with their own brand identities.

My Role

I was responsible for the UX and UI design of the NCY platform. This included:

  • Mapping user journeys for registration, browsing, and store discovery
  • Designing wireframes and high-fidelity screens for the mobile app
  • Applying a custom color palette and typography system chosen by the project owner
  • Building reusable components (cards, navigation, filters) for scalability as new stores are added
NCY Shopping Platform Design

The Process

Research & Wireframing

  • Studied existing shopping aggregator apps to understand how users navigate multiple stores
  • Built wireframes focusing on fast search and discovery rather than long checkout flows

Brand Identity

  • Used the owner's chosen color palette and typography to ensure alignment with their vision
  • Balanced neutrality (for the overall platform) with room for individual stores' branding

UI Components

  • Designed store cards that show name, category, and quick access to address or website link
  • Created a clean registration and login flow
  • Added search and filtering tools so users can quickly find the type of store or product they need

Responsive Considerations

  • Designed primarily for mobile, where most local users shop
  • Ensured scalability for future tablet or desktop extensions

Obstacles

Multiple stores, one app

  • The design needed to feel consistent while allowing stores to maintain individuality

Owner-driven design decisions

  • The color palette and typography were predefined, requiring careful application to maintain usability and aesthetics

The Outcome

The final design delivered:

  • A user-friendly mobile platform connecting customers to shopping stores across North Cyprus
  • Store profiles with addresses, categories, and links for easy access
  • A registration system enabling users to personalize their experience
  • A scalable design that can grow as more stores are added

Reflection

NCY taught me the importance of balancing a client's vision with user needs. While the color palette and typography were chosen by the owner, I had to adapt the UI to remain clear and intuitive. This project also reinforced the value of local context — by centralizing North Cyprus' diverse stores, NCY creates both convenience for customers and visibility for businesses.