Design Takes - April 2025
This month’s topic—once again is inspired unintentionally by Squire Garden Centre—comes after a recent visit where I was encouraged by a staff member to try out their new app for managing discounts and vouchers. I was pleasantly surprised by its smooth functionality, but from a design perspective, I noticed a few areas where the layout could be improved.
This article offers a light, user-focused critique rather than an in-depth UX analysis, which would require more structured tools like wireframes and workflows.
For this month’s Design Takes, I’ve included a few screenshots from the Squire Garden Centre app, focusing on areas that could benefit from design improvements. While I may seem I’ve offered only a critical lens, I also want to highlight what works well—the clever green heart icon formed by overlapping leaves, the app’s reliable performance (even in connectivity-challenged areas like their coffee shop), and the overall convenience of tracking vouchers digitally. Compared to the old paper discount cards, the app is definitely a step in the right direction.
On the left is the live version of the App and on the right, is my proposal. An essential aspect here, as said above is the View Offers button, considering that this is an App that is centered around loyalty perks and rewards.
One key takeaway: while the Squire Garden Centre App provides a solid foundation with smooth functionality and a thoughtful loyalty system, its user interface would benefit from clearer hierarchy, improved contrast, and small usability enhancements—like expanding barcode views and rethinking layout choices. These changes, even if subtle, could significantly enhance the user experience and better align with the app’s core purpose: delivering accessible, rewarding perks to loyal customers.
If you made it this far in this article, I very much thank you and congratulations, you’ve learned something, even if maybe it was just out of curiosity. :)
While the focus is more on analysis than correction, these monthly sessions are all about exploring what’s out there, brainstorming, understand and why not, make it better.
If there’s something you’d like me to review for these sessions, feel free to send me an email! I’d be happy to take a look and include it in an upcoming article.