Project Type

Product Design

Role

Lead Designer

Skills

Figma, Prototyping, UX/UI

Redesigning EBlock's
Live Auction: Optimizing Multi-Lane Vehicle Exposure

Project Overview

EBlock's live auctions operate through multiple virtual lanes running simultaneously, with regions hosting 8-10 lanes each containing 20+ vehicles. The existing interface created a visibility inequity problem that impacted both buyer discovery and seller success.

View Prototype

The Problem

Business Context
EBlock's live auctions can run 10+ simultaneous lanes per region, but the interface only displayed 4 lanes without scrolling, creating significant visibility challenges.

The Visibility Inequity Issue

Primary lanes (first 4 visible) received consistent bidding activity

Secondary lanes (requiring scrolling to access) showed dramatically lower engagement

Vehicle Detail Page (VDP) was essential for buyer decisions but consumed significant screen space when open

Impact on Stakeholders

Sellers
Vehicles in less visible lanes received fewer bids, reducing sale success

Buyers
Limited discovery of inventory across all available lanes

Business
Reduced transaction volume due to poor inventory exposure

Project Constraints

Working within typical resource limitations:

No budget for user research due to development timeline pressures

Legacy interface dependencies requiring careful migration planning

Live auction criticality: any changes couldn't disrupt active bidding processes

Given these constraints, I focused on interface optimization principles and competitive auction platform analysis.

Strategic Approach

Auction Platform Analysis

I researched digital auction interfaces across industries to understand established patterns for multi-stream content management, identifying successful approaches to simultaneous content visibility.

Core Design Principles

Equitable Exposure
Ensure all vehicles have fair opportunity for buyer attention

Cognitive Load Management
Reduce decision fatigue when managing multiple information streams

Workflow Preservation
Maintain familiar interaction patterns while improving efficiency

Design Solution

Flexible Layout System

Two Layout Options:

Grid Layout: Maximizes vehicle visibility across lanes

Column Layout: Preserves familiar interface for conservative users

Lane Selection Controls: Users can focus on specific lanes, reducing cognitive overhead while maintaining access to all inventory.

Information Architecture Redesign

Before: Fixed 4-lane display with VDP competing for space

After: Dynamic 6+ vehicle display with optimized VDP integration

Repositioned run list to allocate more space for active vehicles

Centralized VDP placement reducing navigation distance between sections

Responsive vehicle cards that adjust width based on selected lanes

Enhanced Focus Management

Lane Tabs: Enable users to focus on specific upcoming vehicles without losing awareness of other active lanes

Horizontal Scrolling Optimization: Limited to run list navigation, reducing complex scroll interactions

Examples of a few interactive components.

Implementation Strategy

Progressive Enhancement Approach

Web-first optimization (mobile already performed well)

Backward compatibility with existing user workflows

A/B capability through dual layout options

Visual Hierarchy Improvements

Lightened background colors on upcoming vehicle cards to reduce visual competition

Enhanced card borders with thicker vertical lines for better visual separation

Consistent responsive behavior across different lane configurations

Example of UI updates in upcoming vehicle cards.

Example of the page with a closed VDP.

Example of the page with selected lanes showing.

Results

Interface Improvements

50% increase in visible vehicles (4 to 6+ simultaneously)

Reduced navigation complexity through streamlined scrolling patterns

Maintained critical VDP functionality while improving space utilization

User Experience Enhancements

Dual layout options accommodating different user preferences and workflows

Improved lane management through selective focusing capabilities

Consistent visual hierarchy reducing cognitive load during high-pressure bidding

View Prototype

Key Insights

Balancing Innovation with Familiarity
Live auctions create high-stress, time-sensitive environments where radical interface changes could disrupt established workflows. Offering both new and familiar layouts provided a safety net while encouraging adoption.

Multi-Stakeholder Design Challenges
This project required balancing seller needs (maximum exposure) with buyer needs (focused attention) while maintaining system performance during peak usage periods.

What I'd Approach Differently
With additional resources, I would have conducted user interviews with both frequent and occasional auction participants to validate lane prioritization behaviors and performed task-based usability testing on the new layout options.

Conclusion

This redesign successfully addressed the visibility inequity problem in EBlock's live auctions by creating a flexible interface that serves both conservative and progressive user preferences. By optimizing space utilization while preserving critical functionality, the solution supports fairer inventory exposure and improved user control.

The project demonstrates how interface optimization can address business challenges (seller success) while enhancing user experience (buyer discovery) through thoughtful information architecture and flexible design systems.

Marketing

I’m available for freelance or full-time opportunities on-site in Ottawa or remote.

I’m available for freelance or full-time opportunities on-site in Ottawa or remote.

I’m available for freelance or full-time opportunities on-site in Ottawa or remote.