Brands.io

Every startup begins with a simple question:
β€œWhat should we call it?”

Platforms like Brands.io try to answer this by offering curated, AI-generated domains.
But naming is rarely just about availability β€”
it’s about defining what a brand stands for.

In this project, I redesigned Brands.io from a domain marketplace
into a guided platform that helps founders discover their brand before committing to a name.

Instead of focusing only on buying domains,
the experience shifts toward exploration, direction, and meaning.

Brands.io

Every startup begins with a simple question:
β€œWhat should we call it?”

Platforms like Brands.io try to answer this by offering curated, AI-generated domains.
But naming is rarely just about availability β€”
it’s about defining what a brand stands for.

In this project, I redesigned Brands.io from a domain marketplace
into a guided platform that helps founders discover their brand before committing to a name.

Instead of focusing only on buying domains,
the experience shifts toward exploration, direction, and meaning.

ROLE

Product Designer (UX/UI) Experience Design Β· Product Strategy

PROJECT TYPE

Graduate Research Β· AI-Enhanced Museum Experience

Product Repositioning Brand Discovery Decision Support

FOCUS

UX Strategy Β· Competitive Analysis Concept Development Β· Interaction Design Qualitative & Exploratory Thinking

METHODS

12 months

DURATION

RESPONSIBILITIES

UX Design

ROLE

Product Designer (UX/UI) Experience Design Β· Product Strategy

UX Strategy Β· Competitive Analysis Concept Development Β· Interaction Design Qualitative & Exploratory Thinking

METHODS

PROJECT TYPE

Graduate Research Β· AI-Enhanced Museum Experience

12 months

DURATION

Product Repositioning Brand Discovery Decision Support

FOCUS

RESPONSIBILITIES

UX Design

ROLE

Product Designer (UX/UI) Experience Design Β· Product Strategy

PROJECT TYPE

Graduate Research Β· AI-Enhanced Museum Experience

Product Repositioning Brand Discovery Decision Support

FOCUS

UX Strategy Β· Competitive Analysis Concept Development Β· Interaction Design Qualitative & Exploratory Thinking

METHODS

12 months

DURATION

RESPONSIBILITIES

UX Design

What I Bring to Product Design

Naming isn’t just a search task

β€” yet most platforms treat it like one.

Domain-first thinking

Most platforms are designed around searching and purchasing domains.
They assume users already know what they want.
But for many founders, naming is still an open question.

No support for brand exploration

Early-stage founders are still figuring out their tone, positioning, and identity.
Yet the experience skips this phase β€”
offering names without helping users understand what fits them.

Decisions without clarity

As a result, users often choose names based on availability or aesthetics β€”
not because they reflect a clear brand direction.

What I Bring to Product Design

Naming isn’t just a search task

β€” yet most platforms treat it like one.

Domain-first thinking

Most platforms are designed around searching and purchasing domains.
They assume users already know what they want.
But for many founders, naming is still an open question.

No support for brand exploration

Early-stage founders are still figuring out their tone, positioning, and identity.
Yet the experience skips this phase β€”
offering names without helping users understand what fits them.

Decisions without clarity

As a result, users often choose names based on availability or aesthetics β€”
not because they reflect a clear brand direction.

What I Bring to Product Design

Naming isn’t just a search task

β€” yet most platforms treat it like one.

Domain-first thinking

Most platforms are designed around searching and purchasing domains.
They assume users already know what they want.
But for many founders, naming is still an open question.

No support for brand exploration

Early-stage founders are still figuring out their tone, positioning, and identity.
Yet the experience skips this phase β€”
offering names without helping users understand what fits them.

Decisions without clarity

As a result, users often choose names based on availability or aesthetics β€”
not because they reflect a clear brand direction.

What I Bring to Product Design

What I Bring to Product Design

Naming isn’t just a search task β€” yet most platforms treat it like one.

Domain-first thinking

Most platforms are designed around searching and purchasing domains.
They assume users already know what they want.
But for many founders, naming is still an open question.

No support for brand exploration

Early-stage founders are still figuring out their tone, positioning, and identity.
Yet the experience skips this phase β€”
offering names without helping users understand what fits them.

Decisions without clarity

As a result, users often choose names based on availability or aesthetics β€”
not because they reflect a clear brand direction.

Domain-first thinking

Most platforms are designed around searching and purchasing domains.
They assume users already know what they want.
But for many founders, naming is still an open question.

No support for brand exploration

Early-stage founders are still figuring out their tone, positioning, and identity.
Yet the experience skips this phase β€”
offering names without helping users understand what fits them.

Decisions without clarity

As a result, users often choose names based on availability or aesthetics β€”
not because they reflect a clear brand direction.

The Problem

Content

Understanding real grocery behavior β€” not assumptions.

Understanding real grocery behavior β€” not assumptions.

Rising Grocery Prices

Rising Grocery Prices

High grocery prices make budget-friendly meals a challenge.

High grocery prices make budget-friendly meals a challenge.

Discounts Without Structure

Discounts Without Structure

Although discounts are widely available, shoppers struggle to turn them into structured meal plans.

Balancing Diet & Budget

Balancing Diet & Budget

For people following diets like keto or vegan, balancing nutrition with affordability becomes even more difficult.

What I Bring to Product Design

The real problem isn’t finding a domain.
It’s defining a brand.

Founders lack clarity

They are still exploring identity and direction.

Platforms assume clarity

They jump straight to selling domains β€”
without supporting the thinking behind the name.

Founders lack clarity

They are still exploring identity and direction.

Platforms assume clarity

They jump straight to selling domains β€”
without supporting the thinking behind the name.

What I Bring to Product Design

Most platforms focus on selling domains β€” not supporting brand discovery.

This highlights a clear gap:

existing platforms support domain selection, but not brand discovery.

This highlights a clear gap:

existing platforms support domain selection, but not brand discovery.

What I Bring to Product Design

How might we transform Brands.io from a transactional domain marketplace into a guided brand discovery experience?

What I Bring to Product Design

How might we transform Brands.io from a transactional domain marketplace into a guided brand discovery experience?

What I Bring to Product Design

How might we transform Brands.io from a transactional domain marketplace into a guided brand discovery experience?

What I Bring to Product Design

The real problem isn’t finding a domain.
It’s defining a brand.

Reframing the Experience

Naming is not about finding a domain β€” it’s about defining identity.

Instead of treating naming as a simple search task,
the experience was reframed as a process of exploration, comparison, and decision-making.

BEFORE

Domain search

Users start by searching for available domains.

Availability

They compare options based on price and availability.

Purchase

They make a quick decision with limited context.

AFTER

Brand discovery

Users explore brand directions that reflect their goals.

Identity fit

They evaluate how well names align with their identity.

Decision-making

They make a confident choice with clarity and direction.

BEFORE

Domain search

Users start by searching for available domains.

Availability

They compare options based on price and availability.

Purchase

They make a quick decision with limited context.

AFTER

Brand discovery

Users explore brand directions that reflect their goals.

Identity fit

They evaluate how well names align with their identity.

Decision-making

They make a confident choice with clarity and direction.

What I Bring to Product Design

Understanding the challenge

To address this gap, the experience shifts from a transactional flow to a guided process.

Explore brand direction

Enable users to explore tone and themes before selecting a name

Build identity

Help users define their brand story, voice, and positioning

Guide decision-making

Support users in making confident, identity-driven choices

What I Bring to Product Design

Understanding the challenge

To address this gap, the experience shifts from a transactional flow to a guided process.

Explore brand direction

Enable users to explore tone and themes before selecting a name

Build identity

Help users define their brand story, voice, and positioning

Guide decision-making

Support users in making confident, identity-driven choices

What I Bring to Product Design

What I Bring to Product Design

Designing a guided brand discovery experience

Designing a guided brand discovery experience

Instead of jumping directly to domain results,
the experience introduces a structured flow
that helps users explore, refine, and define their brand
before choosing a name.

Instead of jumping directly to domain results,
the experience introduces a structured flow that helps users
explore, refine, and define their brand before choosing a name.

This approach transforms naming from a quick selection into a guided decision-making process.

Designing a guided brand discovery experience

Instead of jumping directly to domain results,
the experience introduces a structured flow
that helps users explore, refine, and define their brand
before choosing a name.

What I Bring to Product Design

From idea to identity β€” a structured brand discovery flow

A simple 3-step process that guides users from exploration to decision

01

Discover Directions

Generate name directions from simple inputs and inspiration.

02

Refine Your Brand

Shape your brand through tone, style, and positioning

03

Secure Your Domain

Select and purchase a name aligned with your brand identity

01

Discover Directions

Generate name directions from simple inputs and inspiration.

02

Refine Your Brand

Shape your brand through tone, style, and positioning

03

Secure Your Domain

Select and purchase a name aligned with your brand identity

01

Discover Directions

Generate name directions from simple inputs and inspiration.

02

Refine Your Brand

Shape your brand through tone, style, and positioning

03

Secure Your Domain

Select and purchase a name aligned with your brand identity

This flow transforms naming from a quick transaction into a guided process that builds clarity and confidence.

What I Bring to Product Design

My Path

From idea to identity β€” a structured brand discovery flow

From idea to identity β€” a structured brand discovery flow

From Search to Discovery

Transforms naming from a simple search task into a guided exploration process.

Identity-Driven Filtering

Allows users to refine results through tone, style, and brand direction.

Context-Aware Suggestions

Generates domain ideas based on user inputs, preferences, and selected brand attributes.

Structured Decision Flow

Supports confident decisions through clear comparison and pricing.

Design System

Design Systems are crucial to the design process as they help achieve visual consistency, thus creating a better user experience for the end user. Before starting the high fidelity design, I first established a colour palette, as well as systems for shadows, typography, and different components of the website. This results\ed in a clean and polished end design that is easy for the user to navigate.

Interviews

Interviews

10 semi-structured interviews with households

10 semi-structured interviews with households

Behavioral Survey

Behavioral Survey

40 participants

40 participants

Field Observation

Field Observation

In-store behavior observation

In-store behavior observation

Typography System

Reaction to discounts

Reaction to discounts

Reaction to discounts

Meal planning behavior

Meal planning behavior

Meal planning behavior

Budget pressure

Budget pressure

Budget pressure

Dietary Restrictions

Dietary Restrictions

4Budget pressure

Persona

Jessica represents users who want to eat healthier
but feel overwhelmed turning discounts into real meals.

Design System

Design Systems are crucial to the design process as they help achieve visual consistency, thus creating a better user experience for the end user. Before starting the high fidelity design, I first established a colour palette, as well as systems for shadows, typography, and different components of the website. This results\ed in a clean and polished end design that is easy for the user to navigate.

Headline

Headline

Behavioral Survey

Behavioral Survey

40 participants

40 participants

Field Observation

Field Observation

In-store behavior observation

In-store behavior observation

Headline

Headline

Headline

Headline

Discounts Without Structure

Discounts Without Structure

Although discounts are widely available, shoppers struggle to turn them into structured meal plans.

Balancing Diet & Budget

Balancing Diet & Budget

For people following diets like keto or vegan, balancing nutrition with affordability becomes even more difficult.

Typography System

Reaction to discounts

Reaction to discounts

Reaction to discounts

Meal planning behavior

Meal planning behavior

Meal planning behavior

Budget pressure

Budget pressure

Budget pressure

Dietary Restrictions

Dietary Restrictions

4Budget pressure

Persona

Jessica represents users who want to eat healthier
but feel overwhelmed turning discounts into real meals.

The Problem

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