Systemization
of
Gift-Giving
Systematizing The Gift of Appreciation
Role: UX Design
Year: 2024
Story
Have you ever said to yourself…
“There’s someone I would like to purchase a gift for but I don’t know what to get them?”
Or
“I always end up buying gifts for someone last minute…it’s always a pain and I feel like the people I buy gifts for are less than thrilled about receiving gifts from me”?
There is a solution to issues such as this that I like to call…
“The Systemization of Gift Giving”
Three Steps For Lasting Change and Increased Connectivity
Gift one of your chosen gifts as a thoughtful present
Dare to gift differently and learn from every reaction and misstep during the process
Document your giftee's preferences to personalize future gifts for maximum joy and minimum misses
Notes: Identify the recipient’s top three likes via memory, research via social media platforms, or ask them,
“Hey, what are some of the things you like, and why do you like them?”
Research
Goals:
Streamline gift-giving process
Expose recipients to varied offerings in the chosen type of gift
Gather feedback for improved satisfaction for future gifts for the recipient
Re-purpose items that might otherwise be discarded
Learn more about the specific taste of the recipient
What Is My Why?
To forge deeper connections and minimize waste, I'll focus on meaningful, personalized gifts that truly reflect the recipient's personal brand.
* Fun Fact: 53% of Americans surveyed admit to getting at least one unwanted gift over the holidays, totaling roughly 138 million American adults. 12% of these unwanted gifts end up being unused and thrown away each year by the recipient.
Empathy
Understand the Needs and Values of The Recipient
Key Things To Remember
1. Streamline gift-giving process
Saves James time which he places a high value on and helps make the systemization process more efficient
2. Gather feedback for improved satisfaction for future gifts for the recipient
This helps to avoid repeat purchases of gifts that ended up not working out in the past but also helps to improve future purchases for the recipient
3. Expose recipients to new offerings in their favorite item
James is well acquainted with taking educated risks and betting on himself. Introducing him to new horizons in the world of cigars would
resonate with him on a deeper level due to it being aligned with his brand
4. Re-purpose items that might otherwise be discarded
This helps avoid waste and is a part of the solution to make the planet a more desirable one to live in
5. Learn more about the specific taste of the recipient
This helps to improve each gift-purchasing endeavor in the future. It saves time, money, and resources for the person purchasing the gift
Define
Identify The Problems That Need To Be Solved Within The Project
What are some of the things that James enjoys?
How do we make the gift more personal to James and his brand?
How can I align my schedule with James' to ensure his gift is delivered safely and undamaged?
How can we incorporate sustainability/the act of re-purposing within the gift-giving process?
Note: There’s no such thing as a “problem”.
Just challenges we haven’t found solutions for just yet.
Ideate
Creative solutions to our problems
Listed all of the things James enjoys and confirmed them by conducting research via his Instagram posts
In this case it was cigarsPersonalized the cigars to James:
Link tropes from his artwork and match them with the cigar brand’s logosCoordinated my schedule with James’ schedule by asking him what his hours are in advance
Which I did under the guise of visiting him and the new café at his store to avoid suspicionGifted James cigars in a repurposed cigar box from a local cigar shop
Giving the cigar box a second life as it could be used as storage for his painting tools or for cigar storage
Prototype
Learning From “Failure”
*“Failure is as real as Halloween ghost.
There is no such thing as failure.
The only failure is not trying at all.”
- Virgil Abloh
Note: Being wrong about something is not a death sentence of a project. Through our mistakes, we can gain valuable insight into what we can improve upon next time.
Being Wrong = An Opportunity to Learn and Grow
Where I Went Wrong…
My failure to consider James's meeting schedule nearly derailed the timely gift delivery
How I Rectified The Situation…
I entrusted my gift to store security, who passed the gift off to a member of the store staff named Holly. I later texted James to confirm that he received his gift, (which he said he did).
Test
Taking A Step Back To Move Forward
Reflective analysis of both successes and missteps fosters a positive mindset, transforming setbacks into opportunities for growth.
Important Takeaways
Coordinate with the recipient regarding the best days for gift delivery
Remember to keep them in the dark to not ruin the element of surpriseCreate a price list for future cost savings
To quickly evaluate gift wrapping services and vendor prices for the best valueKeep a running inventory gift-wrapping supplies to avoid duplicate purchases in a spreadsheet
This avoids unnecessary financial waste and duplicate purchases for future gift-giving
What I Learned About James
He dislikes harsh cigars like the El Diablo Del Desierto (Aged 4+ Years) and the
Uncle Paulie’s Deli (Robusto Aged 2+ Years) (Image To The Bottom Left)
James was a fan of cigars like the AJ Fernandez Dias De Gloria Brazil (Robusto)(Image To The Bottom Right)
Cost Breakdown Of Clothing Purchase After Discount
Jacket: $300
(Original Cost - $600)
Bag: $30
(Original Cost - $100)
In total, I spent $380.95
(total of my items I wanted and James’gift).
VERSUS
Spending $700 without James’ discount for the items I wanted. In total I saved $319.05
Total Project Cost Breakdown
4 cigars: $50.95
Cigar box: Free
Paper Source Gift Wrapping Service,
Twine and Stuffing: $38
Total: $58.95
In closing…
From novice gift-giver to cigar connoisseur, this journey, though imperfect, deepened my understanding of James's preferences, leading to the discovery of his new favorite cigar, the AJ Fernandez Dias De Gloria Brazil, and setting the stage for future flavorful gift giving experiences.