Propstore auctions thousands of rare props, costumes, and iconic memorabilia from the worlds of film, TV, and music. Working for Airborne Studio, I led user testing and UX audits to help shape a standout, world-class platform.
The Challenge
Airborne Studio was commissioned to deliver a comprehensive rebrand of Propstore, alongside a complete rebuild of their two core platforms: the primary e-commerce storefront and a sophisticated auction site.
Although each site received meticulous design, unified ecosystem functionality was essential. The user experience needed to be seamless and intuitive, enabling visitors to navigate effortlessly between platforms, access detailed information on thousands of unique items, and confidently complete a purchase or place a bid. In addition, the complex backend needed to manage thousands of sales a year.
The Process
UX Audit and User Research
My contribution to the Propstore project involved two key phases, a strategic UX audit and in-depth user research.
Phase one focused on a comprehensive UX audit of the newly developed sites. The objective was to identify usability issues, align the experience with user needs, and support key business goals. I conducted a detailed heuristic analysis, concentrating on:
Critical user journeys (driving conversions and surfacing essential information)
Interaction feedback
Navigability and ease of orientation
Alignment with established usability conventions (e.g. button placement)
Consistency across both platforms
Clarity and brevity of copy
Effectiveness of error messaging
Mobile versus desktop performance
I delivered a structured report outlining identified issues and provided clear, actionable recommendations for improvement.
Phase two involved conducting qualitative user research through in-depth interviews with Propstore staff. The focus was on the company’s internal platform—a complex backend system used to manage inventory, sales, and logistics. The interface required both usability enhancements and additional functionality to support Propstore’s continued growth. I gathered detailed feedback from team members across departments, identified pain points and inefficiencies, and produced a set of recommendations to inform the rebuild.
The Result
Together, these UX efforts have played a crucial role in shaping a more intuitive, scalable, and business-aligned digital ecosystem for Propstore.
The backend site is currently being built by the amazing developers at Airborne Studio.