To ensure we moved quickly and intentionally, I adopted a Dual Track Agile framework layered with 5 Day Design Sprint activities. This allowed for simultaneous discovery and delivery with continuous feedback from both users and stakeholders.
Conducted in-store observations, user interviews, and reviewed operational pain points from store associates.
Mapped current-state user and associate journeys, identified friction points, and aligned on sprint goals with product and engineering.
Co-created future-state flow sketches and interaction concepts for mobile, kiosk, and sensor-based UX.
Built and iterated on wireframes and motion prototypes to represent key checkout and walk-out flows.
Facilitated sprint reviews with product, engineering, and stakeholders to validate hypotheses and prioritize next steps.
The project addressed four interconnected challenges faced by convenience retailers each rooted in the core needs of speed, scalability, and service quality.
By designing for automation and seamless experience delivery, we tackled not just technical innovation but the real-world constraints of operating thousands of small-format stores across the U.S
Long lines and scanning delays frustrate customers and reduce throughput.
Traditional POS systems are bottlenecks during peak traffic.
Staffing checkout counters is labor-intensive and costly.
Stores face growing labor shortages and need to reallocate resources more efficiently.
Emerging technologies like computer vision and autonomous checkout need to be tested in dynamic retail environments.
Retailers require proof that these systems can perform reliably in small-format, high-traffic stores.
New technology must integrate with existing store layouts and operations.
Retailers seek modular, cost-effective solutions that can scale across thousands of legacy locations.
We conducted a competitive analysis of cashierless store innovations across the U.S., and I led this effort as part of the 7-Eleven R&D team. This included interviewing stakeholders from retail operations, tech providers, and customers, as well as analyzing case studies from
The benchmark in frictionless retail. Their ceiling camera and shelf sensor model demonstrated that a fully autonomous store is feasible, but their proprietary ecosystem limited third-party adoption and raised cost barriers.
Their large-scale deployment of computer-vision kiosks proved that AI-powered self-checkout can be modular, fast, and easy to scale. However, the experience still felt transactional versus immersive.
Known for their retrofit-ready ceiling-camera solution, they provided a model for how to implement frictionless checkout without major store redesigns—highlighting the value of flexibility.
Demonstrated that small regional chains could adopt autonomous checkout with strong user experience focus, but lacked robust back-office tools for scale.
These insights helped us focus on creating a flexible system with scalable associate tools, intuitive UX, and seamless integration into the existing store ecosystem.
Collaborating closely with product and engineering teams during ideation, we made sure every design decision was grounded in business objectives and technological feasibility. Based on what we learned from user testing, operational constraints, and deep technical discussions.
Collaborating closely with product and engineering teams during ideation, we made sure every design decision was grounded in business objectives and technological feasibility. Based on what we learned from user testing, operational constraints, and deep technical discussions, we defined a simple and intuitive end-to-end customer flow
Customers launch the app and scan a QR code on the turnstile. This authenticates their session.
Passive tracking kicks in via sensors and ceiling-mounted cameras while customers grab what they need.
Customers simply exit the store through a dedicated threshold. As they leave, their session is closed and a digital receipt is sent automatically via the app.
This journey was validated through multiple stakeholder sessions and tech feasibility alignments, where product, engineering, and design worked as one unit to understand business goals, technical constraints, and store operation realities.
To support a seamless autonomous shopping experience, we designed an integrated suite of tools across customer, associate, and back-office needs. These products were the result of iterative discovery and delivery phases conducted over a series of sprints, where I worked as both lead designer and active contributor.
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