Aventura Mall VIP App

Service


Product Design

Year

2025

Research, UX/UI, VIsual Design, Branding, Product Strategy

Aventura Mall VIP App

Service


Product Design

Year

2025

Research, UX/UI, VIsual Design, Branding, Product Strategy

Details

I led the design and development of the Aventura Mall VIP App from ideation to launch, overseeing research, strategy, UX/UI design, and the development process, while fostering collaboration and providing leadership.

I led the design and development of the Aventura Mall VIP App from ideation to launch, overseeing research, strategy, UX/UI design, and the development process, while fostering collaboration and providing leadership.

Overview

The Aventura Mall VIP Program rewards loyal, high-spending customers at Aventura Mall, ranked among the best U.S. shopping centers. With over 300 stores and 50 restaurants, including luxury brands, it is located in one of South Florida’s wealthiest areas, attracting both affluent locals and international visitors

Value Proposition

The Aventura Mall VIP App connects members to the exclusive, invitation-only VIP Loyalty Program, offering premier benefits, exclusive events, brand launches, and top-tier amenities like complimentary valet service—all in one seamless experience. It also provides personalized invitations, store details, dining options, and intuitive wayfinding.

Timeline

Project Duration: 5 Months

Role's Responsabilities

Product Strategy, User & Market Research, UX/UI, Visual Design, Usability and Testing, Art/Design Direction

Programs

Figma, Adobe Creative Suite

Deliverables

Competitive Analysis, User Surveys, Interviews, Personas, User Flows, Wireframes, High-Fidelity Mockups, Prototypes, Usability Tests and Findings, Marketing Assets.

Goal & Objectives

The app delivers real value by solving problems, simplifying tasks, and bridging digital and physical interactions. It’s guided by research, empathy, and continuous iteration to ultimately meet user needs and drive business objectives.

Findings

  • One top competitor has an app dedicated solely to wayfinding.

  • Another top competitor offers a rewards program app with exclusive offers, luxury experiences, and informational content. Unlike ours, their app is available to all visitors, making it less exclusive. The app operates on a points-based system, requiring users to spend a certain amount to unlock different membership tiers.

  • Another major competitor offers a rewards app where users earn points by making purchases through the app, which directly influences physical foot traffic. However, the app is less personal and experiential, focusing more on transactions than creating unique, memorable experiences for users.

User Personas

Our VIP Members are affluent, high-spending individuals at Aventura Mall who value convenience and experiences over discounts. With this in mind, I defined a user persona to prioritize key functionalities and align the product with their needs, behaviors, and expectations.

User Research

We conducted a survey to gain deeper insights into our users and prioritize their needs. The findings also helped us identify pain points, allowing us to refine our product and enhance user satisfaction.

How many times per month do you visit Aventura Mall?

What inconveniences and frustrations do you face when visiting Aventura Mall?

What are your main goals when visiting Aventura Mall?

What are some of the benefits you'd like to receive as an Aventura Mall VIP Member?

Source: SurveyMonkey

Identifying Problems

  • Parking Frustrations: Users struggle with parking convenience.

  • Wayfinding Difficulties: Navigating large shopping centers can be overwhelming.

  • Limited Customer Support: Users expect faster, more accessible service.

  • Lack of Incentives: VIP members may feel undervalued, risking loyalty.

  • Low Engagement: Reduced interaction weakens interest in the VIP program.

  • Inefficient Communication: Reliance on outdated methods hinders outreach.

  • Scattered Information: Members miss out on perks due to lack of centralization.

Identifying Solutions

  • Seamless Valet Service: Complimentary valet is easily managed through the app for guest convenience, valet tracking, and enhanced security.

  • Effortless Navigation: Quick access to mall information and wayfinding.

  • Instant Support: Real-time messaging connects users to Customer Service and Mall Security.

  • Exclusive Perks: Push notifications for special event invites and incentives to keep members engaged.

  • Premium Amenities: Request styling services, dining reservations, car washing, and more. All through the app.

  • All-in-One Access: View exclusive benefits, events, and offerings in one place.

Branding & Style Guides

For the Aventura Mall VIP Loyalty program, placing the established Aventura Mall logo over the "VIP" lettering creates a distinctive logo variation that highlights the VIP program while preserving its connection to the main brand. This design maintains the fonts and colors from Aventura Mall’s institutional branding, ensuring visual consistency.

Onboarding

  • User access is authenticated with a unique code for exclusivity.

  • The registration process is simple, fast, and secure.

  • A digital card with a unique QR code is generated instantly for the member to use as a member ID card to access all VIP events, perks and amenities.

  • App allows the user to download their digital card to Google or Apple wallet for convenience.

Exploring & Finding

  • A personalized Home Screen provides seamless access to all features, information, and benefits in one place.

  • The app features a dedicated section to explore, search, and find all shopping and dining listings, as well as general mall information and seamless wayfinding.

VIP Access

  • All VIP perks and exclusive events are centralized within the app, allowing members to easily access, request, RSVP, and enjoy them—exclusively available through the app.

  • Push notifications keep members engaged and informed about upcoming events, fashion updates, exclusive experiences, and more.

Market Research

Researching Aventura Mall's top competitors allowed me to assess their loyalty program apps to uncover industry gaps, trends, and customer preferences, and identify opportunities to refine strategy, differentiate offerings, and stay ahead in the market.

Researching Aventura Mall's top competitors allowed me to assess their loyalty program apps to uncover industry gaps, trends, and customer preferences, and identify opportunities to refine strategy, differentiate offerings, and stay ahead in the market.

Findings

  • One top competitor has an app dedicated solely to wayfinding.

  • Another top competitor offers a rewards program app with exclusive offers, luxury experiences, and informational content. Unlike ours, their app is available to all visitors, making it less exclusive. The app operates on a points-based system, requiring users to spend a certain amount to unlock different membership tiers.

  • Another major competitor offers a rewards app where users earn points by making purchases through the app, which directly influences physical foot traffic. However, the app is less personal and experiential, focusing more on transactions than creating unique, memorable experiences for users.

User Research

We conducted a survey to gain deeper insights into our users and prioritize their needs. The findings also helped us identify pain points, allowing us to refine our product and enhance user satisfaction.

How many times per month do you visit Aventura Mall?

What inconveniences and frustrations do you

face when visiting Aventura Mall?

What inconveniences and frustrations do you face when visiting Aventura Mall?

What are your main goals when visiting Aventura Mall?

What are some of the benefits you'd like to receive as an Aventura Mall VIP Member?

Source: SurveyMonkey

Identifying Problems

  • Parking Frustrations: Members struggle with parking convenience.

  • Wayfinding Difficulties: Navigating large shopping centers can be overwhelming.

  • Limited Customer Support: Members expect faster, more accessible service.

  • Lack of Incentives: VIP members may feel undervalued, risking loyalty.

  • Low Engagement: Reduced interaction weakens interest in the VIP program.

  • Inefficient Communication: Reliance on outdated methods hinders outreach.

  • Scattered Information: Members miss out on perks due to lack of centralization.

Identifying Solutions

  • Seamless Valet Service: Complimentary valet is easily managed through the app for guest convenience, valet tracking, and enhanced security.

  • Effortless Navigation: Quick access to mall information and wayfinding.

  • Instant Support: Real-time messaging connects users to Customer Service and Mall Security.

    Exclusive Perks: Push notifications for special event invites and incentives to keep members engaged.

  • Premium Amenities: Request styling services, dining reservations, car washing, and more. All through the app.

  • All-in-One Access: View exclusive benefits, events, and offerings in one place.

User Personas

Our VIP Members are affluent, high-spending individuals at Aventura Mall who value convenience and experiences over discounts. With this in mind, I defined a user persona to prioritize key functionalities and align the product with their needs, behaviors, and expectations.



Our VIP Members are affluent, high-spending individuals at Aventura Mall who value convenience and experiences over discounts. With this in mind, I defined a user persona to prioritize key functionalities and align the product with their needs, behaviors, and expectations.

Complimentary Valet Service

  • The digital VIP member pass provides users with easy and secure access to valet service

  • For their convenience, users can request and track their car through the app, avoiding wait times when they’re ready to leave.

Instant Messaging to Concierge

  • The app features an integrated messaging platform, enabling users to chat live with the Concierge for instant, premium customer service from anywhere within the mall.

User Flows

Creating user flows helped me map the steps users take to achieve specific goals, ensuring a clear and intuitive path.

Information Architecture (IA)

Based on research, surveys, and user flows, I created a sitemap that outlines the Aventura Mall VIP app's structure, hierarchy, and content organization, providing a high-level overview.

Low-fidelity Wireframing

Low-fidelity wireframe flow and prototype testing with stakeholders, team members, and real users on UserTesting helped identify task expectations and refine key elements like iconography and navigation, allowing for early issue resolution and preventing costly fixes later.


Establishing Visual Design

The design aesthetic draws inspiration from the established Aventura Mall's institutional brand, prominently featuring blue as its primary color with pink as a secondary color. Blue, symbolizing trust, reliability, and professionalism, aligns perfectly with our goal of conveying these qualities effectively.

Branding & Style Guides

For the Aventura Mall VIP Loyalty program, placing the established Aventura Mall logo over the "VIP" lettering creates a distinctive logo variation that highlights the VIP program while preserving its connection to the main brand. This design maintains the fonts and colors from Aventura Mall’s institutional branding, ensuring visual consistency.

UI Kit

Once a cohesive visual style is defined, creating a UI Kit and design system becomes essential for ensuring consistency across digital platforms. This framework provides a set of reusable components and design principles that embody the brand’s identity, streamlining workflows and enhancing the overall user experience.

UI Design - High-Fidelity Mockups

As a result of carefully defining user flows and structure, then integrating visual components, high-fidelity mockups play a crucial role in bringing the final design to life. They ensure a cohesive, intuitive user experience by maintaining visual consistency and usability across all screens.

High-Fidelity Prototypes

High-fidelity prototypes provide users with the most realistic experience, showcasing both flow and functionality while allowing for iteration and refinement. The prototypes below show the most important features of the app.

Onboarding

  • User access is authenticated with a unique code for exclusivity.

  • The registration process is simple, fast, and secure.

  • A digital card with a unique QR code is generated instantly for the member to use as a member ID card to access all VIP events, perks and amenities.

  • App allows the user to download their digital card to Google or Apple wallet for convenience.

Exploring & Finding

  • A personalized Home Screen provides seamless access to all features, information, and benefits in one place.

  • The app features a dedicated section to explore, search, and find all shopping and dining listings, as well as general mall information and seamless wayfinding.

VIP Access

  • All VIP perks and exclusive events are centralized within the app, allowing members to easily access, request, RSVP, and enjoy them—exclusively available through the app.

  • Push notifications keep members engaged and informed about upcoming events, fashion updates, exclusive experiences, and more.

Complimentary Valet Service

  • The digital VIP member pass provides users with easy and secure access to valet service.

  • For their convenience, users can request and track their car through the app, avoiding wait times when they’re ready to leave.

Instant Messaging to Concierge

  • The app features personal settings and an integrated messaging platform, enabling users to chat live with the Concierge for instant, premium customer service from anywhere within the mall.

Marketing Assets

Our marketing efforts, including targeted email campaigns and event promotions, focus on highlighting the app’s features, exclusive offers, and upcoming events. Personalized messaging increases relevance, while event promotions encourage participation and app engagement. These initiatives help drive downloads, boost user interaction, and improve long-term retention.

Aventura Mall VIP Splash & Support Page

A marketing page boosts visibility and builds trust by showcasing the app’s value, while a support page helps users with issues and builds confidence. Both are key for app store approval and user satisfaction.

Usability & Test

Still, shortly after the recent launch, we identified and fixed some pain points after seeing some user behaviors and feedback.

  • Identified user confusion on the home screen through UserTesting and redesigned the flow for immediate access to the Digital VIP Pass upon signup.

  • Streamlined the home screen content by prioritizing exclusive VIP features and amenities at the top, with general mall information placed below.

  • Continuously refining buttons, forms, and micro-interactions to enhance usability and create a seamless user experience.

  • The app is still in its early stages, but usability testing remains an ongoing and essential process for refining the experience, ensuring it not only looks great but also functions seamlessly for users.

Still, shortly after the recent launch, we identified and fixed some pain points after seeing some user behaviors and feedback.

  • Identified user confusion on the home screen through UserTesting and redesigned the flow for immediate access to the Digital VIP Pass upon signup.

  • Streamlined the home screen content by prioritizing exclusive VIP features and amenities at the top, with general mall information placed below.

  • Continuously refining buttons, forms, and micro-interactions to enhance usability and create a seamless user experience.

  • The app is still in its early stages, but usability testing remains an ongoing and essential process for refining the experience, ensuring it not only looks great but also functions seamlessly for users.

Results

A mix of user engagement, revenue impact, and brand perception measures the success of the app within the first month following launch. Here are some key results that indicate the initial success of the app:


  • 35.5% of VIP members downloaded the app within the first month of launch. To achieve our 3-month goal of 100% downloads, we plan to drive growth through targeted promotion, increased engagement, and ongoing improvements.

  • 65% first-month retention rate, with users returning for multiple sessions.

  • Strong engagement, with an average session duration of 3 minutes.

  • Event participation increased by 40%, driven by app notifications—reducing reliance on email and cold calls.

  • Event participation boosts foot traffic and repeat visits to the shopping center.

  • 20% increase in average spending among VIP members, driven by app engagement.

  • The app enhanced other mall programs and amenities, such as Styling Services, ultimately driving increased revenue for the shopping center.

  • Possitive user feedback on registration process and usability via surveys.


Through ongoing user testing, rapid iteration, continuous improvements, and targeted marketing initiatives, we consistently measure the app’s success to drive higher user satisfaction and retention.

Takeaways

The VIP app for Aventura Mall’s loyalty program was designed with a user-centered approach, offering a seamless flow and a personalized experience for VIP members. Key features like exclusive perks, access, promotions, and top-tier amenities boost engagement and add value. Ongoing usability testing has helped refine the app by addressing pain points and enhancing functionality.

Additionally, the app has been used to successfully promote events and in-store experiences, driving foot traffic connecting digital experiences with real-world interactions. Consistent marketing efforts, including targeted email campaigns and notifications, have kept users informed and engaged, while data-driven insights continue to optimize the app’s performance to meet the evolving needs of its users.

The VIP app for Aventura Mall’s loyalty program was designed with a user-centered approach, offering a seamless flow and a personalized experience for VIP members. Key features like exclusive perks, access, promotions, and top-tier amenities boost engagement and add value. Ongoing usability testing has helped refine the app by addressing pain points and enhancing functionality.

Additionally, the app has been used to successfully promote events and in-store experiences, driving foot traffic connecting digital experiences with real-world interactions. Consistent marketing efforts, including targeted email campaigns and notifications, have kept users informed and engaged, while data-driven insights continue to optimize the app’s performance to meet the evolving needs of its users.

Next Project

Aventura Mall Website