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Can We Experience the Joy of Shopping Without Spending Money? My Journey to Building Dopamine

Writer: Ahmad Azizi
Ahmad Azizi
Jul 4
4 min read

Did you know that after a tiring day, some people open an e-commerce app? Not because they actually need something, but because they enjoy the process of browsing products, comparing options, adding items to their cart, and then imagining what it would be like to actually own those items.



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I’ve been in that situation before, and it seems like you’ve been through it too.


I realize that this sense of joy often arises long before the transaction takes place. In fact, sometimes the process of choosing a product feels more enjoyable than actually buying it.


On the other hand, the current economic climate has forced many people to be more careful about managing their spending. The cost of living continues to rise, while the desire to buy things never truly goes away. Online shopping platforms, which are becoming increasingly accessible, also make it possible for impulsive decisions to be made in a matter of seconds.


That’s when a simple question popped into my head.


What if someone could still enjoy the experience of shopping without actually spending any money?


That question then evolved into a project I named Dopamin.


It All Started with an Observation

Before I began developing Dopamin, I tried to understand why people enjoy shopping, even when they don’t actually need the items.


In a journal I read, I came across the term “retail therapy,” which refers to a person’s tendency to shop as a way to improve their mood. Interestingly, research shows that it’s not just the act of buying that provides a sense of satisfaction. The process of selecting products alone can help a person regain a sense of control over the situation they’re facing, thereby temporarily alleviating sadness. Other studies also explain that retail therapy can serve as a conscious strategy to improve one’s mood, although these emotional benefits are generally temporary and do not constitute a long-term solution.


That finding got me thinking.


Perhaps what many people are really looking for isn’t the product itself, but rather the emotional experience that arises during the shopping process.


If that experience could be replicated digitally without actually making a purchase, could someone still derive a similar sense of satisfaction?


Of course, I don’t mean to replace psychological therapy or claim that this app can solve mental health issues. However, I see an opportunity to offer a digital alternative that allows people to enjoy the experience of choosing their dream items without having to spend any money.


The Birth of Dopamin

I created Dopamin as an Ethical Shopping Simulator.

It’s not a marketplace.

It’s not an e-commerce platform.

And it’s certainly not an app that encourages people to become more consumerist.


Instead, I want to create a digital space where people can upload their own dream products, save them, view them again at any time, and even simulate the checkout process without actually making a payment.


For some people, this experience may simply be enjoyable.


But for others, the items they save can serve as reminders of the financial goals they’re working toward.

There are also those who use it as a form of visual affirmation of the dreams they hope to one day realize.

This is just my prediction.

I let everyone have their own reasons for using Dopamin.


Designing Experiences, Not Transactions


Most shopping apps share the same goal: to get users to check out as quickly as possible.

I’ve actually taken a different approach.


No payments.

No flash sales.

No discount countdowns.

No pressure to buy right now.


I want to create an experience that feels effortless. Users can enjoy the process of selecting items without feeling pressured to spend money.


For me, technology doesn’t always have to drive consumption. Sometimes technology can actually help someone take a moment to pause before deciding to buy something.


Building with AI

Dopamine is also my personal experiment in leveraging Artificial Intelligence to accelerate the product development process.


I use ChatGPT as a discussion partner when developing product concepts and designing user experiences.


I use Gemini AI as a second perspective when evaluating ideas or refining product workflows.

I also use Z Chat AI to help me draft documentation.


I use Google AI Studio for various prompt experiments and AI-based development. Using Google AI Studio along with the documentation I’ve included will help minimize AI hallucination.


Meanwhile, the code implementation process is accelerated using Google AI Studio and OpenCode to refactor the code so it’s ready for deployment, allowing me to focus more on refining the product rather than spending time on repetitive tasks.


All source code is managed using GitHub, and deployment is handled through Vercel. I also chose to build Dopamin as a Progressive Web App (PWA) so that users can install it directly from their browser without having to download the app from the App Store or Play Store.


What I Learned


Building Dopamin taught me that not all digital products have to be designed to sell something.


Sometimes a product can actually serve as a space to explore human behavior.


I learned that the process of building a product doesn’t always start with the technology you want to use. Instead, it all begins with a simple question about everyday human behavior.


What if we could create enjoyable experiences without encouraging people to become even more consumerist?


Dopamine is my first answer to that question. It may not be perfect yet.


But I hope this small project can be the start of a broader exploration into how technology can help people enjoy digital experiences in a healthier, more mindful, and more responsible way.


Conclusion

For me, Dopamin isn’t just a portfolio project.


This project is an experiment in how technology can be used to understand human behavior—not just to chase transaction numbers.


Because sometimes, what we’re really looking for isn’t the item we’re going to buy.


It’s the feeling that arises when we imagine that item is already ours.


References

 
 
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