Transparent Thread
Timeline
Jan 2020-March 2020
Role
Solo student project for General Assembly UX/UI Bootcamp
Jan 2020-March 2020
Role
Solo student project for General Assembly UX/UI Bootcamp
Goal
Lessen the disconnect between how much clothing is consumed and how much we waste
As someone who strives to conciously consume clothing, I’ve noticed most of it ends up sitting untouched in the back of the closet and thrown out within a year.
Research
I conducted 7 user interviews with millenials and asked them about their shopping habits. Such as what matters most when buying new clothes (price, necessity, etc)?
“I look for new brands by asking friends for recommendations”
“I don’t trust Instagram sponsored content or any paid content pushed at me online”
“I look at materials- I like cotton and traditional fabrics that I know what they feel like”
Solutions
A crowd sourced app on how clothing stores rate on durability, versatility and cost per wear
See what other people are saying about a clothing store
- Manage your impulse purchases by consulting the app for unbiased user recommendations and ratings on durability, versatility and cost per wear
- See how other people are styling their clothing from that store to get inspiration user generated content to also show real world body types in the clothing
Upload what is already in your closet
- With a virtual closet you can view at any time, you won’t end up with 5 of the same black tank tops
- Will help remind you of clothing in the back of your closet so you can make your conscious outfit choices
Preserve your clothing purchases
- Learn how to wash that silk blouse you’ve been too afraid to wear
- Tips for how to care for all types of materials to make them last longer
Competitive Anaylsis
The competition was lacking unbiased, user generated recommendations (Good on You and Instagram).
Although there is good outfit inspiration on Instagram, it is also not a reliable source since the clothing in Instagram posts are often advertisements and paid for by the retailer.
The competition also lacked a comprehensive breakdown of materials and how the item was produced the closest resource I found was Reddit eg: r/buyforlife which doesn’t list how to take care of the garments
The competition was lacking unbiased, user generated recommendations (Good on You and Instagram).
Although there is good outfit inspiration on Instagram, it is also not a reliable source since the clothing in Instagram posts are often advertisements and paid for by the retailer.
The competition also lacked a comprehensive breakdown of materials and how the item was produced the closest resource I found was Reddit eg: r/buyforlife which doesn’t list how to take care of the garments
MVP
Features
Reviews are important - but they need to be realiable, from people they trust as opposed to sponsored content
A favorite or saved option, to easily reference an item
Virtual closet you can view at any time
Pivot
My initial thought was that people are influenced by what they see posted by influencers on instagram and fast fashion. After conducting user inteveiws and mapping out the MVP board. I found that people want to make the most of their clothes and they go to their friends and people they trust for clothing recommendations.
The New Defined Problem
Millennial Shoppers need a way find out the true quality of a clothing item because they don’t trust the current online reccomendations in place or company transparency.
User Flow
Paper Prototype
Usability Testing
After conducting usability testing I identified the three questions that a user asks themsleves when buying clothes:
1. Versatility- how often will you wear it?
2. Durability -how does it feel?
3. Cost- is it worth it?
I also found that users need an incentive to leave reviews- what will keep the users motivated to keep reviewing items?
Final Feedback
It was apparent that the main purpose for the app is to determine whether or not the item would add value to the user’s closet.
It was apparent that the main purpose for the app is to determine whether or not the item would add value to the user’s closet.
The User Rating Page (5)
to include the three parameters the users deemed valuable (versatility, durability, and cost).
The average of these three ratings will be the overall rating, found at the top of the Rating Info Page (4).
In order to incentivize users, the Rewards page was added (7 & 8).
For every reivew the user gives, they will get points towards a discount at a boutique of their choosing.
In effort to organize all the information on how the garment is produced and how to keep it in mint coniditon, I moved the materials list to the
Care Instructions Page (6).
Final Prototype