Modish
The Modish project was my very first project at General Assembly. It was an exciting opportunity to delve into the world of app design and focus on a specific audience passionate about fashion but facing time constraints when it came to shopping and organizing their wardrobe. Throughout this project, I conducted thorough user research, brainstormed creative ideas, and brought them to life by building a mid-fidelity prototype. It was an incredible experience to see this project start to come into clear vision.
My Role
User Research, Visual design, UI Design, Prototyping
Timeline
November 2022 - December 2022
The Challenge
The challenge for this project was to design an app that provides a seamless and efficient experience for the target user to purchase and coordinate clothing, enabling them to broaden their wardrobe choices and curate stylish outfits effortlessly for both formal and informal occasions.
It All Started With One Question
The Modish project was born out of a captivating conversation I had with a classmate at General Assembly. Curiosity led me to ask them, "What are you passionate about?" Their answer revealed a deep love for fashion, but they confessed that their busy schedule often made it challenging to fully indulge in their passion. That's when the idea struck me - they needed an app that could offer them endless possibilities. They longed for a convenient shopping experience, outfit recommendations tailored to their style, an easy way to put together outfits for different occasions, and a seamless method to organize their clothes and outfits. It was clear that simplicity and practicality were key to meeting their needs. They desired an app that would cater to their diverse fashion requirements while remaining user-friendly and accessible. This conversation sparked the inspiration for the Modish project, fueling my drive to create a solution that would empower fashion enthusiasts like my classmate to fully embrace their style in the midst of their busy lives.
The Beginning of the Journey
My journey into the exciting world of tech and fashion began by connecting with individuals who shared a genuine passion for this field. I had the privilege of conducting interviews with a diverse group of participants, engaging in conversations about their personal perspectives on fashion, fashion apps, and the art of coordinating outfits. I wanted to tap into their unique insights and experiences to understand what they felt was missing and how things could be improved in this dynamic landscape. Through their valuable input, I gained a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the intersection of technology and fashion, fueling my enthusiasm to explore and contribute to this fascinating realm.
Talking to the Audience
In the initial phase of my research, I conducted interviews with prospective users to gain valuable insights into the essential features and comprehensive assistance necessary for an app of this nature.
Through engaging and in-depth conversations with multiple participants, I explored various aspects of their clothing selection and purchasing process. I asked thought-provoking questions such as "How do you choose or buy your clothes?" and "How do you organize outfits?" to delve into their current practices and understand their preferences.
Additionally, I sought to gain an understanding of their experience with existing styling and outfit organization apps, aiming to identify any gaps or unmet needs they perceived in a fashion-centric app focused on outfit coordination.
These user interviews played a pivotal role in shaping the Modish app's functionality to align closely with the users' expectations and requirements. The valuable insights gathered from these discussions were instrumental in the next stages of this project where I focused on functionality and user-centered features.
Interview Takeaways
Based on the insights gained from user interviews, several key takeaways surfaced, shedding light on the essential requirements for the development of this app:
Takeaway 1 - Users highly valued the virtual stylist's helpful advice and personalized recommendations, which facilitated easier decision-making.
Takeaway 2 - The availability of a variety of retailers was important to users, ensuring access to a wide range of clothing items that catered to different styles and preferences.
Takeaway 3 - Recommendations and tips that fostered body positivity, acknowledging the diversity of skin tones and body sizes, were highly appreciated by users.
Takeaway 4 - Users expressed the need for the option to organize outfits either personally or through the platform, enabling efficient and tailored wardrobe management.
Takeaway 5 - The ability to save all clothing items and assembled outfits to a virtual closet was identified as a valuable feature, allowing users to conveniently access and plan their outfits.
Bringing it All Together
After highlighting the takeaways from user interviews I molded them into target user needs & goals for the app:
- Users require access to a diverse range of online retailers to choose from, ensuring they have ample options when making clothing purchases.
- Users require access to a diverse range of online retailers to choose from, ensuring they have ample options when making clothing purchases.
- Users seek assistance in effectively organizing and coordinating the clothing items they have purchased, enabling efficient wardrobe management.
- Users aspire to receive guidance and recommendations on outfit coordination that complement their body type and skin tone, promoting a positive and personalized fashion experience.
- Users desire a convenient method to save their clothing items and organized outfits, allowing for easy access and planning within a virtual platform.
The Solution Becomes Clear
After conducting thorough user research, the recommended solution to tackle all the essential needs of the user for the app focused on creating intelligent and interactive design, enriched with user-friendly features. The primary objective is to empower users to effortlessly shop for clothing from online retailers while efficiently managing their wardrobe through a virtual closet and robust organizing functionalities.
Painting a Picture of the Perfect User
By synthesizing the extensive research data, I crafted a comprehensive user persona that precisely aligned with the target audience for this app. This user persona played a pivotal role in guiding me through the define and ideation phases of the project, facilitating a deeper understanding of user needs and preferences. As a result, I was able to identify a distinct challenge that demanded my attention and served as a clear focal point for the project's direction and objectives.
The user persona represents an individual immersed in a fast-paced lifestyle, seeking support in effectively managing their fashion endeavors. That's where Modish comes in!
Creating the Skeletal Structure of Modish
Following the thorough definition of user needs and goals for the app, the focus shifted towards constructing the visual framework of Modish. The objective was to craft an elegant and visually compelling design that would provide users with a comprehensive and intuitive experience.
I began the ideation process by sketching out various concepts, which gradually evolved into a preliminary digital outline depicting the user journey I intended to explore within the app. Given its multifaceted nature encompassing features such as shopping, outfit coordination, and recommendations, I specifically focused on the aspect of coordinating outfits for specific occasions. The digital sketch presented above provides a preliminary depiction of the user's exploration of this particular path.
Adding Bulk to the Skeleton
Following the initial sketches, I proceeded to expand and refine my design concepts by constructing a comprehensive wireflow that mapped out the user's specific pathway within the app. The wireflow presented above illustrates a more detailed depiction of the user's interaction with the app, specifically focusing on their ability to create and organize an outfit within their digital closet.
Prototyping the Idea
Once the wireflow of the user's specific path was established, the next step in the design process involved prototyping the concept into a mid-fidelity prototype. This stage aimed to provide a tangible representation of the app's functionality and user interaction on a mobile device, allowing for a clearer vision of the user experience.
Video of Prototype
Putting it to the Test
Following the construction of the prototype, the next crucial step was to conduct usability testing to evaluate how testers interacted with the UI elements. This testing phase aimed to gather valuable insights and feedback on the user experience, identify potential pain points or areas of improvement, and validate the effectiveness and intuitiveness of the app's interface.
Errors... I Mean... Happy Mistakes
During the testing phase, users were asked to organize an outfit on the prototype. Each user spent an average of approximately 2.5 minutes engaging with the prototype, encountering an average of 2-3 misclicks per test. While the overall design was perceived as straightforward, users expressed occasional confusion with certain features of the app. These findings highlighted the importance of addressing and refining these specific areas to enhance usability and ensure a seamless user experience.
The majority of misclicks occurred during the initial stages of the test, indicating a potential point of confusion for users when determining which feature to click to initiate their interaction with the app. This finding suggests the need for clearer guidance or visual cues to help users navigate and understand the available options, facilitating a smoother onboarding experience.
Error 1 - Some tester wanted to click on the first gray box that indicated an already made outfit.
Error 2 - Other testers wanted to access the menu icon at the top.
Error 2 - Other testers wanted to access the menu icon at the top.
After a more thorough scanning were testers able to see the Create Outfit button (represented by the plus sign).
Testers reported a more favorable experience when adding clothing items to their outfits, noting that this particular feature exhibited greater clarity and straightforwardness in its functionality
What's Next?
Following user testing, I carefully analyzed the feedback and insights shared by the participants, strategically assessing the necessary areas of focus for the project's next steps. This process contributed to the development of a more defined and forward-looking vision for the app.
Next Steps:
1. Build out more of the app to assist all genders.
2. Enhance the design and functionality of the home screen and virtual closet to provide a more intuitive and engaging user experience.
3. Increase the prominence and visibility of the Create Outfit feature to encourage users to actively engage with outfit coordination.
4. Explore additional features that can be accessed directly from the homepage, providing users with convenient and efficient ways to navigate the app and access desired functionalities.
Further Actions:
5. Refine and optimize the Menu features to ensure easy navigation and accessibility to different sections of the app.
6. Implement shopping features to allow users to seamlessly browse and make purchases from a variety of retailers within the app.
7. Consider incorporating a virtual assistant feature, potentially with a dedicated button next to the Create Outfit feature, to provide personalized recommendations and guidance.
Future Considerations:
8. Investigate and experiment with hi-fidelity options for showcasing outfits, such as utilizing virtual mannequins or other visually appealing methods to enhance the presentation and visualization of coordinated looks.
Come back to see future installments of this project!