CRYSTAL.AURELIA.LIN

MINIMALIST | CMU Spring 2016 (IXD Lab)

Designing ubiquitous communication interfaces (tabs, pads, boards, and beyond) in conjunction with new shopping habits in retail.

Minimalist aims to create a fully-integrated digital library of your wardrobe. In keeping to the values of sustainable fashion and wardrobe management, the app allows you to have access to your closet and allow you to pair new items of interest to your existing wardrobe, before making a buying decision. The app also creates a community where you can share your wardrobe, share styling or item suggestions, and suggest new products with your friends or the public.

Phase 0: Research

Since the release of the Interactive Fitting Rooms at Oak labs, the possibility of integrating technology into the traditional retail store setting has become a more widely accepted phenomenon both by shoppers and by the luxury brands. The interactive mirror allows the shopper to engage with the sales associates within the privacy of their own rooms, and provides a lot more information with RFID tracking technology to keep track of inventory. The underlying results from the research was that current technologies do exist to be able to support this ubiquitous communication design proposal.

I took it one step further in conducting potential market and user interviews with students at CMU. I asked about individual buying habits to see how this platform could integrate into their daily lives. Conclusions from this research included that:

1. Most people still like to go into stores to try on clothing, especially when they do not have something specific in mind, would like to browse through a lot of choices, and is buying something more expensive.
2. Online buys mostly entail buying basics and everyday wear - that way the lag of shipping time would not be a huge issue.
3. Brand, quality, fit are immensely important - people tend to re-buy from the same brands that can guarantee quality, good fit, and suitable style.

Phase 1: Idea Storyboard

Below are a few potential purposes of this “digital wardrobe” to facilitate better buying decisions:

1. Has a hard time keeping track of all the things they’ve liked and seen in stores.
2. See something they like in store:
   1. Want more information (price, material, inventory at other stores/online).
   2. Want to see potential styling options (brand and other customers)
   3. Want to see what it looks like on model
3. Hard for them to decide in store:
   1. Match the items to their personal closet.
   2. Compare specs with other things they have liked before.
4. Want a digital library collection of their own personal wardrobe.
5. Aspiring stylists with their own “inventory” profile.
6. Wait for discounts or prices changes to purchase items “liked” but don’t “need”.

Phase 2: Generating Key Use Senarios

Use case brainstorm for highlight moments:

In Store

• Tagging / Registering item (Mobile)
• Displaying product information (Mobile)
• Inventory + Social Media Curation (Large Display or iPads – Boards)

Dressing Room

• Mirror with automatic registering (Mirror, Beyond)
• OR phone photo capture (Mobile)

Home

• Main menu displaying most recent items “liked”, contemplating buys, new sales indicators, in-store recommendations (Large Display)
• Browsing, reorganization of closet (Laptop)
• Remote Control (mobile)
• Closet with entire collection (Tab)
• Closet organization and stylist suggestions. Inventory management (Mirror/Door, Beyond)

Outside

• Photo capabilities for capturing (Mobile)
• Browse existing closet at home for potential matches

Phase 3: High Fidelity Screens & Animation Ideas

Phase 4: Concept Use Scenario

Phase 5: Progressive UI