RESEARCH DETAILS
USER INTERVIEWS
I aimed to gather feedback from people of different ages, interest levels in fashion, and technological proficiency to guide my thinking when making my survey. These interviews asked general questions on their relationship to fashion, social media usage, and shopping habits. I also asked for what they’d like to see in a fashion related app and what pain points they experience in relation to social media and eCommerce.
USER SURVEY
The interviews helped me structure the questions for the survey. I asked participants questions related to their personal fashion preferences (how they’d describe their style, where they shop, how important fashion is to them, etc.) and digital behavior (social media tendencies, online shopping habits, etc.) The survey also aimed gauge the general sentiment surrounding pain points identified during interviews.
RESULTS WERE THEN SYNTHESIZED TO DETERMINE NEEDS AND PAIN POINTS
CIRCLE
Sustainability / Social Media / Circular Fashion / E-Commerce
At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I was a contributing member to the inception of the “The Circular Fashion Exposition,” a showcase dedicated to promoting sustainability and combating fast fashion. Inspired by the values of this initiative,“Circle" is a social media platform dedicated to providing users with fashion related content that emphasizes and promotes sustainability. This app is a one stop shop for fashion enthusiasts to create and consume content that connects them to eco-friendly resources.
Role:
Researcher, Designer
Timeline:
6 weeks
Team Size:
1 Person
PROBLEMS
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Current social media platforms are so broad
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Limits connections with fellow fashion enthusiasts
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Feeds are flooded with non-fashion related content
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Complicated transitions from content to purchasing
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Overwhelming amount of fast fashion products are advertised
GOALS
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Provide personalized fashion recommendations
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Foster connections between users with similar preferences
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Ensure real-time delivery of tailored fashion news and trends
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Offer detailed information about fashion items
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Seamlessly integrate shopping features with content discovery
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Highlight companies and products that emphasize sustainability
SOLUTIONS
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Implement algorithms to analyze user data and provide personalized fashion recommendations
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Develop community features such as group boards, and social sharing options
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Real-time delivery of fashion news and trends tailored to user preferences
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Seamlessly integrate content and shopping, enabling direct purchasing
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Verify eco-friendliness
RESULTS
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Comprehensive data on user needs, sentiments, and pain points
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Analysis and comparison of similar or related products
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Low-Mid Fidelity Wireframes
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Screen Designs
Research Insights
Through surveys, interviews, and competitor analysis, we synthesized key user needs and pain points that guided our design decisions:
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Users crave personalized trend discovery. Many felt overwhelmed by generic feeds and wanted curated content aligned with their personal style and values.
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Navigation must be intuitive and efficient. Confusing layouts and weak search tools often made it difficult for users to find specific fashion content or products.
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Transparency builds trust. Users expressed frustration with limited product details and sought clearer information on materials, sourcing, and sustainability practices.
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Community drives engagement. Participants valued spaces to share insights, seek advice, and connect with others interested in sustainable fashion.
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Integration enhances usability. Users preferred a seamless flow between discovering, engaging, and purchasing—without having to switch between multiple platforms.
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Design Outcomes
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User Research Synthesis: Identified core motivations and frustrations within sustainable fashion engagement.
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Experience Mapping: Mapped end-to-end user journeys to reveal key friction points.
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Wireframes & Mid-Fidelity Prototypes: Iterated designs focusing on clean navigation, visual storytelling, and seamless interaction.
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High-Fidelity Screens: Developed final UI emphasizing minimalist aesthetics, community features, and eco-conscious branding.
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Impact
Circle demonstrates how digital design can transform sustainable fashion from a niche interest into a connected, personalized, and empowering experience.
The project deepened my understanding of designing for behavior change—creating interfaces that not only inform but also inspire responsible action.
CONTENT DISCOVERY
Visual Discovery and Inspiration:
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Visual discovery, providing users with a vast array of fashion-related images and ideas for inspiration.
User-Curated Boards and Collections:
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Allows users to curate boards and collections based on their interests, including fashion.
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Suggested items from similar images.
Integrated Shopping Features:
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Allowing users to discover and purchase products directly through the platform.
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"Shop the Look" feature, allowing users to shop for items directly from images they find on the platform.
Personalization Algorithms:
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Recommend fashion content based on users' preferences and activity.
Collaborative and Social Features:
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Encourages collaboration through features like group boards, where users can curate
content together.
Content Discovery Algorithms:
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Employs sophisticated content discovery algorithms to present users with a diverse range of fashion ideas.
