Overview
Envision is an innovative fashion app that leverages Generative AI to transform the way users discover and create outfits. By bringing together fashion enthusiasts and small business owners on one platform, Envision fosters creativity, collaboration, and community. The app's primary focus is to offer users personalized styling experiences, while also providing a marketplace for small brands to showcase and sell their unique products. Envision bridges the gap between fashion lovers looking for curated outfit ideas and independent designers wanting more direct access to their customers.
Role:
As the designer and researcher for this project, I played a key role in shaping the app from the ground up. Drawing from my passion for fashion, I combined my design expertise with thorough research to create a user-centered app that reflects both style and functionality. My goal was to ensure that the app not only meets the needs of its users but also delivers a seamless and enjoyable experience, all while staying true to the latest trends in fashion.
Tools:
- Figma
- Google Forms
Problem
In the fashion industry, users often find it difficult to receive truly personalized outfit recommendations. Most platforms offer either generic suggestions that don’t cater to individual tastes or overwhelm users with too many options. Additionally, smaller fashion brands face considerable challenges, such as lack of visibility and high commission fees, when trying to reach a broader customer base through large e-commerce sites. This disconnect between personalized fashion advice and opportunities for smaller brands led us to develop a platform that addresses both needs.
Solution
Envision was created to solve these two issues by incorporating several key features:
- Personalized Styling with AI: Our Generative AI system asks users a few questions about their preferences, such as preferred colors, patterns, or occasions, and uses this information to generate tailored outfit suggestions that feel authentic to their style.
- Seamless Shopping Experience: Users can seamlessly purchase suggested items either through affiliate links from major retailers or directly from small business owners featured on the platform. This gives them more diverse shopping options while supporting smaller brands.
- Support for Small Businesses: The platform provides a space where independent fashion brands can sell their pieces directly to customers. These small businesses can list items for direct sales or set up auctions, giving them greater control over pricing and inventory.
UX Research
Research & Insights:
- User Research: We conducted interviews with fashion lovers who expressed a need for more personalized and authentic styling recommendations. Small business owners also shared their frustrations with the lack of visibility and the challenges posed by high commission fees on major e-commerce platforms.
- Competitive Research: By analyzing existing fashion apps, we identified a gap where personalized recommendations and support for smaller brands were both lacking. This gave us a unique opportunity to create a solution that could stand out in the fashion tech space.
Brainstorming & Concept Development:
- We explored how AI could be used to make the outfit creation process feel more like a personalized experience. We developed personas for both the Fashion Explorer, who seeks tailored fashion advice, and the Small Business Owner, who needs a platform to reach new customers directly.
Wireframing & Prototyping:
- Initial wireframes focused on keeping navigation simple and intuitive. Key interactions, such as using AI to generate outfits and navigating shopping filters, were tested through a clickable prototype.
Visual Design:
- The visual design is modern and clean, focusing on a minimalistic interface that allowed outfit recommendations and product listings to stand out without distracting the user. The color scheme was chosen to maintain a stylish, approachable aesthetic.
User Persona:
Persona: Emma Chen
- Age: 25
- Occupation: Marketing Specialist at a startup
- Location: Brooklyn, NY
- Interests: Fashion, sustainable living, technology, and small businesses
- Goals: Emma wants to express her individuality through fashion while supporting small, independent designers. She loves discovering unique pieces that aren’t found in mainstream stores.
Background: Emma is passionate about sustainability and wants her wardrobe to reflect her values. She uses social media to follow fashion trends and often seeks out online communities for inspiration. Emma is tech-savvy and appreciates apps that personalize her shopping experience.
Motivations: She seeks a seamless way to curate outfits that showcase her style, balancing trendy looks with her desire for sustainability. Emma values creativity and community, often sharing her finds and outfits with friends online.
Challenges: With so many options available, Emma sometimes feels overwhelmed when trying to put outfits together. She also wants to ensure that the brands she supports are ethically produced.
User Needs: Emma needs an app that provides personalized outfit suggestions and connects her with small brands, allowing her to shop sustainably while expressing her style. She values community engagement and wants to interact with other fashion enthusiasts and designers.
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