College students and young professionals who have recently graduated often purchase clothing from fast fashion brands. On Harvard's campus, I frequently observe many students wearing clothes from brands like Zara and H&M. As environmental concerns become increasingly urgent, the topic of environmental protection has gained significant attention.
Not everyone has the luxury of investing in high-end, durable pieces that often come with higher price tags. However, individuals can make more informed decisions within their budget by being aware of the importance of sustainable production, the use of renewable materials, and the recyclability of clothing.
Personalize user experience with carbon footprint tracking, outfit ideas, and energy-saving tips.
Capture an image of an item for real-time analysis of its sustainability impact, usage insights, and related suggestions.
Enable users to organize and visualize their clothing collection, helping plan outfits and track sustainability metrics.
Curate sustainable fashion with promotions to help users shop eco-consciously.
I began with secondary research from literature and industry reports to understand fast fashion's negative impacts, consumer behaviors, and sustainable fashion challenges.
Then I performed a competitor analysis and identified three categories of existing apps: 1) Focusing on sustainable shopping through eco-friendly purchasing, renting, and reselling; 2) Centered on outfit suggestions and wardrobe management; 3) Devoted to environmental science education.
This analysis presented an opportunity to incorporate the good aspects of all three categories.
I sent out a survey to understand people’s perception on fast fashion, and received over 50 responses. More than 75% of the participants are aware of the negative impact of fast fashion, and there are 3 main reasons people buy fast fashion.
By understanding the rationale behind consumers' fast fashion purchases, I aim to explore how users can attain a similar level of satisfaction and style through sustainable shopping.
I interviewed three participants to gain insights into their pain points and needs regarding environmental protection education. I wanted to better understand the challenges they face and what kind of information or support they feel would help them engage more effectively with environmental issues.
Financial limitations make it hard for her to choose sustainable fashion.
She's unsure if the brands she buys from are eco-friendly.
There's little information on where to find sustainable clothing.
Affordable sustainable fashion within her budget.
Quick feedback on the environmental impact of her clothing choices.
Easy access to information on sustainable fashion options.
With the user's challenges and expectations in mind, I initiated a brainstorming session to devise solutions that effectively address their needs. I developed a 2x2 matrix with the x-axis representing user value and the y-axis indicating business impact. This process enabled me to identify the top four features to prioritize: exposing the hidden costs of clothing, accessing the fashion footprint, providing tangible feedback, and visualizing the impact on fast fashion clothing.
With the key features and problem statement in hand, I developed the information architecture to establish a clear content hierarchy and navigation structure. I then started conceptualizing how the content should be presented on the screen to effectively link users with the features and functionalities aimed at promoting sustainable practices.
Guided by the information architecture, I identified crucial screens within the wireframe to improve user navigation and interface design. Core features such as digital wardrobe management, sustainability tracking, and educational resources are thoughtfully integrated to create an intuitive and engaging user experience.
I tested the wireframes with four user research participants to gather feedback, and the results were overall positive. Users appreciated the variety of features, especially the real-time sustainability report, which they can access anytime and anywhere, even while they're on the move. They also loved the digital wardrobe, appreciating how it highlights the most sustainable act will always be not purchasing things they don’t need. However, they also faced challenges navigating the features.
The current real-time analysis report was confusing for all users, as they struggled to understand how the feature works and what types of images were required. To address this issue, I redesigned the user flow by offering a detailed guide and clarifying which images are encouraged for upload.
The sustainability report initially included only the "Compare" action button, requiring users to take extra steps if they wanted to add a clothing item to their wardrobe. To simplify the process, I added an "Add to wardrobe" CTA.
Guide users through a personalized setup process by inquiring about their typical clothing occasions and budget range, ensuring a customized app experience that aligns with their fashion needs and financial preferences.
Enable users to enjoy an integrated experience with sustainability tracking and outfit inspiration on the homepage. Users can explore eco-friendly fashion trends and items through an intuitive search function and access a profile page that showcases personal sustainability achievements and analytics.
Empower users with instant sustainability analysis even when they are on the go. By taking or uploading images of the clothing item and material label, users could easily access to a detailed sustainability report.
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As users explore their clothing collection, they receive a detailed assessment of each item, revealing its environmental impact through ratings from the perspectives of planet, people, and animals. They can discover eco-friendly alternatives or compare with a similar item to make informed and eco-conscious decisions.
Generate outfit inspirations for users with sustainability ratings through an intuitive digital wardrobe experience. Users can access detailed insights into style and environmental impact and easily add new clothing pieces through simple navigation.
Users embark on an intuitive shopping journey with easily navigable categories and exciting promotions in Discover. They explore eco-friendly selections in the product search, review detailed product descriptions, and connect with the brand's commitment in the sustainability story, all enhancing their eco-conscious shopping experience.
To ensure consistency throughout the mobile app, I developed a style guide that includes color palettes and typography. Given the app's focus on reducing fast fashion, I chose shades of green to evoke environmental consciousness and sustainability. The typography was chosen for its clarity and readability, enhancing the user experience while reinforcing the app's eco-friendly mission.
A crucial takeaway was that good design isn’t just about aesthetics; it's about solving real problems. Throughout the WearAware, I focused on practical solutions to users' challenges, such as organizing their wardrobe to optimize use and reduce fast fashion reliance. By incorporating features like sustainability ratings and educational content on eco-friendly practices, I ensured the app not only looked appealing but also provided tangible benefits, empowering users to make informed and sustainable fashion choices.
Another vital learning was the significance of incorporating user research throughout the design process. By engaging with users through both quantitative and qualitative research, I gained a deeper understanding of what motivates fast fashion purchases. This insight allowed me to identify how similar satisfaction can be achieved through sustainable fashion practices, helping tailor app features to effectively meet user needs and encourage eco-friendly choices.
@2025 Olivia Yan
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