FitStyler Case Study

A style app dedicated to delivering personalized fashion inspiration.

Link to Prototype

Project Timeline

80 hours

Project Type

Fashion

Personal Style Inspiration

Conceptual

Contributor

Simran Singal

UX/ UI Designer

My Contributions

UX Research

UI Design

Brand Design


Starting Point

In today's world of fashion and personal style, the problem of not finding good inspiration to style oneself arises from the overwhelming amount of fashion advice void of any personalization. With diverse body types, budgets, and lifestyles, individuals struggle to discover content that resonates with their unique preferences and backgrounds. This challenge is compounded by time constraints and a lack of confidence in making fashion choices. Addressing these issues requires innovative solutions that simplify the search for quality and relevant fashion inspiration, prioritize inclusivity, and empower individuals to confidently express their personal style.

I strive to uncover the specific challenges users encounter when seeking fashion inspiration that complements their personal style, as well as related issues within this context.

Competitor Research

Explored diverse sources for fashion inspiration, including popular choices like Pinterest and Instagram, as well as fashion brands' lookbooks, blogs of renowned fashion companies, and exclusive fashion inspiration platforms.

Overall Observations:

  • Popular platforms leverage familiarity in UI design, enhancing ease of use for a majority of users.

  • Balancing content volume with personalized recommendations is crucial.

  • Addressing challenges in purchasing information and styling diversity is essential.

  • Prioritizing a seamless user experience from inspiration to purchase is key.

  • Ensuring effective filtering systems is necessary to combat content overload.

  • Platforms should focus on enhancing personalization efforts for better user satisfaction.

User Interviews to Affinity Mapping!

To delve into the intricacies of users' mental models in seeking personalized fashion inspiration, I conducted engaging interviews with 5 individuals. These self-proclaimed amateur fashion enthusiasts shared moderate amount of time exploring inspiration for enhancing their visual appeal. The interview guide, designed to be conversational and enjoyable, fostered an enthusiastic and dynamic discussion. 

Example Questions

Why do you look up personal styling inspiration?

What are some aspects that frustrate you in this process?

Can you describe the last time you looked up and inspiration?

Problem Statement

I aim to investigate solutions that assist individuals in refining their personal style through accessible fashion inspiration tailored to their body type and skin tone. 

This is essential as discovering styles that genuinely complement them poses a challenge, impacting their confidence and self-image positively.

User Personas

The following two user personas emerged from research and interviews.

Steven, The Trendy Professional

Meet Steven, the creative soul with a passion for design in all its forms, from painting to fashion. Known for his quirky and unique style in college, Steven's fashion journey took a backseat in the workforce. Now, seeking inspiration from his senior colleagues, he's determined to elevate his office style. As an ambitious professional, Steven is on the lookout for guidance from seasoned experts to bring his A-game to work clothing and make a lasting impression in the design industry.

Megan, The Style Enthusiast 

Meet Megan, a woman who embraces simplicity in her wardrobe, finding comfort in casual attire. Despite her contentment, Megan faces a pivotal moment in her personal and professional life. With wedding festivities and social events on the horizon, Megan senses a gap in her wardrobe that affects her confidence and self-esteem. Motivated to make a lasting impression and stand out in her circle, Megan embarks on a journey to redefine her personal style, seeking outfits that exude confidence and capture attention.

Solution

Overview:

I propose the development of an app where users can create a personalized body and skin tone profile upon signup. An AI stylist will then curate personalized fashion suggestions, including color palettes and overall outfit inspirations tailored to the user's body and skin type. The suggestions will encompass various styles, such as Bohemian Chic or Italian Casual, enhancing the user's overall appearance. Additionally, the app will offer occasion-specific style recommendations.

FitCheck Feature:

To cater to users' preferences in fashion inspiration, the app will introduce a standout feature named FitCheck. Many users often struggle with uncertainty regarding how their preferred styles will complement their appearance. Unlike platforms limiting suggestions based solely on body type and skin tone, FitCheck enables users to transform any aspirational style into a reality by providing tailored suggestions on how to make it work for them.

Once the app has the user's body and skin tone profile, they can upload an image of their chosen style to FitCheck. This image could be fashion inspiration sourced from various platforms, TV shows, or real-life encounters. The AI stylist will then evaluate the compatibility of the selected style with the user's body and face profile, offering personalized tips and reasoning on how to enhance the outfit for their specific features.

Feature Prioritization

From this solution, a multitude of features and ideas surfaced. In alignment with the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) philosophy, I carefully curated the most pivotal elements. These features either formed the foundation or imparted a unique advantage to the product. The prioritization predominantly focused on aspects related to the Body and Skin Profile Quiz, AI Stylist Recommendations, and FitCheck.

Task Flows

Two primary task flows were developed for this app:

1. Sign Up Flow:

   - This flow encompassed general sign-up procedures, onboarding, and the body and skin profile quiz.

   - To set user expectations, after sign-up, users received information about the upcoming quiz and a brief introduction to the FitCheck feature.

2. FitCheck Flow:

   - As a new feature, the FitCheck flow prioritized simplicity and intuitiveness.

   - The flow, resembling the familiar process of image upload, was kept short to guide users through the process swiftly and efficiently.

Sketches

The sketching phase of this UX case study was an exhilarating journey filled with creativity and experimentation. I delved into various approaches to showcase the solution, exploring diverse ways to communicate the concept effectively. Creating a custom quiz, amalgamating questions from different sources, added a layer of depth to the user profiling process, ensuring a comprehensive understanding. Crafting the home page, adorned with personalized recommendations, offered both satisfaction and inspiration, setting the stage for future enhancements. The design challenges encountered while shaping the FitCheck suggestions page, although a bit tricky, spurred my creativity and problem-solving skills, contributing to a rewarding and enriching sketching phase.


Brand Design

High Fidelity Wireframes

Testing the Prototype

I conducted moderated testing with 5 participants to assess the clarity and usability of the platform. Two key flows were tested, and participants were asked in-depth questions for each flow and the overall app.

Sign Up Flow: The focus was on gauging users' comprehension of the quiz's placement in the sign-up process and evaluating if the time spent on it felt reasonable. Additionally, I aimed to determine if the onboarding screens helped users anticipate the subsequent flow, and if they quickly grasped the personalized nature of the dashboard. Feedback on the final impression of the dashboard was also collected.

FitCheck Flow: This test aimed to evaluate users' understanding of the feature and whether they were aware of its existence from their analysis of the dashboard. I assessed the flow's intuitiveness and brevity and also checked whether the suggestions at the end were coherent to users. Feedback on the suggestions page and overall impressions of the feature were also gathered.

Feedback Synthesis

Dashboard

FitCheck Suggestions Page

Quiz

Quiz Assessment (New Page)

Moving Forward

In the culmination of an 80-hour journey, FitStyler has evolved into a personalized fashion inspiration app, addressing users' needs while fostering the development of their unique style aspirations. Looking ahead, the product envisions enhancements such as a virtual wardrobe to help users style their existing clothes, information on budget-friendly clothing purchases, collaboration with fashion brands, and detailed user profiles for more refined suggestions. The app's potential avenues are diverse, emphasizing the importance of an open-minded approach, continuous user research, and testing to adapt to current user needs and integrate timeless features. This case study encapsulates the dynamic journey of FitStyler's evolution, highlighting its commitment to user-centric design and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead in shaping a fashion app that resonates with diverse user needs and preferences!

Final Prototype