Re_considered
A new end-to-end web application to help to reduce the fashion waste produced by both individuals and businesses.
You can download the slide presentation here.
PROCESS
The method used in this project is the iterative one. Although the iteration and implementation phase is still pending due to the company budget.
Empathise
background
Re-Considered is a new business, it’s been in the market for over a year, and it was launched during the covid pandemic. It’s a service that allows you to upcycle preloved pieces. Whether it’s an old duvet cover or curtains that you want turning into a pair of trousers or knitwear you want transforming, its up-cyclers can make it happen.
It’s a small start-up working with a limited budget. However small they are, British Vogue featured on an article as they have a very promising future since this is the direction the fashion industry is following slowly. They currently have a website built in Shopify, with a simple structure: a shop page, also about and mission pages and the tailored service called up-cycle where you when can submit an item (old clothes or other fabrics) you want to turn it into something else (another piece of cloth) based on options they suggest.
Challenge
The user is used to apps like Vinted, Depop, Asos and they want to offer a better and more practical service to them, that’s why they wanted to create an MVP to later find an investor to bring this product to life.
Define
Research Goals
Research interview
The main motivation of 3 out of 5 people was to reduce waste and do something with clothes that they don’t use anymore
The platform 5 out of 5 prefer to buy clothes is a smartphone.
4 out of 5 said that potential frustrations could happen in relation to service time, how many steps to order, or how complicated can be to order.
5 out 5 order clothes from Depot, Vinted, Asos Market, charity shops.
competitors
Currently, there aren’t products in the market that can be compared to the service they offer. Depop and Vinted are very popular second-clothes kind of products and Sojo connects seamstresses with people that want or need to alter or repair clothes.
Ideation
User flow
In terms of the main user flow (to request a virtual meeting to order an upcycling) is a pretty straightforward journey but there are around 5 and 8 steps before confirming the meeting.
informationarchitecture
Part of the structure adopted was inspired by another product seen above in the board called Sojo as some part of what they do is similar to the service offered by Re_Considered. It’s also worth mentioning this product is very simple in terms of what it offers, therefore, there weren’t any major complications. You can see the site of the map here
WIREframes
The options below show (left to right) a welcome page, another page for up-cycling options, the third one for orders, next to; a profile details page, and an option for extra options page. Both options follow some patterns observed in other products that the user is familiar with. But it also features in the welcome page two ways to place an order and other important notifications or reminders of important actions to be done.
You can also see these wireframes here
UI DESIGN
One of the constraints of the project was to follow the actual branding they already have. So we followed the colour scheme they provided us with and also one of their fonts (Josefin), later paired with Raleway to add more character to the product but also for hierarchy porposes.
We also came up with some illustrations based on the style they already adopted that were later used as some type of icons for the up-cycling options they offer.
We created over 45 pages, from the onboarding pages to the last payment page.
User testing
Usability Test plan
We tested the main user flow and the welcome page. We used a high-fidelity version of the app. It was a moderated usability test, 1-2-1, 5 participants with previous experience using the desktop version product. The compony provided the list of participants.
USAbility insights
The prototype was very successful apart from some small frustrations or suggestions from the user.
5/5 liked and enjoyed the UI and illustrations.
2/5 said CTA button to confirm upcycle item was sent on the homepage didn’t make sense to them.
1/5 suggested once to have a ‘add to calendar‘ button when the booking is confirmed.
1/5 suggested adding the price of the item before booking the meeting to see if the user could afford it or not.
1/5 was confused about the difference between orders and basket on the menu.
5/5 agreed the main user flow is pretty easy to follow.
1/5 said the ‘surprise me‘ option was a very good idea for when you don’t what to turn your item into.
ITERATIONS
There were iterations made to the final solution which were not too many and easy to implement, below is a shortlist of what was implemented.
On the Confirmation page, a picture of the seamstress to meet was added
On the Upcycling Clothes Options page, the price estimate price was added to each item
On the Home page, the first CTA changed to ‘Confirm I sent my item for rework’
On the Confirmation page, add to calendar CTA was added
You can see the final prototype here.