Digital Wardrobes
UX Research
Overview
We conducted research, utilizing scenario-based observations and interviews with participants from diverse backgrounds, to lay the groundwork for Digital Wardrobes—a technology-based solution designed to assist individuals in organizing and optimizing their closet space.
Problem
The fashion landscape is expansive and ever-evolving, frequently causing consumers to feel overwhelmed by the continuous growth of their wardrobes. Faced with an abundance of choices, individuals grapple with the daunting task of organizing, tracking, and optimizing their closet space. Our research endeavors to address a crucial question: What are the fundamental user needs for a technology-based solution designed to help organize and maximize their wardrobe?
Goals:
1. Gain insights into participants' existing methods of wardrobe organization.
2. Identify and understand the challenges individuals currently face in managing their wardrobes.
3. Ideate a technology-based solution to address the challenges.
ROLE
UX Research
Interviews
Data Analysis
TIME FRAME
10 weeks
PROCESS
Research & Analysis Observations, interviews, affinity diagrams
Findings Sequence diagrams, personas, scenarios, customer journeys, participant spectrums, and priority matrix
Discussion Insights, limitations, future work
How do people currently organize their closets?
Observations
We conducted remote Zoom observations with 8 participants (five female, three male), aged 22 to 50. They were recruited through diverse word-of-mouth referrals to ensure varied perspectives.
Observation Participant Demographics
Data Collection
During each session, we explored shopping habits and spending limits, observed participants organizing their closets by following an observation protocol, and concluded with demographic questions. The study time varied between 25 and 45 minutes, depending on participants’ inventory size. We recorded observational notes for each participant.
Data Analysis
We consolidated our findings and organized our study notes using the AEIOU framework (Activities, Environments, Interactions, Observations, and Users). We then created an affinity diagram to identify common themes among our data.
From the observation studies, we created a visual representation of the data in a sequence diagram. It follows the combined common path our participants took to complete the observed task.
Interviews
We conducted remote Zoom interviews with 8 participants (three female, five male), aged 23 to 42. They were recruited through diverse word-of-mouth referrals to ensure varied perspectives.
Interview Participant Demographics
Data Collection
Each interview began with questions about closet habits and motivations, then shifted to past decluttering experiences and obstacles. We explored participants' preferences for solutions and their interest in using technology. Finally, we asked about desired features in a tech-based closet organization solution. Demographic questions closed the interview, with each session lasting between 25 and 45 minutes. Interview notes were recorded for each participant.
Data Analysis
We analyzed interview transcripts using Atlas.ti, applying descriptive codes to the data. Subsequently, an affinity diagram was generated to reveal common themes. Refining the coding process, a final set of codes was established and documented in the Codebook.
The interviews were re-coded using this framework to quantify the frequency of each identified theme. These themes played a crucial role in shaping our findings and served as the foundation for developing persona spectrums, personas, scenarios, user journeys, and a priority matrix.
Why is closet organization such a chore?
Inventory awareness
- Multiple observation participants expressed that they are unfamiliar with their closet inventory and have forgotten/unworn items.
- Most participants took considerable time when deciding if an item should be kept, donated, or discarded and had trouble parting with items.
- Four interview participants expressed a desire for an easier way to track everything they own.
- Two participants expressed that they've accidentally repurchased the same item twice.
- Some participants have resorted to using various planners and note-taking strategies to keep track of their clothing.
- “I just wish I could see everything I own so I know what I need to organize better. It’s so hard right now because I have so much stuff in my closet.”
Organization obstacles
- Most observation participants had small closet spaces available. They expressed that not having enough space and not knowing how to organize based on the space they have are both big obstacles.
- Each observation participant had their own way of organizing current inventory (e.g. by color, by type of clothing), with some starting to declutter without an organization method in place.
- Five interview participants noted that they “don’t know where to start.” They are struggling to organize their closet efficiently, dissatisfied with their current method, and seeking effective solutions for their space without knowing where to start or improve.
- Participants expressed a common desire to plan outfits in advance and optimize the use of all wardrobe items.
Emotional deterrence
- All observation participants displayed negative feelings towards decluttering/organizing their closet.
- Multiple participants appeared stressed or overwhelmed when initiating the task. They expressed that the task seems daunting and they feel like they haven’t made progress.
- Seven interview participants expressed interest in a technology-based resource that can help with wardrobe management.
- Two interview participants expressed that they have tried looking for resources but gave up because it seemed “too complicated”.
- Four interview participants noted that they do not enjoy organizing their closet and often put it off until it’s absolutely necessary.
We generated persona spectrums using our interview data, which helped us create personas and user journeys.
Personas & User Journeys
We then came to a collaborative consensus on the most important problems our users face by creating a list of priorities through a priority matrix.
Based on our findings, we summarized the themes into five main insights to shape our technology-based solution aimed to address wardrobemanagement difficulties:
Precise Wardrobe Tracking
A common theme with our participants is finding clothing they had forgotten about during the decluttering session, which sometimes resulted in accidental repurchases of existing items. The core issue that gives rise to these duplicate purchases is participants’ unawareness of their full wardrobe inventory. Some participants have resorted to using various planners and note-taking strategies to keep track of their clothing, but have yet to find an effective system to stick with.
To address this problem, a potential solution would be a precise wardrobe tracking feature that allows users to keep an organized view of their current wardrobe. By offering a way to visualize and track individual closet inventory, this solution can encourage user engagement, increase awareness of items in possession, reduce unintentional/duplicate clothing purchases, and limit over purchasing.
Adaptive Content Display
Most participants have certain strategies in categorizing their clothing such as grouping by color, item type or seasonal wear. However, these categorization methods alone are not effective enough to help our participants with organization, especially with a limited closet space.
To solve this issue, a technology-based solution with customizable visual elements would be beneficial in allowing users to interact with their wardrobe holistically. To cater to the varied fashion preferences and wardrobe sizes of users, our technology will be designed to dynamically adjust content display. It will offer customizable views, filters, and organizational strategies tailored to individual closet sizes and layouts, ensuring a personalized and seamless user experience.
Visual Progress Tracking
Whiledecluttering, many participants expressed and showed signs of negativeemotions associated with organizing their closets. These feelings areassociated with being overwhelmed by the amount of clothing, not knowing whereto start, and ineffective wardrobe organization methods.
To transform the often daunting task of wardrobe management into a positive and motivating experience, our technological solution is designed to highlight users' achievements. Through visual representations such as progress bars or intuitive graphs, individuals can easily track and celebrate the strides they've made in organizing their closet. This tangible sense of accomplishment serves as a powerful incentive, encouraging users to stay engaged and inspired throughout the entire process.
Intuitive Interface
Participants fromboth observations and interviews expressed their interest in a technology-basedsolution for their wardrobe management problem. However, several have notedtheir negative experiences with searching for resources and giving up due toperceived complexity of the interfaces.
To reduce frustration and increasechances of user engagement, our solution will offer an intuitive interfacethat’s compatible with users of all comfort levels when it comes to technology.Users will be able to easily navigate the interface, quickly familiarizethemselves with the interface, andcomplete tasks without much thought. This will reduce the negative emotionsassociated with closet organization and looking for a useful solution.
SmartSuggestions
Based on the observations and interviewresponses, the majority of mostparticipants don’t have a system of organization they are satisfied with. They usually stick with what they’re familiar with while desiring a better solution.Participants want to know what method of organization is most effective fortheir space. However, they aren’t able to can’tfind out unless they physically test each method, which is time and laborconsuming.
To overcome this obstacle, our technological solution willoffer users smart suggestions based on their inventory. Whether grouping items by type, color, or season, or allowing personalized customization, our system will digitally organizes their belongings. Users can easily visualize each item within the suggested categories, empowering them to organize based on these recommendations and align the process with their unique preferences. This flexible approach ensures users not only receive practical suggestions but also have the autonomy to discover and implement a method that truly satisfies their organizational needs.
Limitations
Our participants did not accurately represent the general population. The 16 participants that we observed/interviewed ranged in age from 22 to 50, which is a small sample size with a distinct age range. Our findings are not generalizable and we aim to explore a larger sample size with more variance in age.
Observations don’t provide enough information for us to thoroughly explore participants’ feelings, goals, needs, and frustrations. We continued thisresearch through interviews to gain a deeper understanding of user challenges,but future work is still needed.
Low ecological validity. The sessions were limited in time and our observations may not fully depict the true nature of our participants' situation over time.
Future Work
We intend to broaden our user research by:
- Engaging with a more diverse participant pool
- Conduct comprehensive usability testing
- Collect more valuable feedback for our technological solution
- Continuously improve our product through numerous iterations
Our next step is to ideate high-impact features for the product using our priority matrix and design implications. We will continue developing and validating these designs with potential users to deliver a useful technological solution for optimizing wardrobe managementfree decluttering experience.