Case Study
Details
Client
Syracuse University
Year
2021-2023
Role
User Experience Design, Research, User Testing, Prototyping, Illustration
Brief
How can we create a digital solution that allows wheelchair users to connect with tailors and get their clothes altered as per their fit and style?
Revolutionizing Fashion: A Web App for Wheelchair-Accessible Clothing Customization
Solution
A web app for customization of clothes that leverages community skills to make clothing functional, fashionable and accessible for people in wheelchairs.
How I identified the solution?
1. Understanding areas where wheelchair users need alterations.
2. Understanding measurements required for alteration and recording them digitally.
3. Communicating wheelchair user body measurements to tailors in a clear and concise way.
Analyzing the data captured
Clothing means identity
Interview analysis
1. Clothing doesn't fit
"Probably more than half of my T-shirts need alterations, they have safety pins"-participant.
2. Adaptive clothing is hard to find
"I like clothes that last long, but I am always looking for clothes that look good on me, but they are hard to find as per my size"-participant.
3. Communicating measurements
"It is hard to find tailors who would understand our measurements"-participant.
Prototyping & testing
How the user will record measurements without going to the tailor?
A grid was developed on the shirt to facilitate understanding and communication of measurements to tailors, taking into account the adjustment capacity of the shirt.
Establishing interactions and features reflecting pain points
How the user will record measurements without going to the tailor?
A grid was developed on the shirt to facilitate understanding and communication of measurements to tailors, taking into account the adjustment capacity of the shirt.
Get the perfect fit
How the user will record measurements without going to the tailor?
A grid was developed on the shirt to facilitate understanding and communication of measurements to tailors, taking into account the adjustment capacity of the shirt.
Custom illustration
Illustration scenarios
Custom illustrations inspired by real user testing experiences, designed with a color palette aligned with Remend's brand identity.
More screens
Learnings
Research and user testing is vital for product design
ReflectionMy research involved participants from different cities, utilizing remote testing with participants who are in different cities. It was a practical and effective way to gather feedback on the measurement interface and sizing options. It is still a valuable approach to gather feedback from participants located in different cities, as it allowed me to reach a diverse user base and obtain insights from a wider range of perspectives.
Phase 2
By the end of the design process, I concluded that designing a 3D adaptable suit that can directly take body measurements and transfer the data to a sizing system can be a great way to address the back-and-forth of sizing alterations in a more efficient and accurate manner. However, setting up a foundation of measurement database was important, and it directly speaks to the needs of the wheelchair user.