The Process
To understand users' challenges with outfit selection, wardrobe management, and shopping, I conducted research focused on their behaviors, frustrations, and needs.
To better understand the challenges people face when selecting outfits, managing their wardrobes, and shopping for new pieces, I conducted a combination of competitive analysis and a diary study.
The goals for my research process were the following:
I analyzed three popular wardrobe management apps—Indyx, Whering, and Acloset—to evaluate their features, strengths, and gaps in solving wardrobe-related challenges.
While Indyx, Whering, and Acloset offer useful wardrobe management tools, each has notable limitations that leave room for innovation. Indyx provides high-quality wardrobe digitization but relies heavily on manual outfit creation and requires a paid concierge service, making it less accessible. Whering excels in outfit planning with AI-generated suggestions but lacks advanced wardrobe insights and resale options, limiting long-term wardrobe optimization. Acloset integrates AI-based recommendations and in-app shopping but struggles with personalization, often delivering generic outfit suggestions. These gaps present an opportunity for my app to offer a more intelligent, personalized, and sustainability-driven wardrobe experience by combining AI-powered outfit recommendations, automated wardrobe insights, seamless shopping integrations, and eco-conscious fashion solutions—providing users with a truly comprehensive and intuitive digital closet.
To gain deeper insights into daily wardrobe habits and decision-making, I conducted a week-long diary study with five participants. Each participant documented:
Participants often struggled to remember when they last wore an outfit, leading to concerns about repeating looks too frequently, especially in work or social settings.
Despite having full wardrobes, many participants felt they had "nothing to wear," frequently defaulting to the same few outfits due to decision fatigue.
Some participants reported feeling less confident in certain outfits, leading them to avoid wearing pieces they otherwise liked.
Participants hesitated to buy new clothing because they weren't sure how it would fit into their existing wardrobe. They wished for an easier way to visualize new purchases alongside their current items.
From my research, I identified several recurring themes:
Fashion is a form of self-expression, but many struggle with outfit planning and making the most of their wardrobe.
To address these issues, I developed two personas:
Through my research, I discovered that many users struggled with wardrobe management in different ways. For some, like high school students, fashion was a form of self-expression, but they often felt stuck wearing the same outfits over and over. Others, like busy professionals, wanted to look stylish and put together but didn’t have the time or energy to plan outfits each day. No matter their background, users shared common frustrations—decision fatigue, feeling like they had "nothing to wear," and struggling to make the most of their wardrobe. These insights led to the development of two key personas:
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The feature roadmap is the bridge between user needs and the logistical structure of the product. It lays out all potential features while considering research insights, such as competitor analysis, interviews, and market trends. This helps prioritize what is essential now and what can be added in future iterations.
By categorizing features, I ensure a structured approach to building the app efficiently while keeping the user experience seamless and engaging.
This site map serves as a structured blueprint for the app’s navigation, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience. It organizes key features into clearly defined categories. By mapping out this hierarchy, I established a strong foundation for the app’s information architecture, ensuring efficient and logical navigation for users.
The Task Flow for WardrobeSense outlines the key steps users take to complete essential tasks like outfit planning, clothing organization, and shopping. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, these flows ensure a seamless experience, making fashion management simple and intuitive.
Persona: Emma, the Fashion-Conscious Teen
Goals
Frustrations
How This Task Flow Helps Emma
Emma can upload and categorize her wardrobe items, making it easier to see what she owns and avoid repeating outfits. She can tag clothes by color, season, and occasion, helping her discover new styling combinations.
The Task Flow for WardrobeSense outlines the key steps users take to complete essential tasks like outfit planning, clothing organization, and shopping. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, these flows ensure a seamless experience, making fashion management simple and intuitive.
Persona: Lisa, the Busy Professional
Goals
Frustrations
How This Task Flow Helps Lisa
Lisa can use AI-powered recommendations to quickly put together polished outfits that fit her schedule. The app suggests outfits based on weather, occasion, and personal preferences, reducing the time she spends deciding what to wear.
The Task Flow for WardrobeSense outlines the key steps users take to complete essential tasks like outfit planning, clothing organization, and shopping. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, these flows ensure a seamless experience, making fashion management simple and intuitive.
Persona: Emma, the Fashion-Conscious Teen
Goals
Frustrations
How This Task Flow Helps Emma
With AI-powered shopping recommendations, Emma can discover pieces that complement her existing wardrobe, ensuring smarter purchases. She can also save items for later, compare styles, and shop sustainably by finding brands that match her fashion needs.
