Fast fashion is a popular choice for consumers due to its affordability and convenience, but this comes at a steep environmental cost. As new items flood the market every season, millions of garments are discarded, creating an unsustainable cycle. While eco-conscious shoppers want to make better choices, they face obstacles in finding convenient and reliable second-hand options.
The Reality of Fast Fashion’s Impact
Uncovering the Challenges of Second-Hand Shopping
Through in-depth research, I uncovered major barriers for users interested in second-hand fashion. Interviews, surveys, and empathy mapping revealed that users worry about:
1. The quality and authenticity of items.
2. High shipping fees and lack of try-on options.
3. Struggling with disorganized apps lacking a curated, trustworthy experience.
Creating the Solution with Second Life
In response, I designed Second Life, a user-centered platform offering a curated and trustworthy second-hand shopping experience. Key features include:
• Quality Videos: Detailed visuals of each item to ensure authenticity.
• Virtual Try-On Feature: Enabling users to visualize items on themselves.
• Verified Badge: Items and users are trusted and with quality assurance.
These elements make second-hand shopping feel reliable, enjoyable, and as convenient as fast fashion, transforming user hesitation into excitement.
Design Process: Style Guide
Through multiple rounds of usability testing, ensuring that Second Life offered an intuitive and collaborative experience.
Iterating Based on User Feedback
1.Label Update (“Account” instead of “My”):
Enhanced clarity by renaming vague labels, making functions intuitive.
Badge Description Update:
Added a brief explanation directly on the page to clarify the purpose of the Verified Badge, improving user understanding.
Navigation Update (“+” to “>”):
Prevented page clutter by replacing the “+” button with a “>” icon, switching to a new page for expanded content. Additional details now appear in a pop-up window for better accessibility.
What I learned…?
Increased Trust in Second-Hand Shopping:
By introducing features like verified badge, quality videos and virtual try-on tool, the app effectively addressed concerns about product authenticity and fit, significantly boosting user confidence.
The Importance of User-Centric Design:
Prioritizing user needs and directly addressing pain points (e.g., quality assurance and intuitive navigation) was essential in building a reliable and successful platform.
Final Design
