You’re a ____- based ____ focused on ____ , ____ , and filling in the blank.
Talk about yourself, your work, your Social Security number, and your mom’s maiden name. No, wait, not those last two.
Experiences.
So many experiences.
By now, you're Chief Experience Officer, or CEO, as it’s commonly called. Right?
There are numerous skincare apps that already exist, which all aims to help users in discovering and curating suitable products for their needs. I conducted an analysis of other competitors to gain insights of their strengths and weaknesses.
I wanted to understand how young adults typically do their skincare routine and what were their struggles. Thus, I created a research study through surveys and user interviews.
I gathered twenty-one responses from individuals aged 18-25 for the survey, featuring a mix of multiple-choice, ranking, and short-response questions. To encourage participants to elaborate on their skincare decisions, I included specific response prompts.
I created an affinity map to organize all my information and convert it into easily digestible data. I grouped the information based on similar interests and ideas and then labeled each category. This process allowed me to identify common challenges and preferences related to skincare products.
Some participants have expressed concerns about adverse effects caused from products that are marketed for their specific skin type. These participants suggest that these issues can be attributed to overusing active ingredients or using a product for the wrong skin concern. This data insight raises the question: How can we identify good products in our skincare routine?
After identifying potential user needs, I developed behavior archetypes to precisely define my target audiences. These behavioral archetypes enable me to gain insights into my users' needs and shine light on potential solutions for each archetype's specific problems.
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Now that I know my target audience, I can outline the various screens of the app. I wanted to understand how my users can navigate the app. I’ve created a site map to help organize the placement of each functionality.
Here is one iteration of my early designs. I utilized the site map above and drafts of user flows to help craft these wireframes.
Users can view and edit routines, adjusting the time (morning or night) and choosing to repeat routine steps. This provides a simple layout for tracking product usage and schedules.
Users can track their skincare progress through six different categories. Bad symptoms are marked red on the calendar, while good symptoms are marked green.
The shelf function is designed to track the products users already own. Users can search for products using keywords or scan the barcode to add items to their inventory. Additionally, the app provides information to users about a product's purpose and ingredients.
The data utilized for this project stems from a small sample size, constrained by time. Expanding our participant pool for usability testing could more accurately validate what is effective and identify areas needing improvement in real-life scenarios. Although my user research guided the creation of a tracker, there may be flaws in the final design that would benefit from additional usability testing.
To launch this app successfully in the market, we can enhance the brand by creating a logo and establishing an onboarding process at the app's outset. This will enable our user base to quickly recognize and start using the app. The next step is to brainstorm a business model that ensures the retention of long-lasting users.