Skin Genie
End to End Application
During the pandemic, several trends emerged, including a heightened interest in skincare. With people spending more time indoors and working from home, they found themselves with additional time to dedicate to skincare routines. Prior to this, many individuals may have overlooked skincare, either deeming it unnecessary or feeling unsure of where to begin. Drawing from personal experience and empathizing with those feelings, I aim to assist individuals in addressing their skin's specific needs and guiding them on their skincare journey.
Project Timeline: 5 weeks
My Role: UI/UX Designer
Tools: Figma, Fig jam & Miro
Solution
While many medical applications exist, there's a gap in the market for an app centered on skincare that offers a wide range of support. The main issue is determining individual skincare needs without extensive knowledge of one's skin type or requirements.
Problem
Create an app that collaborates with a system to analyze users' skin, offering instant results and guiding them on addressing their skin's needs with tailored suggestions.
Discover
How did we get here?
Reaching this conclusion required engaging in exploratory research to gain insights into the realm of the problem, showing empathy towards users, and revealing their needs, wants, and goals.
Optimizing skincare solutions
RESEARCH GOALSTo guide the research, our emphasis was on answering three key questions:
How can we develop a system that seamlessly integrates with the app to deliver user results anytime and anywhere they desire?
Integration
What insights can we gain into users' preferences and requirements for a skincare-dedicated app to enhance their confidence in navigating skincare routines?
Preferences
How can we offer expert guidance to users seeking personalized skincare solutions, particularly those lacking access to extensive resources?
Assistance
Great skincare apps exist, but lack accurate information and guidance for users
COMPETITOR ANALYSISA competitive analysis of three existing skincare apps, focusing on their features, successes, and shortcomings, and examining their accessibility to broaden the scope for those seeking skincare help.
… but who is my market?
USER INTERVIEWSI reached out to various skincare-focused online communities and conducted five hour-long interviews: one with a certified esthetician, one with a skincare enthusiast, and three with skincare novices.
Define
What did we learn?
Analyzing the data gathered from our research to identify primary users and the problem we can address for them.
Users are wanting to do better by their skin but are overwhelmed
AFFINITY MAPPINGBy deconstructing insights obtained from individual interviews and then reconstructing them using affinity mapping, we successfully recognized significant trends and recurring patterns.
Patterns
Difficulty finding trustworthy brands and comparing their pros and cons amid marketing noise.
Misinformation
Reluctance to try new products due to past experiences where changing skincare routines worsened skin.
Past Trauma
Trouble identifying additional skincare needs when unsure of what the skin requires.
Uncertainty
Overwhelmed by the skincare journey and unsure where to begin.
Overwhelmed
Struggled with frequent skin changes due to hormones, seasons, and travel.
Ever-changing
Needs
Ingredient transparency and product shelf-life information.
Transparency
Allow users to rate the importance of their skin concerns, helping to personalize skincare preferences.
Consideration
A comprehensive guide on how lifestyle factors can impact and guide skin health.
Guidance
Personalized recommendations on skincare routines and product suggestions based on skin analysis.
Personalization
Streamline skincare terminology and information.
Simplification
Connecting them through design
PERSONASMeet Alex and Jane: Alex is a skincare novice, while Jane is an experienced skincare enthusiast. I designed Skin Genie to cater to a diverse audience, from beginners to experts, providing valuable insights into their skin needs.
How can we help?
Users struggling to build a skincare routine that fits their skin needs by offering personalized product recommendations, keeping them on track with regular use, and providing reliable ingredient information.
How might we…
…develop a system that provide users with accurate product recommendations based on their skin & environmental needs?
…provide users with trustworthy information backed by professionals in the field?
…encourage users to be consistent with their skincare routine to see noticeable changes?
…help those new to skincare feel less overwhelmed by the overload of information and products available?
Design
How can we solve this?
With a well-defined problem and a clear user base, it was time to think big and brainstorm solutions while building roadmaps for the future.
Set the groundwork, allowing the skincare routine to expand over time
FEATURE ROADMAPBased on our research, we identified that the solution must address product features in three key areas:
Organization
For record keeping & planning.
Routine Tracker
Ultimately we decided that a broad-but-shallow MVP — namely, varied features with limited capability at launch — would be best. This strategy lays the groundwork for agile feature growth based on user feedback.
Nurture the base for glowing skin
SITEMAP
Educational
For beginners to learn and everyone to access expert advice.
Product Database
Content Database
Personal
Adapted to fit each user's specific preferences.
Onboarding Quiz
Skin Profile
Product Recommendation
With an outline of what kind of features Habitat needed, I crafted a sitemap to determine where they would go an how users could move between them.
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Visualizing the solution
WIREFRAMESStarting with low-fidelity screens allows for quick exploration of various concepts. Moving to mid-fidelity screens helps visualize the user flow and truly brings the product to life. This stage is where you can give others a tangible glimpse of what you're working on.
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Deliver
How can we improve?
Bringing all the components into a functional prototype for further testing and prioritizing necessary revisions.
A visual experience that mirrors a skin’s journey
BRANDING AND COMPONENTSSkin Genie is designed to make your skincare wishes come true, just like a genie granting wishes. The app effortlessly handles the work for you, guiding you toward your skin goals with personalized recommendations. Our branding reflects inclusivity, with colors chosen to appeal to all genders, striking a balance that's neither too girly nor too masculine. These hues were carefully selected to create an enthusiastic, supportive atmosphere, ensuring everyone feels welcome and empowered on their skincare journey.
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Users resonated with my solution and their feedback pushed key adjustments
USER TESTINGTo test the viability of this new feature we ran moderated, virtual usability tests with 5 participants. All users were able to complete both tasks!
In summary, user feedback on the app was generally positive, with many feeling it would be especially beneficial for those new to skincare. While many suggestions for improvements were minor, three key high-impact changes were prioritized.
Where it starts
MOCKUPSThe onboarding process became a critical feature, as it plays a key role in delivering personalized skin results to users. This step allows us to gain insights into the user’s lifestyle, skin type, and preferences, ensuring that the recommendations provided are accurate and tailored to their specific needs.
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Advancing to the next level
The AI skin analysis feature was developed to assist users who may be unsure about their skin's needs or areas of focus. It was carefully designed to be user-friendly and accessible to everyone, making it easier for individuals to understand and address their unique skincare concerns. This feature helps bridge the gap between users and personalized skincare guidance.
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Not the end, just the beginning
The results were designed to deliver valuable information without overwhelming the user with too many details. This approach ensures that users receive clear, concise insights tailored to their skin's needs, making it easier to understand and apply the recommendations without feeling inundated by excessive data. The focus is on providing meaningful guidance in a way that is both accessible and user-friendly.
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Live prototype
Click your way through this prototype to experience the design for yourself.
REFLECTIONMy takeaways
Skincare is for everyone: The participants I recruited were invaluable to the success of this project. Although I had a clear direction in mind, they not only reassured me that this could genuinely benefit people but also offered fantastic ideas for design, layout, and additional features to incorporate.
Great design builds on what's already proven: Some of my inspiration for the design of this skincare app came from exploring various apps and websites that provide valuable skincare information. I carefully selected and combined design elements to create a cohesive app that helps users easily identify their skin type and start their skincare journey without the hassle.
If I had more time: After interviewing an esthetician, I realized that understanding a client’s skin involves asking questions, observing, and feeling their skin. To offer users a more personalized experience, I’d like to explore collaborating with estheticians, providing an option for users who prefer a quick, in-person skin analysis in addition to the AI feature.
