Vera

an app focused on making fashion accessible to the plus-size community

three screens previewing the app, Vera

Role: UI/UX Designer, Researcher

Timeline: 3 months

Deliverables: App prototype, wireframes, user flows, research presentation, affinity map

Tools: Figma, Miro, Adobe Firefly, Figma Slides, Google Survey, Optimal Workshop

Mentor: Emilie Mazurek

Problem

People with larger bodies are struggling to find clothes that fit well and express their personal style.

Extended sizes are rarely carried in-store. Because of this, the majority of plus-sized shoppers are sourcing their clothing from online stores. While online shopping, they struggle with sizing inconsistency and do not see their bodies accurately represented by clothing models.

Solution

To address the problem from the consumer end, I designed a social platform that showcases self-expressive, plus-sized outfits and encourages people to share their shopping experiences. This solves major pain points by:

  1. increasing visual representation of larger bodies

  2. boosting shoppers’ trust and confidence in size selection

  3. creating more accurate expectations of online purchases

Research

Secondary Research:

I found that even though the average woman in the US is a size 14-18, only 19% of women’s apparel sold in 2021 was considered plus-sized (Business insider, ModernRetail).

“Plus-size people are still getting stuck in a place of not necessarily being able to express themselves through fashion on the same level as smaller bodied people without having to really do a lot of research.” - Lauren Savoie / Business Insider

Research and Markets’ Plus-Size Clothing Market Forecast (2018-2028) defines the key market challenges as follows:

  • Limited Inclusivity and Representation in the Fashion Industry

  • Inconsistent Sizing Standards

  • Limited Variety of Styles and Trends

I also learned that online plus-size communities on Facebook and Reddit are very active, with community members taking it upon themselves to develop extensive spreadsheets and reviews to help other plus-sized people find clothes.

Competitive Research:

I determined that although AI tools such as FitAnalytics and virtual shopping assistants such as StitchFix do exist, younger shoppers generally find them limiting, inaccurate, and do not trust the lack of visuals that these approaches take.

Surveys & Interviews:

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Maya Delano