Convergent Product Design

Lia - Wearable technology for women

2005-05-25T19:13:00.000-04:00

Welcome!

This blog is devoted to the design of:

Lia - Wearable Technology for Women

Here you'll find a record of the design process for Lia, created during the spring of 2005 at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

There's a lot of detailed content here, so you could scroll down this front page a bit or jump straight to posting on:

user research
concept sketches
personas
final form design
an iconic interaction demonstration

or choose one of the three photographed scenarios: 1 - 2 - 3.

Scenario 1

2005-05-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

Most of my mornings look the same.

I always pick out my outfit before I do anything else, because if I pick out my clothes the night before, it's inevitable that I'll change my mind in the morning anyway.

After that, I take a shower, get dressed, and then I put on my makeup.

I always leave picking out my jewelry until right before I leave. It's my favorite part of my morning ritual.

I like all of my jewelry, but there are some pieces that mean more to me than others. For instance, my favorite ring was given to me by my grandmother before she passed away, and wearing it always reminds me of her.

My charm bracelet is also one of my favorites because each charm reminds me of a different time and place. I can always seem to remember where each one came from, even the ones from when I was a child.

The one piece of jewelry I wear the most often is Lia. I can wear it anywhere I want, but most often I feel like wearing it on my wrist so I can see it.

I like watching its display evolve during the day, and my friends often comment on it.

I never know who I am going to run into when I go out. When I wear Lia, it naturally responds to the people around me and my chance meetings are recorded with a touch.

Scenario 2

2005-05-25T18:00:00.000-04:00

During my lunch break I decided to go to the park to enjoy the beautiful day outside.

I was trying to read all of my backed up emails...

... but got distracted by these pigeons over in the grass, so I just leaned back to gaze at the flowers and watch the people pass by.

While I was looking around, I saw my friend Susan approaching in the distance. I haven't seen her in ages!

When she saw me, she walked up to say hello. She had a few minutes, so she sat down so we could chat.

It's so funny how after not seeing someone for a month, you kind of lose touch of what's going on in their life.

Susan has this great new job now, working for a local newspaper, and I had a chance to tell her about my trip to New York, and the great shopping they have there.

Unfortunately, I had to get back to work and so we said our goodbyes. As we hugged goodbye, I noticed that Susan was wearing Lia also!

She just bought her's, so when she looked down at hers, I did too. We saw that they recognized one another when we hugged, and each Lia added a color and a light to represent our meeting.

Scenario 3

2005-05-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

After I got off work I decided to go out for a drink. It is Friday after all. When I arrived at the bar, I stood outside to wait for my friend Sherry.

As I rummaged for my cell phone to check the time...

I noticed my Lia because a couple of the lights were brighter. One of the brighter lights was green, so I knew Sherry was close by.

I looked up to find her but I couldn't see her anywhere, so I figured she must be inside.

Inside, I saw Sherry across to room on the phone, but I didn't want to disturb her...

... so I went ahead and ordered my drink.

While I was waiting, I saw someone that works in my office. We greeted each other and talked about office politics for a while.

Sherry was off the phone by then and spotted me. As she made her way over, Lia got brighter...

... and when she touched me on the shoulder to say hello, a new white light was added next to her green light.

I didn't stay at the bar too much longer, because it was a long day...

... but it was great to see so many of my favorite people today.

Device above display case

2005-05-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

Wrapping

2005-05-24T05:41:00.000-04:00

Proximity

2005-05-23T00:34:00.000-04:00

Display & device summary

2005-05-16T14:49:00.000-04:00

Close-up

2005-05-16T14:26:00.000-04:00

In-store display

2005-05-16T04:05:00.000-04:00

The display case for the final product enhances the nature of the device by being composed of metal. This allows the product to appear to float, while actually being magnetically attached to the outside of the cylinder. Dana and I made the design decision to remove a section of the cylinder, so that the illusion would be reinforced.

The actual container that the user will receive upon purchase is a part of the display, and reveals the color that is assigned to each device. It is suspended at the very top of the cylinder, and can be removed and opened easily. The lid to the container is partially clear, to reveal the inside, so that the coiled device is visible to the user after it is put away.

Scenario - The Plan

2005-05-14T17:05:00.001-04:00

In order to clearly communicate our final concept, we will create at least three scenarios. These scenarios will be comprised of high-quality photographs, grouped and displayed with voice-overs.

The scenarios will convey the interaction of the product - both the form and the interface - in use by our target audience in context.

Lauren and I outlined the photo shoot, and that outline is below for your reading enjoyment...

Scenarios of Use - all occuring on a Saturday in the life of a woman in our target demographic

1 - getting ready in the morning
1 quick flash of taking shower,
2 blow dry hair
3 on the nightstand
4 putting it on - wrapping action shot
5 then out the door

highlight non-obtrusive nature, it's attractive on its own, when dimed
always wears it - what if you meet someone and it's not there?!?

2 - at the park / outside / walking dog / meets new friend - midday
1 walking down sidewalk with book in hand
2 sits to read, people watch, person walking up in the background
3 turns to look with face of recognition
4 greets, have conversation
5 hug - see both people's bracelets within the shot
6 look to bracelet to see response - closeup of one/both wrists

introduce function through adding a new friend

3 - bar / nightclub - revisiting old friend(s) - most number of people
1 night, waiting to go into bar
2 approaches the bar, sits on stool, sets her evening bag down, shot of hand, wrist with bag and bar in background
3 looks down and notices two of the colors are glowing - proximity
4 similar layout to shot 2, but looking up and around the room
5 approaches friend, greats with handshake, white light added
6 another friend touches on shoulder, and another light is added
end - goes home, dims as in beginning to close the scenarios back where they began

Sketch Models..

2005-05-03T16:01:00.000-04:00

Final Orthographics

2005-05-02T21:16:00.000-04:00

Final Sketch

2005-05-02T21:11:00.000-04:00

How It Works..

2005-05-02T20:37:00.000-04:00

A completely visual demostration of interactions with Lia.
(formerly an on-screen presentation)

Keep an eye on the bottom of each slide to see how Lia responds to the scenario above.

The Bottom shows the LCD display, and how it changes with the users' interactions.

Technology - Color Flexible LCD

2005-05-01T22:04:00.000-04:00

A new Full color flexible LCD by Toshiba

Using an LCD display rather than fiber optics will allow us more freedom in displaying the interactions on the device.

Technology - Lights

2005-04-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

Still exploring options for light display and data transmission within the device...

What's looking promising:

-Fiber Optics

from How Stuff Works

Technology - It IS possible!

2005-04-26T19:44:00.000-04:00

Red Tacton has developed technology which transmits data by, "inducing fluctuations in the minute electric field on the surface of the human body."

How it works:

"1. The RedTacton transmitter induces a weak electric field on the surface of the body.
2. The RedTacton receiver senses changes in the weak electric field on the surface of the body caused by the transmitter.
3. RedTacton relies upon the principle that the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal can vary according to the changes of a weak electric field.
4. RedTacton detects changes in the optical properties of an electro-optic crystal using a laser and converts the result to an electrical signal in a optical receiver circuit."

The best part:

"... RedTacton transceivers which integrate transmitters and receivers are also available."

While it seems Red Tacton recognizes the potential for this to change our everyday interactions into more human-centered experiences, there is only one example of human-to-human interaction while there are many human-to-device examples... They have a collaborative field testing program and I think that there would be lot of value for the company to explore human-to-human possiblities further.

A-ha!

2005-04-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

Post-discussion thoughts about, "Bringing Design to Software," by Terry Winograd...

We realized the following about our concepts in earlier postings...

-The user completes the interface.
-In fact, the presence and interaction of the user is required for the functionality, content, and form of the interface - beautiful, no? :)

Concept - The Interaction

2005-04-24T23:01:00.000-04:00

Concept - Color Symphony

2005-04-24T22:15:00.000-04:00

Notes on this concept:

the touch of corresponding fingers completes a color circuit to display one color - left indexes are blue, pinkies are orange, etc

multiple finger sets at the same time create color symphonies
or mix colors

the body becomes an instrument
like painting with/through another person
it won't work without another person - remedy for disconnected relationships

people who frequently use the device become in sync with one another, and can play color songs

what if each person one interacts with has a different set of colors, so it is a unique experience with each person, as different as people are...
and the movement of the whole hand is incorporated - intensity?
imagine the interaction between Groups of people, all interacting with one another at the same time

transcends age, gender, etc

potential as performance art

Concept - Touch Interaction

2005-04-24T22:05:00.000-04:00

The human body can be a powerful connector - both figuratively, where touch enhances relationships between people, and literally, through the use of touch to complete electrical circuits and transmit small bits of information.

Details of the technology that can make this possible.

After a bit of testing, it has become apparent that touching fingertips with another person is more challenging than expected. But ... maybe that makes it interesting - there was a lot of laughing and 'trying again' with the people that I tested ... pretty fun and funny actually.

Concept - Wrapping

2005-04-24T21:59:00.000-04:00

Each lighted section on the device represents one relationship. The light is most intense during an interaction with the other member of the relationship.

Device output fades as the relationship fades (interaction is not present) - another interaction with the person is necessary to recharge the relationship and recharge the output on the device.

Concept - Footwear

2005-04-24T18:03:00.000-04:00

We identified footwear as a major consideration of the women in our demographic. Specifically, they wear highly uncomfortable shoes because they are the social norm, and are considered more attractive by their peers.

Below is a product that addresses this need for comfort while enhancing the proportions of the foot in a way that is similar to the high heels themselves.

This product enhances the foot even when worn without shoes, and could potentialy become a fashion accessory in its own right.

Sketching..

2005-04-24T10:48:00.000-04:00

This series of sketches all relate to the concept of a wearable product that responds when it is in close proximity to another of its kind.

Affinity diagram

2005-04-23T00:06:00.000-04:00

Tonight we created an Affinity Diagram to explore words and phrases that relate to the broad design opportunitites that we identified in our research and explorations. We often use an Affinity Diagram at the beginning of a project, but recognize that the method is useful to identify relationships and narrow focus at other points in the design process when clarity is needed.

We divided the words and phrases into categories, and will use them to generate design concepts.

The diagram:

Form Characteristics

geometric
spiral
soft/maleable
tactile - fur
tigress
fluffy, flowery
moving, rotating parts
sticky
stretchable
translucent
form resembles high cheekbones
butt
outer = input, inner = output, and is portable part
snap in and out
modular pieces - give away/trade with others
light up area looks like jewelry stones
parted lips/lipstick/teeth
red
water - flowing, falling, dripping
orb
representative of female body - bent ankle, waist curve, etc
round
like long, curly hair
tapered
gestalt

Input Categories

eating habits - vegetarian
similar jobs
personal style
astrological sign
music
athletics
taste in food
ethnicity
drinking, partying
places traveled - local and worldwide
hobby
geographic location
friends

Responses

rhythm of the heart
tingling sensation
response
warmth
tighten
colors
sound
captures moment of interaction
sliding open
cold
texture change
light
transparent area transforms to display output
vibration

Input Device Categories

online meeting/dating services
email
cell phone

Qualities

sentimental
proximity
time
lasting impression
heft = expense
poetry

Physical Attributes

chain link
necklace
attach to shoe
attach to clothes
liquid attachment points
magnet
clasp
wrapping
hanging
tree branch form or interaction
woven in hair
interlocking
interchangeable

The object should reflect the inner/outer conflict of these women:
smooth perfect exterior
interior captures relationships

Persona Image Boards

2005-04-18T18:07:00.000-04:00

From the brief descriptions that we created of our two personas, Lauren and I created an image board for each woman. The boards contain pictures of not only items that they would each own, but also images of their lifestyles as well as a color palette created from the colors within the selected images.

We found these boards extremely communicative when designing for these women. In this case, a picture really is worth a thousand words...

Click images for large view:

A Look at Recent Technology..

2005-04-14T21:25:00.000-04:00

We did some internet research of the new products out there that use recently developed technology, looking especially at wearables and fabric.

From CNN:

LONDON, England (CNN) -- A new generation of "soft" electrical devices has been made possible by a fabric with built-in touch sensor technology:

ElekTex can be crumpled, washed or ironed without suffering any loss in performance

This fabric keyboard can be rolled up into a protective case for a mobile phone or PDA.

A music player case with a volume control integrated into the front panel.

This jacket incorporates an mp3 player and Bluetooth facilities with sleeve controls.

From Detnews.com:

The Vocera Communications wearable badge allows mobile workers to talk to each other over a local network.

From National Geographic - Smart Clothing:

New smart clothing imitates pinecones to help regulate body temperature by opening or closing miniscule flaps.

From http://www.heatrelief.com/OHS%20Article.htm:

a neckband that keeps you cool in etremely warm tempratures utilizing the cooling effects of water evaporation, to last for several hours

Personas

2005-04-14T20:26:00.000-04:00

Dana and I used the knowledge we gained through conducting our interviews to develop a two personas: one to represent a woman that considers money to be no object when shopping, and another one that considers her options carefully before purchasing anything. The women have similarities in that they both have a desire to appear attractive and fashionable to those around them. After creating a believable set of characteristics for each persona, we decided to create style boards for each of the women, in order to wrap our heads around who exactly it is we are designing for.

Persona 1:

Valerie:
Investment dresser, rationalizes expensive things if she thinks it will improve her appearance, shops at least once a season in order to add something new to her wardrobe.

Age:
25 years old

Salary:
$40,000 a year -Still owes money for student loans

Job:
Event coordinator for a P.R. firm -Recently got promoted

Location:
California Bay area rents out a small house

Pets:
1 dog (golden retriever)

Lifestyle:
Active, concerned about keeping a fit body, macrobiotic diet

Dress:
Tries to make herself look really put together, professional and attractive

Persona 2

Carolyn:
Shops at brand stores such as Tiffany’s, Lactose, etc., has no urgency when she shops, and will pick up items that are of high quality and timeless, only shopping when she can make time in her busy schedule

Marriage Status:
Engaged for 2 years to a lawyer who works for a small firm in the Boston Area

Age:
29 years old

Job:
Lifestyle editor of the Boston Globe

Salary:
$140,000 combined with fiancée

Lifestyle:
Very busy, likes to be surrounded by nice things, money is not a big issue for her because her parents have money too, and she is just used to always having what she wants. Very hard worker though, and she is hard pushed to find time to spend with her fiancée. Because her job is a high profile position, Carolyn will occasionally get offers of free clothing, accessories, and make-up, in return for having everyone see her using it, and plug their name in her article

Pets: None

Location: Boston, Massachusetts, lives in a small but luxurious high- Rise apartment with Fiancée

Trends - Choose by color

2005-04-14T19:21:00.000-04:00

We have observed color as a dominate selection method over and over as we immerse ourselves further into this upper-class female culture. Previously, in the Williams-Sonoma and Lacoste stores in Charleston, and now as main organizational structure in online shopping and magazine websites. This is a dramatic change from the traditional online shopping experience, where color is choosen as one of the last decisions before placing the desired item in a shopper's cart.

At Hermes.com, shoppers are asked to choose a color within a broad product category before seeing images of the products within.

On Style.com, readers search watches by highly-saturated color bars, with a range of styles (for a range of sub-cultures) shown within each color.

Trends - Classics

2005-04-14T19:10:00.000-04:00

An entire expose devoted to the "Anatomy of a classic" - the loafer. The style has proven it's staying power, with common form language throughout the years, although each version defines itself as contemporary through details like materials, color, heel height, and toe shape .

Email Interview of Jennifer

2005-04-11T20:26:00.000-04:00

We sent and email out to Jennifer that had some of the questions that we asked the other women we interviewed in person. Unfourtunatly, we didn't recieve a response until the day of our research presentation. On the bright side however, the answers we got back were well thought out and useful for us in our investigation of our target market. Jennifer seems to be closest to our intended subculture that we have interviewed thus far, and her answers will help lead us on the right path. Here is the interview (automatically transcribed):

Can you describe the types of things you usually wear?

I usually wear things that I think I can get away with wearing at work: collared shirts, nicer t-shirts, sweaters and long sleeved shirts in the winter. At work, I pair them with black, grey, or khaki pants (I like the ones with cuffs) or knee-lengthed skirts. When I'm not at work, I wear jeans. In the summertime, I wear skirts of all sorts. As a rule, I almost never wear shorts, unless I'm doing something athletic.

Do you accessorize? If so, what do you use to accessorize?

I don't do a whole lot of accessorizing. I wear very little jewelry. But I like scarves and cute shoes. I also like to wear dressy jackets and cardigan sweaters in the winter. Cute purses are a must. I change purses at least once a month. And I recently got a cute hat to wear this summer because the sun here is brutal.

Can you think of any situation in which you wear more or less accessories? Why?

If I have a meeting or a business club that I have to go to, I might wear more accessories. Also, I definitely will wear jewelry and nice shoes and all that for a Christmas party or the like. When I go to church, I might wear more jewelry or dress more nicely, depending on my mood and how much time I have to get ready. I definitely dress down on days I know I have to go to a construction site or something like that, when I know I will probably get dirty anyway.

Tell us about your getting ready process..

Alarm (snooze…)

Repeat as necessary

Shower

Brush teeth

Blow dry hair

Get dressed

Fix hair

Makeup (sometimes, sometimes not)

Grab something to eat

Out the door

How big of a factor is comfort?

It is a very big factor when it comes to shoes. I walk a lot more here that where I lived before (Knoxville, TN). I have not bought any heels since we moved here and I rarely wear them unless I know I'm not going to have to walk in them much. As far as clothes are concerned, comfort is pretty important, but usually what makes them seem more comfortable is if you think they make you look good. If I have clothes that seem like they might not be all that flattering, they become less comfortable and I won't wear them as much. (of course, that doesn't apply to the t-shirts that I still wear from high school that never leave the house.)

How do you decide what is appropriate to wear?

For work, if it's not very "sexy" and not attention getting, then I usually automatically deem it appropriate. Sometimes I take risks (we're pretty flexible about dress code at my office). Sometimes I will ask my husband his opinion in the morning if I'm not sure (though I don't always take his advice. He has pretty good taste, but he's kind of conservative about clothes). If I wear something and it gets strange reactions, then that usually influences whether or not I will wear it again. Sometimes my style is a little trial and error.

What technology do you carry with you when you leave home? Why? What do you not like about it?

I carry a cell phone and I have an ipod shuffle. I'm not really wild about the cell phone - I don't like being reachable all the time - but it's convenient and almost necessary to have one anymore. I love the shuffle for walking around downtown. Although, sometimes I won't wear it so I can talk to people and just be more aware (at night, etc.). Sometimes I just like to have it as an excuse not to talk to people.

How similar would you say is your “look” to your other friends?

My look is almost IDENTICAL to the women that I work with. That is mostly a result of us working right down the street from the Gap on Broughton. We go shopping there together a lot. It's really the only convenient shopping that is near me and affordable. I would love to shop at some of the better stores downtown (Terra Cotta, Blue Belle, Kathy Rich…) but for the most part, they are out of my income bracket.

Do you like to fit in with them or stand out? Why?

Sure I like to fit in. I try to have little things that stick out (cute shoes, matching purse, necklace) on occasion. I would love for us all to have cute different stuff, but we all have similar tastes and there is a definite limit on shopping options in Savannah.

What designers or brands do you like? Why?

Most of the designer brand stuff I like is usually out of my price range. Nine West, Kenneth Cole, Donna Karan usually have nice designs for clothes and shoes. I get a lot of that kind of stuff at TJ Maxx and Marshalls when I can find it. I do actually like the Gap. Most of the stuff I buy there is pretty simple and it doesn't go out of style immediately.

What designers or brands do you buy? Why?

Gap.
Simplicity, Convenience.
See answers above.

Are there any things that you do not wear? Why?

I don't like those knitted poncho things that everyone is wearing. Most of the time I think they look pretty dumb. I almost always hate shorts (on me). And I don't like white tennis shoes. Most of the time they remind me of old people. There are better looking athletic shoes out there, especially for my level of activity.

Jennifer Deacon
Associate ArchitectLominack Kolman Smith Architects

Opportunity Statement..

2005-04-11T20:13:00.000-04:00

Create a design for the 18-30 year old upper-class female market which will satisfy both the internal desires of their mind and the external realities of peer judgment. This design should integrate technology with style, and appeal to the broad population that considers themselves upper-class.

Interview 2 - Shannon

2005-04-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

We conducted our second interview with Shannon, a 29 year old high school teacher in Savannah, today. We spoke with her for about 30 min, and used the same methods as the previously described interview with Shawna, with one main difference - we did not go shopping with Shannon. She previously told us over the phone when we were scheduling the interview that she rarely if ever goes shopping anymore, and commented that the reason is because she is a teacher.

When we arrived, she apologized for the mess in her home and introduced us to her 2 cats. She welcomed us upstairs and allowed us to look at her clothes and where she keeps her accessories.

Shannon on...

-Accessories

Shannon wears a watch, two rings, and earrings almost every day. She rarely wears additional accessories - she only wears different or additional ones on special occassions.

Most of her accessories were gifts, including the jewelry box that she keeps everything in - the box was a, "last ditch effort," from her ex-boyfriend.

When asked if she has any special items, she enthusiastically said, "Yes," and directed us to her great-grandmother's engagement ring, which she wears every day and feels naked without...

...and a bracelet that she inheritied from her grandmother, which she wears only on special occassions.

-Clothes

She doesn't identify with any certain group, and wears what she feels is comfortable. When she stands next to 'alternative-dressing kids' she feels like a walking Gap ad.

-Getting ready

Her getting ready process is hectic - she plans her outfit while she in the shower, making her decision based upon what is clean and ironed. After her shower she goes to check that the items are infact clean and ironed. After dressing, the last thing she does is put on her makeup and accessories.

She has tried planning her outfits the night before, but ended up changing her mind "8 times" the next morning, so she stopped doing that.

If her morning ritual is disrupted, she automatically feels as if she forgot something.

-Comfort

Comfort is one of her top priorities, especially, "in the feet area." She rarely wears high heels to school; "I stand up all day so I won't wear spike heels."

"The other day I decided not to be comfortable and wore a black dress..." to work.

-What is appropriate

"If I don't feel comfortable in it, it must not be appropriate." If she wears something that is inappropriate for the situation she, "...stresses herself out."

-Portable technology

Shannon only carries her cell phone, and sometimes wished that it was a camera phone.

-Her friends

She dresses similar to her "core group of friends," and feels comfortable with that.

-Brands

She doesn't buy any particular brand, except for the Gap because she has a credit card there. She is more concerned with cost than brand or label.

-Style

Shannon says that she sometimes dresses grungy, sometimes preppy.

Interview 1 - Shawna, shopping

2005-04-03T19:15:00.000-04:00

Interview 1 - Shawna, at home

2005-04-03T19:00:00.000-04:00

We just completed a 2-hr contextual interview with our first interviewee, Shawna, a 22 year old female here in Savannah. We met with her based upon the recommendation from a friend that she would be perfect for our demographic.

When we arrived, she welcomed us into her home, turned on some music, and was very open and talkative about her lifestyle, the items that she wears, and her thoughts.

We began the interview with a casual chat about her studies to establish rapport, and very quickly were able to move into the interview session. She granted us permission to photograph the session, as well as to use the images and her first name here on this site.

We chose not to audio record the interview for a couple of reasons: one, we have used this method in other situations where the environment would not allow recording because of noise or other factors, and found that thorough note taking enabled us to still record substantial information, including both direct observations and important quotes, and our interviewees were more comfortable speaking freely because there was no recorder. Additionally, with a focus on utilizing our own intuition on this project, a detailed transcription of the interview is unnecessary, and would probably actually distract from our internalized observations and instincts.

Shawna on…

-Her Style

“I feel like I have an eclectic style. I don’t like to follow trends, but I’ll pull certain things from them.” For instance, she observed that micro-mini skirts are in fashion now, but she chooses not to wear them because they are not right for her body type, and they would be uncomfortable to wear.

When we asked her if she dressed the same as her friends, she said, “No.” Period. Silence.

Her friends say that they have never seen her with the same outfit (or combination) twice.

-Getting ready

It takes her about 1hr and 15 min to get ready for her day, especially because blow-drying her hair takes “forever.” She showers, dries off, applies her makeup, picks out her outfit, and then gets dressed. She usually picks out clothes beforehand only if they are for a special occasion. She chooses her clothing before she chooses the accessories to wear with them.

“My car was like my closet for a while.”

Comfort plays a big factor in what she chooses to wear. When she makes her dressing decisions, she does so based upon where she will be going that day and the conditions there.

She often goes for a theme when dressing. For instance, a common color; “I’ll wear green earrings and green shoes.”

-Where she shops

Shawna shops “everywhere.” She mentioned a variety of places from the Salvation Army and Goodwill to Wet Seal, Express, and Victoria’s Secret at the Oglethorpe Mall to yard and estate sales.

She also often shops when she goes home to St. Louis, partially because she finds the shopping there better – the used-clothing stores are less picked over, and the stores are more what she wants.

-Going home to St. Louis

“I’ve been gone, and look at me now!” She will dress more fashionably, more uncomfortably, to impress the people she hasn’t seen in a while.

-Accessories

“Lately I’ve been really into bright colors.”

She brought her jewelry box out to the living room where we were talking. (She keeps it in the bathroom.)

Many of the items were purchased at an estate sale; she was really excited to tell us about the rows of tables with box after box of jewelry.

-Purchasing

Sometimes she will buy an item even if she doesn’t have anything to wear it with, and the longer it goes unworn, the more special it becomes and the more perfect the outfit has to be once she does wear it.

“I’m a bargain shopper. Fashion and bargains go hand-in-hand for me.” If she’s going to buy something very expensive, she’d better get her money’s worth from it. She often won’t buy expensive items because she figures it eventually has to go on sale.

-Brands

She would buy Dolce & Gabbana if she could afford it, and would wear their clothes if she lived in New York or St. Louis, but not in Savannah.
But lately she has purchased Hugh Boss because there were a couple of really great sales that came through Savannah. She just bought a $1000 suit for $150.

“Brand mattered when I was younger, but not now.”

-Portable technology

She always carries her cell phone, and sometimes her Polaroid camera, but that’s about it. The Polaroid doesn’t fit into her new, smaller purse though.
She does wish that she had a camera phone, “That would hit two birds with one stone.”

Interview with Shawna

2005-04-03T15:14:00.000-04:00

We interviewed Shawna today for a little over an hour. She is a 22-year-old photography major at SCAD that is going to graduate in December. We met her at her house, and proceeded to ask her questions relating to what she thinks about herself, and how she dresses. She was a willing participant in the interview, and had no problem talking on the subject of fashion.

We did not spend much time at her house. Instead we asked her if she would mind taking us to a place that she would normally shop, and let us observe the experience. Shawna wasn't really happy about Savannah's shopping scene, but obliged us anyway and took us to the mall. While at the mall we were able to identify Shawna's standards for purchase, and were a little surprised by what we observed. Shawna told us that for her, price and fashion go hand in hand. She will not buy something that is expensive, unless she can see herself wearing it often. She is always looking for things that are on sale, and says that the best deals she has ever gotten have been at the flea market. It doesn't really matter to her where she buys something, as long as it is reasonably priced and matches with something she already owns. It was surprising for Dana and I because we were both expecting (considering our demographic), that money would be less of an object. We originally assumed that the product we will design, because it is for the upper middle class, should be expensive. After this interview though, we realized that even though our audience has enough money to burn, they don't want to. In fact, Shawna herself said, "I won't splurge like crazy."

My biggest takeaway from the experience is the realization of the diversity within our market, not only in style, but spending habits too.
We are going to try and create something that appeals to people that have money, but we are not going to alienate those that are careful where they spend theirs.

Contextual Interviews

2005-03-30T18:26:00.000-05:00

Dana and I managed to secure some interviewees that are exactly the type of women we are looking for. After some discussion last night, we formulated a plan for the interviews, and came up with some questions that will give us some insight into the behaviors and thoughts of those we are designing for. It was decided we should try and take two of the women on a shopping trip, and the other two we should interview at their home. On the shopping trip we will pay attention to things such as the comments/judgments the women make on the clothes that they see, and we will have them pick out the store(s) that we go to. The interview will start at their house, and end at their house so that we can gain additional information about their style reflecting beyond the clothes they buy and wear.

The at home interviews will be valuable because we will be able to see all of the wearable possessions each woman owns, and have some in depth discussion about how they feel about what they wear. Here is a list of the questions Dana and I will use as a guideline for our interviews:

Can you describe the types of things you usually wear?

Do you accessorize? If so, what do you use to accessorize?

Can you think of any situation in which you wear more or less accessories? Why?

Can you show us the places that you keep the things that you wear?

Tell us about your getting ready process?

How big of a factor is comfort?

How do you decide what is appropriate to wear?

What technology do you carry with you when you leave home? Why? What do you not like about it?

How similar would you say is your “look” to your other friends?

Do you like to fit in with them or stand out? Why?

What designers or brands do you like? Why?

What designers or brands do you buy? Why?

Are there any things that you do not wear? Why?

We tried to keep the questions as vague as possible, so that we can avoid "leading" them into any answers.

Looking out, looking in...

2005-03-27T21:00:00.000-05:00

Although we've only explored this project for one week, the topic of upper-class women has been a very provacative one for me. My expectation for this project was that I would need to set aside my previous experiences and try to look at the culture with objective eyes.

As Lauren and I discuss and observe the high-end lifestyle, I am forced to address my own history and experiences. I was raised in what is generally considered an upper-class family in Atlanta, and was a part of that culture and lifestyle for most of my life. I think it would be impossible for anyone to completely disengage themselves from something so fundamental in their history. After all, our human experience is built upon observation, and so no observer can see any situation without looking through the filter of their previous experience.

Through a lot of thought and reflection, I came to the conclusion that the information I have gathered through this lifetime of experience is just as valuable as the observations of someone new to the culture. With that in mind, I want to utilize my own knowledge and instincts about this topic, and contrast it with Lauren's more external perspective. I believe that together, she and I will be able to reveal more substantial and accurate insight into the world of upper-class culture than either one of us could alone.

I will write more about my thoughts and reflections as I clarify them. Already, it is interesting how interwoven they are with all aspects of my life, and how encompassing and provacative this reflection can be...

Charleston, SC

2005-03-27T17:02:00.000-05:00

Lauren and I jumped right into immersing ourselves in the Charleston culture. We began by walking through some of stores on King Street, one of the high-end shopping areas in town.

We began with Williams-Sonoma, and could see that the store is intended for the upper-class female market the moment we walked in the door. Warm lighting, attractive displays, and classical music all make the shoppers feel welcome and comfortable before they even begin to explore the products for sale.

We discovered that the majority of the items in the store were subtly distictive from what one would expect to find. For instance, we approached a rack of kitchen utensils and picked up a rubber spatula, similar to what you can find in most home stores. However, this particular one had a metal handle, and a surprisingly subtle yet substantial heft to it that felt good and stable in the hand. Many of the products in the store had this clean style with a subtle surprise. We theorized that, as a complete experience, the Wm Sonoma store conveys a sense of security and stability, which are qualities that their shoppers want to create in their own homes.

Many of the products had classic appeal, but with a contemporary twist, like a bright color or slightly different proportions, with little unneccessary embellishment.

We also visited Ann Taylor, and upon entering the store were overtaken by the slow, hushed atmosphere. We identified the store as targeting women slightly older than our market.

In the Lacoste clothing store, our discoveries paralleled what we observed back at Wm Sonoma. A classic polo shirt design is made new again by the addition of disticitive colors and slightly new fits. According to Lacoste.com, there are 90 variations of the Lacoste polo, and "...Lacoste remains an elegant, authentic and timeless brand."

Interestingly, my father has worn these polos for as long as I can remember, and he is part of a completely different sub-culture than the young crowd that Lacoste's advertisements currently target; he still wears the shirts every weekend though.

We also visited the Sharper Image, one of the only technology-focused stores on King Street, and observed that few of the products attain anything close to poetry of form or use, although many contain as much technology as possible, like the ridiculous phone below...

Phase One: Research

2005-03-27T12:13:00.000-05:00

Dana and I felt that the best way to realize what our target audience wants is to not only observe them in their natural environment, but to dress like them and behave as they would. So we dressed up in nice tasteful clothes, put on some heels, wore makeup and jewelry, and went shopping. Because our audience is upper middle class women, we thought Charleston, SC would be a better location to research than staying here in Savannah. Due simply to the fact that Charleston is bigger, has nicer stores, and it is not to far away from here. We considered Hilton Head as an option, but it seemed a little too touristy for our tastes. To our surprise, the most valuable takeaway from the trip was the discussion on the ride there. Dana and I had been, for three days prior to the trip, dressed for the part. I personally do not normally dress like an upper middle class woman, so I had a very interesting perspective as an outsider looking in. The discussion that we had revealed what problems women that fall within this category probably have, and possible ways that these problems could be fixed (using modern technology).

Problem 1: Most nice slacks reveal panty lines, and not everyone feels comfortable wearing a thong.

Problem 2: There seems to be lot of restricted movement when you wear nice clothes, more often than not, when you bend over the top section of your underwear shows because your pants and shirt are separated.

Problem 3: In some situations it is appropriate to wear tight clothes (clubbing), and in others it is not (professional world). A woman might feel uncomfortable going from work to a bar without changing clothes.

Problem 4: High Heeled shoes are extremely uncomfortable most of the time. There is a very strong likely hood that one will get blisters after spending a couple of hours in them. The more expensive and cute they are, the more likely they will be uncomfortable.

Problem 5: Upper middle class is a group that tends to be the scapegoat for "fitting in" They are who we think of when the word "fake" pops up. This is true despite the fact that mostly all people want to be accepted by someone.

Problem 6: If you want to go somewhere but you feel uncomfortable because of the way you are dressed, this might prevent cross sub-cultural engagement/communication.

Issue 7: Reinforcement of your peers is stronger and more immediate than worldly issues, or the "big picture" We thought that it would be better to create a new accessory that might tackle one or more of these issues, rather than reinventing something that currently exists. Some off the wall solutions we came up with are as follows:

1. A panty clasp that prevents the top of your pants and your panties from separating from one another

2. A shoe sleeve that knows when there is pressure being put on one spot of your foot, and that has the ability to puff up and cushion that area when needed.

3. A smart outfit that can expand and shrink depending on the situation

Our minds look like...

2005-03-23T00:29:00.000-05:00

Lauren and decided that, with the categories of Beauty, Style and Technology detailed in the project brief, completing an Affinity diagram (which we generally use to determine categories to focus our research) was unnecessary at this point in the design process.

Instead, we working together to create a Mind Map to explore key words and phrases that we associate with the categories above which represent our current knowledge, assumptions, and questions surrounding the broad problem domain. We also included Fashion, Upper-class, Women (which we identified as a beginning point for narrowing down our target market), Comfort, and Wearables as main branches in the diagram.

Through this exercise, we discovered many non-linear connections between the categories, which enabled us to see the expansiveness of the opportunity. The diagram revealed that in our experience there is often a separation or disconnect between the internal female mind and the external manifestations of that mind. These external manifestations are judged by the female’s peers.

Technology-, wearable-, fashion-, and style-oriented products are all part of this external woman, with comfort firmly rooted in the internal mind. Beauty straddles the division between categories.

We identified that a successful, poetic solution to the design opportunity will satisfy the externally expressed desires of the upper-class woman, while touching the internal needs of her mind.

We also identified that many beauty-oriented products either enhance or are in contrast to the natural state of the user. For example, hair dye either enhances one’s hair in a natural color, or is outside the realm of human hair colors, like bright blue.

Instinct as well as identifying and understanding patterns were identified as important elements in comfort, and have interesting implications for how these women identify and choose whether to accept or reject products, fashions, and styles.

First day, wow!

2005-03-22T02:02:00.000-05:00

I thought it was wierd to have Victor show up to both of my classes today, and even wierder that he called me wierd.

I love the new assignment, I just met with Dana, and we are both on track to exceed and expand on the deliverables on this assignment. We started with a sort of a brainstorming of what new ideas we have, in order to tackle this big info mountain. It was realized soon enough, that research is required to initially immerse ourselves with style, beauty, and technology, first, and then start with a plan of attack for how we want to create a comprehensive solution.

We plan to meet tommorow 'round 5ish to do an affinity diagram. After which we will use the categories we come up with, to do a mindmap (big paper please), and then subesequently research what we decide needs to be researched(based on our intuition gained through the diagramming and mapping process).