The Spark

As part of a UX design course, we were tasked with identifying a common problem and developing a user-centered solution. During a group warm-up, we discovered a shared struggle: managing our curly hair. Despite loving our natural curls, many of us felt frustrated with the time and effort required to care for them. In fact, three of us regularly straightened our curls just to avoid the hassle.

This sparked a crucial question:

How many others face the same struggles?

A brief initial research quickly revealed that many curly-haired individuals experience similar frustrations. This encouraged us to dive deeper into the problem and explore solutions to address these pain points.

The Challenge

Managing curly hair is time-consuming and frustrating, leaving many feeling dissatisfied with their natural curls. A 2015 Dove study found that only 10% of women with curly hair feel proud of it, and over 40% would prefer to have straight hair. For Black women, disproportionate use of hair-straightening products increases health risks, adding another layer of inequity. These challenges highlight the need for a solution that promotes confidence and simplifies care.

The Solution

We developed a personalized digital platform for individuals with curly hair, offering custom care routines, product recommendations, and expert advice. By integrating data-driven insights with user-friendly tools, the platform simplifies decision-making, helping users achieve consistent, healthy results tailored to their unique hair needs and lifestyle.

Finding A Solution

Finding A Solution

Ideating: How Might We Statements

These generative questions were our bridge from research to ideating: How Might we ...

... help Anna find a product that fits her curls, aligns with her time and budget?

... help Anna manage the unpredictability of curls caused by weather and other uncontrollable factors?

... empower Anna to embrace her natural curls and feel confident in managing them daily?

Finding A Solution

Competitive Research

To find an innovative solution, we analyzed competitors to understand their strengths and identify opportunities to fill gaps and better meet user needs.

From Generic to Personalized: Redefining the Curl Quiz

All direct competitors rely on static, one-size-fits-all curl quizzes to recommend products, lacking the flexibility and personalization users need. Inspired by our indirect competitor YAZIO’s dynamic quiz design, we identified an opportunity to craft a more user-focused experience that adapts to individual preferences and feedback.

What We Learned from YAZIO:

Show Progress to Motivate, Celebrate the Process

direct competitors often use static before-and-after photos to build trust, but this approach overlooks the ongoing nature of personal care. Calm’s Mood Check-In introduces a process-focused perspective, using tracking tools to help users stay engaged and celebrate consistent progress over time.

What We Learned from our indirect competitor Calm:

Finding A Solution

Brainstorming & Idea Prioritization

We conducted a collaborative brainstorming session to explore potential solutions to Anna’s pain points. Participants voted on ideas, helping us identify and prioritize the most impactful features.

Prioritized Solutions from Brainstorming and compatitive research

Interactive Curl Quiz

• Adapts quiz flow to user input, providing unbiased product recommendations from a curated library of curly hair products, based on real needs—not marketing hype.
  
  
• Eliminates guesswork with accurate and personalized product suggestions.
  
  
• Offers a Curl Profile and a customized routine overview, going beyond just product recommendations.
  

AI-Based Curl-Tracker and Curl Assistant

Curl-Tracker

• Tracks curl health and progress to help users adjust routines and achieve long-term improvements.
  
  
• Delivers actionable insights and personalized recommendations based on tracked data.
  
  

Curl Assistant

• Delivers tailored tips and proactive suggestions based on the user’s calendar, weather, and curl tracker data.
  
  
• Empowers users with real-time recommendations to make curls more manageable.
  
  
• Encourages user engagement with interactive check-ins and routine reminders.

Empowering users with real-time data and personalized insights to confidently manage their curls.

Empowering Forum

• Creates an empathetic space for sharing challenges, experiences and promoting self-acceptance.
  
  
• Enables users to exchange practical tips, tricks, and solutions for better curl management.
  
  
• Provides reliable, expert-backed content and resources to support learning and discussions.
  

Finding A Solution

User Flow

We defined the minimum viable product (MVP) for the prototype based on the most important goals of our users and the project team. These critical tasks were then prioritized as the foundation for the app's user flows:

Goal: Help Anna find the right product match for her curls and save the results in her curl profile.

Finding A Solution

From Idea to Reality: Building the Curly-Care Experience

After defining the user flow, we translated these foundational goals into a tangible experience. Starting with rapid sketches to capture initial ideas, we refined the structure through detailed wireframes and ultimately brought the Curly-Care app to life with a polished high-fidelity prototype.

Testing The Solution

Testing The Solution

From Insights to Iteration

From the first sketches to the final prototype, the Curly-Care app evolved through multiple rounds of iteration. Early wireframes laid the groundwork, while user feedback sessions provided valuable insights that informed key design refinements. By addressing real user challenges and continuously improving, the final design delivers a cohesive and user-friendly experience, demonstrating the power of feedback-driven iteration.

Design and Prototyping

Design and Prototyping

Style Guide

Building on user feedback and refinements, we created a cohesive design system to ensure consistency across the Curly-Care app. From typography and colors to icons and components, every element was crafted to reflect the brand’s playful yet professional personality while enhancing clarity and usability.

Design and Prototyping

High-Fidelity Prototype Demonstration

With the design system complete, we integrated all components into the final high-fidelity prototype. Watch the video below to see a visual walkthrough of how the app functions and how it addresses the user's needs, showcasing key features and user flows.

Reflecting on the Project

Reflecting on the Project
How Would I Measure the Success of This Platform After Launch?

Although this was a conceptual project, I considered key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure it meets user needs and delivers value.

Reflecting on the Project
What Would Be My Next Steps in This Project?

• Conduct Usability Testing
  Perform a another usability test to validate current designs and gather actionable insights for further iteration and refinement.
  
  
• Iterate on Design Improvements
  Use feedback from testing to refine key features like Curl-Assist and Curl-Tracker, ensuring they meet user needs effectively and intuitively.
  
  
• Refine Search and Filter Functionality
  Optimize and test the app’s search and filter system, ensuring users can easily discover the right products tailored to their hair needs.
  
  
• Design a Dialog Sheet for Curl-Assist
  Create a detailed communication framework for Curl-Assist, specifying its tone, language, and behavior to ensure consistent and empathetic interactions with users.
  
  
• Enhance the Profile Destination
  Expand the profile section into a more detailed and dynamic hub for users, making it a central point for personalized data, history, and insights.
  
  
• Explore Technical Feasibility
  Investigate potential technical challenges and explore opportunities to enhance the app’s performance and scalability, particularly for AI-driven features like Curl-Assist.

Reflecting on the Project
Insights Gained Through the Process

This project was a transformative experience that taught me the importance of combining research, collaboration, and storytelling to create meaningful solutions. Here are my key takeaways:

• Understanding the Problem and the User: Finding effective solutions starts with defining the problem accurately. I learned that engaging directly with real users is essential to uncover their true pain points and needs—neither I nor my friends represent the target audience.
• Value of Diversity: Collaborating with a diverse team enriched our brainstorming and ideation process. Each person brought a unique perspective that improved the quality of our ideas.
• Flexibility and Open-Mindedness: I discovered that solutions often come from unexpected places. Being open to new ideas and not clinging to a single concept allowed us to explore innovative approaches and adapt when needed.
•  Learning from Competitors: I found that indirect competitors can sometimes provide more inspiration than direct ones. This experience taught me not to underestimate indirect competitors when exploring innovative ideas.
  
  Storytelling in Case Studies
  Through building this case study, I learned how to structure and present my design process effectively. Storytelling is a powerful tool for showcasing not just the outcomes but also the rationale behind design decisions, making the impact of the work clear and engaging.
  

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