
DIGITAL APPLICATION CONCEPT
Human Centred Design Research Project - 2020

RE-THINKING CONSUMPTION
effortLESS is a digital application supporting a more
conscious and sustainable shopping behaviour
Background of the project
Fast fashion provides consumers with affordable clothes that reflect the latest trends. Nevertheless, this concept has contributed to the rise of the issue of overconsumption, leading to severe environmental impacts. The fashion industry is responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions and is the second most polluting industry in the world. In recent years, there was a considerable increase of clothing consumption while simultaneously the average usage period of clothing has been reduced dramatically. Clothing is nowadays disposed and replaced after just a few wears resulting in 85% of garments ending up in landfills each year. Consumers have the power of contributing to reduce the environmental impacts of the fashion industry by utilizing their clothes to its full potential, extending the average usage of their garment is the most important factor from the environmental perspective.

CONSUMERS CAN REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BY FULLY UTILIZING THEIR CLOTHES
... BUT HOW?
That is what we asked ourselves:
​
"How can young adults in Sweden be influenced and motivated to extend the average usage duration of their clothing?"
THE PROCESS
In order to come up with a valuable solution, we went through an iterative design thinking process.



SECONDARY DATA INSIGHTS
Literature was reviewed an previous survey results analyzed.
PRIMARY DATA INSIGHTS
An online survey was sent out and
in-depth interviews were held.
EMPATHY MAPS
The interview data was analyzed and converted into empathy maps.



AFFINITY DIAGRAMS
All identified factors were sorted with the help of affinity diagrams.
PERSONA CREATION
All key findings and insights were merged into 4 crucial user groups.
PAIN POINTS
The common pain points were identified as a basis for ideation.



IDEATION
The crazy 8 and constraints were used to come up with a solution.
WIREFRAMES
Hand drawn low fidelity wireframes were created and digitalized.
VISUAL APPEARANCE
The wireframes were further developed into first screens.

FIGHTING HABITS AND IMPULSIVE DECISION-MAKING

effortLESSly becoming a more conscious shopper
effortLESS is a digital platform, which helps its users to make more conscious buying decisions in order to prolong the average clothing usage duration. It offers support in the moment of purchase, the use phase as well as the time of disposal by educating its users about various behavioural options along the possession phase of a garment and making them aware of the impact their decisions have on the society and the environment.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
MINDFULNESS
effortLESS coaches its users to reflect on personal buying decisions and usage behaviours
EDUCATION
effortLESSÂ conveys knowledge about the correct handling and disposal of garments
MOTIVATION
effortLESS vizualizes how much impact a small change of behaviour has on the planet
SAVING
effortLESSÂ teaches how to shop smarter in order to consume less and use clothing longer