eindra lin

patch.

User Research, Branding, UI/UX Design, Systems Design

According to the EPA, over 11 tons of textiles meet the landfills in the U.S. every year. With the rise of faster and cheaper fashion trends, textiles are being generated and tossed at an alarmingly increasing rate. Many initiatives already exist to foster donation and reuse, but a majority of those textiles still end up in the landfill before the end of their life. I created a design system that would keep those clothes in people's homes for longer, encouraging long-term use and lessen the need for new textile creation.

Role

Researcher

Designer

Course

Interaction Design

Studio

Duration

5 weeks

Tools

Illustrator,

Photoshop, Figma

Mending Kit and Pop-Up Events

Users can choose to order a mending kit from the app that includes all the necessary materials for most basic mending, such as thread, needles, scissors, safety pins, etc.

Patch also offers in-person community events, where people can come up and learn to fix their clothes, ask for help, or simply mend their clothes with others. Events can also include exchanges, where people can bring clothes they don't want and exchange with others!

Design Solution

Laundry + Care

The Laundry + Care section is designed to both make easier and inform users how best to take care of their clothing.

The Scan feature allows a user to take a photo of the laundry care tag on their clothing and let them know not only how to wash and dry that piece of clothing, but identify the labels on care tags for other garments.

The section also features an fabrics directory that educates a user on care tips for certain fabrics and materials.

Mending Tutorials

Users will be able to scroll through and search video and written tutorials for common clothing fixes. Each tutorial will include written steps and the matierals needed.

First Concepts

Design Principles

Make mending easy and fun.
Take the best that clothing donation bins have to offer.

Emphasize clothing’s value, but don’t make it feel untouchable.

Get people to read the tags!

Make mending easy and fun.
Take the best that clothing donation bins have to offer.

Emphasize clothing’s value, but don’t make it feel untouchable.

Get people to read the tags!

Goals

First Goals

Help people who want to reuse or consume more

sustainably but may not have the access, means, or

want to give up the convenience of getting single-use

items or throwing things away.

Help people keep products for longer and contribute

to a more circular economy.

First Goals

Help people who want to reuse or consume more

sustainably but may not have the access, means, or want to give up the convenience of getting single-use items or throwing things away.

Help people keep products for longer and contribute to a more circular economy.

Final Goal

Help people extend the life of their clothing.

Research

Objectives

Learn what people do with clothing

when they are done with them.

Identify what is stopping people from

reusing/returning clothing.

Find out what people do already to get

as much life out of clothing right now.

Objectives

Learn what people do with clothing when they are done with them.

Identify what is stopping people from reusing/returning clothing.

Find out what people do already to get as much life out of clothing right now.

Methods

4 Contextual Interviews

Interviewing and then asking

to see their closet

Brainstorming ways they can

keep old clothing for longer

Methods

4 Contextual Interviews

Interviewing and then asking to see their closet

Brainstorming ways they can keep old clothing for longer

Synthesis

Mending is a barrier to most for keeping clothing for longer.

Most already do their best to donate.

Difficulties to mending clothing are knowledge, time, and having the right equipment.

Not many actively throw away clothing unless it is ‘damaged’.
Only reuse case is cleaning rags.
Sometimes clothing care is hard to maintain, doesn’t feel as important.

People don’t mend if they don’t feel the outcome is worth it.

Speed-Dating

Key Takeaways

Focus on the user's initial intentions for entering the system and the journey they will take. Make sure to have reasoning for why each step or component is there and how it contributes to the core story.

Rethink the wording → be mindful of using niche words that those unfamiliar with sewing or clothing may not know.

Think about how to incentivize people to enter the system in the first place.