Browser Extension, 2023
Overview
This project is an explorative UX study to understand the experiences, challenges and needs of gender-fluid & transgender people while shopping online.
The insights from the research, interviews and the lived experiences of our participants tell us that online shopping is currently not inclusive. This lack of inclusion and visibility of a community causes discomfort, a poor shopping experience, frustration, body-dysmorphia and adds to the already difficult experience of transitioning.
Team 6 Graduate Students at RIT
The Problem
Most major e-commerce retailers have cis-gendered clothing categories and sizing systems. This can make it challenge for non-binary and trans identifying people as they shop in-person or online.
Why Create an Inclusive Solution?
Going over research insights and people’s experience shows us that shopping can be an extremely distressing experience for a large group of users. We need a solution that accommodates for the diversity in our society and not just the majority. This moves us towards more humane tech & greater social equity.
Additionally a sizing solution like this, that is inclusive not only makes shopping easier for non-binary, non-conforming or trans individuals. It makes shopping better for everyone :)
Research Methods
Our participant group consisted of adults who self-identified as trans or non-binary residing in the United States
Surveys - We used surveys to reach a larger audience, as a channel for anonymous inputs and to recruit participants who wished to contact us/participate.
Contextual Inquiries - We used a behavioural method to understand the natural use of the product (in-person and online stores) and see how our participants shopped. (6 participants)
Interviews - We used a semi-structured qualitative method to understand the lived experiences of our participants, understand their views, thoughts and opinions. (6 participants)
Secondary Research - The secondary research was done by reading existing articles, reddit posts & research on gender studies and the retail industry. This was done to supplement our smaller sample size in our primary research and ensure we cover all bases.
Analysis Methods
To analyse our data we created
Flow Models & Sequence Models - They showed us how the task was broken down into activities, the intents that people are trying to accomplish while shopping, the different strategies our users used, and the individual steps that made up the overall task of shopping.
Affinity Diagrams - We affinity diagrams as a brainstorming activity to analyse and organise our individual interview notes.
Artifact Model - The artifact model shows how tangible elements (the website in our case for online shopping & clothing stores for in-person shopping) are used and structured in the process flow of shopping.
Our Findings
Potential Solution
While contemplating a solution, we focused on finding a solution that is feasible, sensitive and easy to implement and use. A browser extension, that assists users to find their size across different websites and online retail stores.
The extension stores inputs from the user such as their measurements, styling preferences. As the user shops across various websites, the extension would calculate and recommend their perfect size for that brand.
Usability Testing
We tested out our potential idea with 6 users and 5/6 said that they see themselves using this feature and believe if it was accurate enough, it could be really helpful. We asked users to use our prototype and think-out-loud as they went through the flow.
Final Solution
