Swaparoo

Inspiration

Many people I know buy clothes constantly to keep on top of trends despite the lack of closet space to keep going. Once the trend dies down, most of their clothes are sent to donation bins or the landfill. Despite them knowing the environmental consequences of their actions, it’s something that they continue to do due to the lack of other possible actions.

What it does

Swaparoo is a social clothing swap platform designed to combat the negative impact of fast fashion and impulse shopping, while promoting a supportive community centred around creating a sustainable future.

How we built it

Having chosen to center our project on the fast fashion sector, our first step involved thorough research to comprehend the fast fashion industry dynamics and analyse competitors. Drawing insights from other platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, we formulated strategies to address identified challenges and establish a more sustainable platform for our user base. User research, conducted by our team member Danny, focused on understanding user needs and the targeted demographic. Subsequently, Patti and Allison developed the prototypes and wireframes, aligning them with the findings from Danny's research.

Challenges we ran into

Despite encountering the challenge of being understaffed due to the absence of one team member, our collaborative efforts prevailed, and we successfully navigated through the obstacles. The absence presented a unique set of challenges, including a heavier workload for each team member and the need for quick adaptation to fill the void in specific roles.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Firstly, our in-depth research into the current state of the industry and competitor analysis provided us with valuable insights that served as a foundation for our innovative solutions. Overcoming the identified pain points observed in similar platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace, reflects our team's problem-solving ability. One notable achievement is the meticulous user research conducted by Danny, a team member dedicated to understanding user needs and the specific demographic we aimed to target. This research not only guided our project's direction but also ensured that our platform resonates effectively with our intended audience.

In addition, we were able to complete a comprehensive exploration of the fast fashion industry, devise innovative solutions, conduct thorough user research, and develop prototypes and wireframes—all within a timeframe of just 8 hours. This efficiency underscores the dedication, collaboration, and agility of our team, highlighting our ability to deliver impactful results within tight deadlines.

What we learned

We learned about the increasingly damaging fashion industry and its destruction of freshwater systems and the atmosphere. Furthermore, we learned about the ineffective movements of current fashion businesses and operations, learning more about the ways they greenwash their products. While working through the interfaces, we learned more in-depth processes of working with Figma and the consultation process needed in the design process.

What's next for Swaparoo

Moving forward, our focus is on refining and optimising the project to ensure its seamless integration into the fast fashion industry. We plan to gather feedback from users, incorporating their insights to enhance the user experience and address any potential issues that may arise during real-world usage.

Built With

• adobe-illustrator
• figma