Thesis Week 9 & 10: Pivoting topics
Reflect
The last couple of weeks I was feeling lost and unconvinced by the direction my thesis project was going. As I reflected I traced back to the problem space and it was too broad so I knew I needed to scope down my topic or my user group demographic.
Scoping down
I looked back at my user interviews and found a topic that was threaded in most of my interviews. This topic was body image and the effect it has on how women see themselves and react to it. This resonated with me because, like many others, I’ve struggled with letting my body image dictate how I see myself and how I interact with people around me.
After getting to this topic, I had and still have a lot of work to do to catch up.
Pivot to body image
As I pivoted to body image, I did some desk research which helped me narrow down to a specific demographic. Based on an assumption that women’s body image is shaped during teenage years, I decided to focus on teenage cis-girls in high school.
Insights
- Have negative thoughts about changes in their bodies
- Friends help alleviate or add to negative thoughts
- Negative thoughts and feelings about body image continue into adulthood
Based on my user interview insights I thought about addressing — how might we help teenage girls adjust to physical and emotional changes and create a positive body image of themselves?
Value Props
- Prepare and help with health / body changes
- Build a safe and positive environment
- Help shape a resilient body image mindset
Design Exploration
To brainstorm solutions, I did a rapid ideation session with Poonam. We then shared our ideas and gave each other feedback.
Leading concept
The leading concept I’m moving forward with is an app that utilizes mirror exposure therapy techniques to help teenage girls create a positive body image and mindset of themselves.
From my desk research I found that this therapy exercise has been used to help with body dysmorphia and eating disorders.
Rather than creating a smart mirror, the app uses AR tech to display daily prompt exercises.
Self-critique on Reflect
There were a few areas of critique I thought about as I anazlyed the concept.
- The app doesn’t prepare teens on body changes, a value prop of mine. It focuses more on accepting the body changes. I’d need to look back at the research to look at the direction I want to move forward with — preparing for body changes or accepting body changes.
- The solution could be more catered to the high school experience. At the moment the content is more general around health and wellness.
- The main critique I have is about the usage of AR. Is AR necessary? What other tech could be used? Could it be a voice assistant?
