Style Suggestion is a conceptual project aimed at providing fashion inspo through image recognition

The project began with the question ‘How might we assist ordinary shoppers in finding fashion items more easily?’ This concept laid the groundwork for one of the earliest designs of Google Lens and Shopping, aimed at helping fashion shoppers discover similar items or exact matches through camera views or lookbook images. It also envisions how the experience could promote inclusivity and cultural diversity.

 
 
 
 
 

InItiative

Shoppers who are attuned to fashion trends often invest significantly in seeking inspiration from lookbooks or retail stores. Conversely, everyday shoppers who lack a strong interest in fashion also face challenges in finding ideas for item mix-and-match. From a foundational user research, the Google Lens team learned that visual-driven inspiration plays a crucial role in influencing shopping decisions related to clothing and accessories. I contributed to developing several conceptual ideas that envision a seamless fashion idea exploration to item shopping experience with Lens.

 
 
 
 

BENCHMARKING


I explored several major photo sharing platforms for competitive analysis and found that both Pinterest and Instagram utilize image recognition for shopping suggestions. Instagram was particularly better in finding exact match items from photos, because it supports e-commerce feature that allows sellers to embed product information directly within images. On the other hand, Pinterest offers an advantage over Instagram by providing an extensive array of related photos for any selected item. In terms of seeking fashion inspiration, I found that Pinterest offers a better navigation experience. I wanted to make a good balance between shopping information search and lookbook image browsing.

 
 
 
 
 

FASHION INSPIRATION via LIVE camera VIEW

While both Instagram and Pinterest provide fashion shopping ideas through static images, Lens offers the unique advantage of initiating searches with a live camera view. What’s more, Lens can provide place-related information using GPS, which can offer more contextual search results. I have brainstormed several ideas that enable Lens to deliver a distinctive fashion inspiration experience utilizing its advantages:

  • Displaying Nearby Store(s): Provides users with information on local retail locations where they can purchase similar items in-store.

  • Geo-contextual Fashion Inspiration: When users are situated in specific locations, such as a bar or a beach, curates fashion inspiration photos that resonate with their surroundings.

  • Find similar match by price range: If users capture a specific item to search, offer alternative similar match options with filters for various price ranges.

 
 
 
 

TOWARD INCLUSIVE DESIGN


One another aspect that I emphasized particularly for this project was more inclusive search results. Clothing serves as a powerful medium for self-expression, allowing people to showcase their cultural, ethnic, and gender backgrounds. Therefore, inclusivity is a fundamental aspect of fashion that acknowledges and embraces the diverse identities of individuals. When providing style suggestion photos, I wanted to make sure that search results reflect this diversity.

I propose implementing enhanced filter options in the search result panel for both Lens and Shopping that allow users to narrow down image searches according to their specific backgrounds. The proposed filters include:

  • Gender Fluidity: This filter would focus exclusively on genderless garments and images of gender-fluid models, catering to the needs of users seeking borderless fashion inspo.

  • Race Specific: Users can refine their search results based on the ethnicity of models, providing a more tailored experience that reflects diversity.

  • Body types: Users can refine search results by selecting a specific body type, such as petite, curvy, or plus size.

  • Religion/Region Specific: This option would enable users to filter results according to religion or geographical region, ensuring that they find culturally relevant and appropriate representations in their search results.

These enhancements aim to create a more personalized and inclusive shopping experience, highlighting the importance of representation in fashion and product imagery.

 
 
 
 

A few THOUGHTS…


The concept ideas were presented to the team and were greatly appreciated. Part of the style suggestion concepts were incorporated into the Lens Shopping vertical, enhancing both the shopping experience for similar items and the fashion inspiration photo panel. I particularly enjoyed working on this project as it provided a rare opportunity to consider users' cultural backgrounds and identities, which is not often addressed in the tech industry. I look forward to seeing further advancements in Lens and the incorporation of inclusive design in its search results.