Corius
Creating an easy way to track skin health
Role
Research
Ideation
Prototyping
UI/UX
Visuals
Timeline
October - November 2019
(1 month)
Type
Mobile Application
Tools
Adobe XD
Illustrator
THE PROBLEM
Tracking the many factors that influence skin health can be inconvenient and time-consuming. Not only this, but it makes seeing the skins progress an unnecessary challenge.
From apps that track your skins progress to apps that remind you to drink water, there are already tools to help with skin care. The problem was that there was no app with all these tools in one convenient space.
A DESIGN CHALLENGE EMERGED...
How might we make tracking skin health and the skincare routine more convenient and streamlined for a diverse range of users?
THE SOLUTION
Corius is an easy to use application that allows users to track their skin health efficiently through inputted data and a visual tracker. The app informs on skin patterns, and allows the user to compare and observe changes according to varying factors.
View the interactive prototype here
RESEARCH
I first recorded my own frustrations, then interviewed friends, family, and strangers. I asked them if they tracked their skin health, frustrations they faced while tracking it, and other pain points in regards to taking care of their skin or finding the motivation to do so. This enabled me to get a better grasp on different skin problems and the tools needed to tackle them. I gathered 4 key pain point, then create user persona's based on my research.
Key paint points:
1. Want a convenient space where all skin information is kept
2. Tracking all the varying causes for breakouts and conditions can be redundant and inconvenient
3. Want an easier way to tell which products and lifestyle changes help or worsen the skin
4. People with little skin knowledge are overwhelmed with knowing what to do with their skin
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
I proceeded to do a competitive analysis, looking at existing skincare apps and looking at what their users found effective and what they didn't. I asked myself what each app was lacking, and how I could fix this. From this research I identified some key tools:
1. Tracked blemishes
2. Tracked water consumption
3. Indicated harmful chemicals in products
4. Provided skincare tips
IDEATION
After my research, I created user flows to ensure all interactions made sense. I then sketched and mocked up multiple iterations of the app and made changes along the way as I got some user testing done.
VISUAL DESIGN
When designing the interface of Corius, I kept in mind that it was a skincare application. I decided on cool colours, as this gives the user a "clean" feeling. At the same time, I did not want it to look sterile, so I added some bright secondary colours that would compliment the clean look.
The typeface of choice was Helvetica Neue, as it is familiar amongst all types of crowds, and seeing as everybody has skin, I wanted to use a typeface that would be accepted by most. Not only this, but as it is a modern typeface, it adds to the clean look I was going for.
The logo is just "Corius". I altered a pre-existing font, changing line weights and rounding some corners, to give the logo a friendlier and inviting look.
The App
Corius enables users to track, compare, and know what to do with their skin. It provides insights that allow the individual to create informed decisions, while recording a visual log for their reference.
REFLECTION
This app idea had been floating in my mind for a year before I decided to start the process of designing it. Due to this long hibernation, I had an abundance of tools and services I wanted to include in the application. Although I had a plethora of ideas, I didn't have a plethora of time. In the end, I had to cut out services that were not essential to the application, but I believe would have added to the experience. These services included a:
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Product recommendation service, which would observe the users skin patterns and recommend products based on this information.
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Product warning service, which would warn users of products with certain ingredients based on the users allergies or chemicals that would not work well with the user.
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Forum, which would provide users a space to discuss with other skincare enthusiasts or certified dermatologists.
Something I would change for the next iteration is further streamlining the logging system. Although there is a “skip” and “skip all” option, I feel as though there are more effective ways to log all this information. Such as putting all key questions on a single, simple page, with the option for users to go more in-depth if they please.
Overall, I am grateful I was able to bring Corius to life. This project taught me to think from varying point of views, as skin health is a subject that is applicable to everyone. It helped me empathize with my users and understand certain tools that would be important to include and some that weren't as crucial.
KEY TAKEAWAY
Although some features would be helpful to a handful of users, it's important to make sure there's a reason behind the inclusion of it, that it makes sense.