SWOT - Design for Screen

Outlining the strengths & weaknesses that will inform the design process.

Outlining and analysing key aspects of my concept will inform the decisions made when it comes to designing the app and website.

Strengths

• There isn’t already an app that shares all the qualities and features of my own concept.
• Even though there are existing examples of similar apps such as Whatdropsnow and Hypebeast, these apps are limited in terms of target audience. 
• My concept is aimed broadly at anyone who is interested in what they, their friends and even people they admire are wearing.
• Existing fashion apps are aimed at people who already look online for clothes and are engaged in the online shopping culture. My concept is also aimed at people who may have previously been put off online shopping for clothes. This will attract a target audience that other existing apps do not consider. It does this through an easy, exciting and enjoyable experience for someone of any fashion culture or trend.
• The more the app the uses, the more it learns about the user. The users experience will improve with every time they use the app as well as the length of time the app has to learn about them through their search history etc.
• The app keeps people updated on what other people are wearing as well as trends and other things which will help people in finding new labels/clothes that that they may not have been made aware of without the app
• The app requires the user to create a profile that can then be logged into on any device. This means that it is not limited to just your smart phone or laptop.
• As well as the content, the adverts will also be tailored to the user and will only appear if the user has shown previous interest in that specific brand.
• Even if the users don’t have the money to spend on clothes at that time, the app will still offer a number of different functions that they will still be able to enjoy. For example, you can create ‘playlists’ of clothes you’ve seen and would like to buy when the money becomes available.

Weaknesses

• An issue with the data usage. The app will have to run whilst the user is on other apps and browsers in order to see what you have been looking at. This will use up data as well as battery.
• People who don’t enjoy online shopping already may not be inclined to change their mind easily and would need some sort of persuading into investing some time into the app.
• The app won’t actually sell any clothes and will just have links to individual items that the app thinks you’ll like. The danger with this is that it won’t always get the suggestions right purely based on what you have been looking at
• It may also record activity that may not have been for the user and could have been for a friend. This may lead to things being recommended based on other peoples interests as apposed to your own.

Opportunities 

• Fashion labels and brands will have the opportunity to advertise on the app/website. These adverts will only be shown if the user has shown an interest into that specific brand. This means that all adverts are also tailored to each individual.
• Maybe my concept could team up with an existing well known site such as ASOS to give it the credibility from the start. It would be familiar and recognisable from the get go as well as following existing brand guidelines in terms of advertising and image.
• With ever growing technology such as iOS, new features may become available that can be integrated within the app. For example, the use of the camera could become a feature as users can take photos of clothes and the device will recognise what item of clothing is in the photo and then tell you information about it.

Threats

• Existing websites that are similar to my concept may end up doing something similar. These websites already having a name for themselves may be more successful as they are well known already and familiar.
• Some people may not want the app to look at what they have been looking at previously or share any info with anyone else. This is a privacy issue that would have to be monitored so that the app doesn’t share any info that the user wants to keep private.