Problem
Exploratory research involved investigating how people maintain their clothing by observing, interviewing and conducting directed storytelling at Laundromats, dry cleaners and shopping centers. Families distributed responsibilities for clothing care in order to get laundry done efficiently, but the task required balancing participating in a shared goal and accommodating individual needs.

Approach
During concept validation, fifteen scenarios were tested with parents and children who participate in family chores. Awareness of ongoing laundry activities and sharing family clothing care techniques resonated, in order to allow maximum participation in the work as well as prevent error in caring for garments. These concerns drove the iterative design of the interactions with the system and the wireframes and flows.

Solution
The design was captured in a videosketch that demonstrates the experience of various family members contributing to the laundry process. First, the system SmartCycle provides error prevention that lowers the barriers for participating in laundry, by reading washing instructions off the clothing. Next, family members can share their knowledge by inputting specific care instructions. Finally, SmartCycle provides awareness of laundry activity over time and throughout the house, and supports coordination between family members.

Collaborators
Yoko Nakano and Pijarana Rattanathikun. Advised by John Zimmerman.

Design Methods
Directed Storytelling, Personas, Concept Validation, Wireframes, Storyboards, Iterative Design