19 Jan 2007 2111H

Now you and 10,000 others will know if that dress makes you look fat

This morning I had the small pleasure of reading USA Today’s story about how customer centered design is now sweeping that tiny cramped wretched retail experience known as the changing room. Yes, through the miracle of modern technology, Web 2.0 can finally give you the answer to that age-old question, “Does this dress make me look fat?” And you may not like the answer. My favorite quote from the piece:

IconNicholson managed the redesign of the dressing rooms at the Prada store in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. They have helped make the store a must-stop for retail designers from around the world. The fitting rooms have thick glass doors that are clear until shoppers press a large button on the floor, which makes the glass turn opaque. Customers have been known to forget to press the button and to start undressing while the glass is still clear, underscoring the potential downside of some high-tech moves.

D’Oh! Could’ve used a bit more user testing, that. That same IconNicholson designed the interactive mirror above, seen last year at the Chicago Auto Show as a feature for the Infiniti exhibit. It’s pretty sexy technology, admittedly. You don’t have to touch the mirror (smudges and fingerprints, don’tcha know) but merely gesture in front. It’s no iPhone pinch, but generally it works.

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