Wearable Designs for Hair Designers with 3D Virtual Images and 3D Printed Models

Improving work efficiency and satisfying customers through personalized services is becoming more important in an increasingly competitive hair industry. Wearables may help to improve hair designers’ work efficiency and customer satisfaction by analyzing customer and hair designers’ conditions and provide hair styling-related data. However, there is limited research on developing wearables for hair designers (WHDs), and many existing wearables were developed without understanding user needs and perceptions. This research investigated preferences, perceptions, and intentions on WHDs based on hair designers in the U.S., which is the largest hair market. Specific design options that hair designers preferred and possible options to meet requirements that hair designers expect for wearables were identified and suggested in WHD design guidelines. Second, most people preferred a WHD design of a black-colored bracelet/watch that can be a necklace designed with preferred functions; in addition, 3D virtual images and 3D printed models were prototyped. Third, developed designs were evaluated. More than 70% of users were satisfied and considered it as useful and easy to use, with an intention to purchase. The results are expected to provide insights to designers when developing WHDs.