A selection of my favourite projects
A selection of my favourite projects
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Flipping the Script on
Body-Shaming
Timeline
1 week
.
TEAM
Just me!
Introduction
We’ve all had that moment—standing in front of a mirror, nitpicking at every so-called "flaw." But what if the mirror talked back? What if it challenged your perception instead of reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards? This project reimagines the mirror as a tool for self-acceptance, using playful deception and critical design to question the way we see ourselves.
This project was done by myself as a part of a course Designing User Experiences. The aim was to design for playfulness, criticism and various emotions (e.g. fear, joy, comfort), all of which create different user experiences.
Design goal
Many businesses lack a structured, data-driven approach to procurement savings. Some manually assess suppliers, others attempt bundling strategies, but without consistency, reliable data, or a standardized process, opportunities are often missed. How might we create a more systematic and data-driven way to identify and act on savings opportunities?
Jumping into the process
Part I
💡 The Reflection Revolution: Where It All Started
I started by brainstorming where body-shaming creeps into our daily lives. The answer was obvious: the mirror—a place where self-perception is constantly shaped (and often distorted).
My first idea? A smart mirror that playfully flips expectations:
Ask it to "make me pretty"—it does the opposite.
Choose "make me ugly"—you suddenly look stunning.
Finally, select "make me perfect"—and it simply shows your real reflection.
The experience would end with a message: "Pretty" and "Ugly" don’t define you. You’re already perfect. Now go own it!"
Cool, right? Well…not quite.
- Ask it to "make me pretty"—it does the opposite.
- Choose "make me ugly"—you suddenly look stunning.
- Finally, select "make me perfect"—and it simply shows your real reflection.
Part II
🛠️ Breaking the Mirror: Rethinking the Approach
Feedback from my professor and classmates was clear—the original idea was ironic in the wrong way. Who decides what's "ugly" or "beautiful"? Even in critique, the design still reinforced problematic labels. Well, it was time for another iteration!
I went back to storyboarding, focusing on making the experience more interactive, emotionally engaging, and self-explanatory. This led to a four-stage journey that gradually challenges the user’s perception of beauty rather than dictating it.
Part III
🎭 Acting It Out: Enactment & Emotional Depth
Even after refining the idea, something was missing. So, I turned my room into a makeshift "mirror lab"—stringing up fairy lights, acting out different user reactions, and testing different dialogues. This hands-on approach helped fine-tune how the mirror "talks" to users, ensuring it felt more personal, engaging, and impactful.
I also dug into design psychology:
Benford et al.’s "From Interaction to Trajectories" helped me build suspense and leave users with a lasting emotional takeaway.
Caraban et al.’s "23 Ways to Nudge" guided me in subtly shifting user perspectives without them realizing it.
Frijda’s "Laws of Emotion" ensured the design hit the right emotional beats—evoking curiosity, surprise, and finally, self-acceptance.
- Benford et al.’s "From Interaction to Trajectories" helped me build suspense and leave users with a lasting emotional takeaway.
Caraban et al.’s "23 Ways to Nudge" guided me in subtly shifting user perspectives without them realizing it.
Frijda’s "Laws of Emotion" ensured the design hit the right emotional beats—evoking curiosity, surprise, and finally, self-acceptance.
🎬 Lights, Camera, Action: Final solution
The final prototype was brought to life through a video experience—tested, refined, and polished. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with one key insight: the need for greater inclusivity in the messaging. That’s the next step, because body-positivity should embrace all identities, shapes, and experiences.
Many businesses lack a structured, data-driven approach to procurement savings. Some manually assess suppliers, others attempt bundling strategies, but without consistency, reliable data, or a standardized process, opportunities are often missed. How might we create a more systematic and data-driven way to identify and act on savings opportunities?
Final thoughts & references to design rationale
Sometimes, design isn’t about answering questions—it’s about challenging them. This project turned a mirror into a playful yet powerful critique of beauty standards, proving that perception is everything—and it’s ours to redefine.
Here are some key points that I used as my design rationale, inspired by the literature that informed this project:
Many businesses lack a structured, data-driven approach to procurement savings. Some manually assess suppliers, others attempt bundling strategies, but without consistency, reliable data, or a standardized process, opportunities are often missed. How might we create a more systematic and data-driven way to identify and act on savings opportunities?
Credits
Closing Thoughts
This project highlighted the power of design in challenging social norms—turning reflection into a moment of empowerment and self-acceptance.
UX METHODS
Desk research
Sketching
Storyboards
Enactment
Video prototyping
Usability testing
Tools
Adobe Character Animator
Adobe Illustrator
iMovie
team
Designer
Tanvi Vidhate
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