L’Oréal My Skin Track UV

The intersection of design + technology and daily life is an important focus in our design and experience practice. L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator knows that in order for technology to be incorporated into our daily lives, the design needs to be human experience-centered. We partnered with L’Oréal not only to redesign My UV Patch, but to introduce an entirely new wearable – UV Sense, the first, and smallest, battery-free UV wearable.

strategy

Our first task was to redesign My UV Patch – an innovative technology that measures UV exposure and, through a corresponding mobile app, gives feedback to prevent harmful skin damage. While the benefits of the wearable patch are clear, we saw an opportunity to refine both the size and the style of the patch to reach a broader audience. Our goal was to pare the product down to its most necessary elements, and then reconfigure and redesign the patch to fit different personal styles.

After designing My UV Patch, L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator came back with an entirely new technology: a UV wearable mere millimeters in thickness. We explored different opportunities to apply this technology, looking at ways in which users could discreetly incorporate the sensor into their daily lives. The sensor also had to remain visible to sunlight, without impeding our personal style. We decided to adhere the sensor onto our thumbnail – a part of the body that remains exposed to sunlight, but discreet enough that the wearable could seamlessly work in our daily lives.

brand

For the packaging of My UV Patch and UV Sense, we were able to celebrate these innovative form factors through unique and sophisticated packaging. The packaging itself celebrates the slim, subtle form of the sensors; it fluidly unfolds to reveal the sensor floating in its place, representing how the technology itself discreetly and seamlessly lives on our bodies. Each package is enhanced with bold, dynamic graphics that reflect the pattern on the product inside, but also pulling from modern fashion cues.

product

My UV Patch is comprised of a series of tiles with photoreactive dyes that respond to UV rays, set against neutral reference points. We were challenged to design a patch that followed these technical constrains, while designing new styles as body ornaments. By challenging the technical elements and shrinking them, we developed an aesthetic that could be directed into any number of stylistic collections. Working around the hand, arm, and wrist, we established a core collection that truly marries fashion with function; the My UV Patch redesign is sophisticated and discreet, a take on modern jewelry, with bold architecture and tonality.

For the design of UV Sense, we wanted to celebrate its size and flexibility, balancing discretion with personal style. Subtle patterns laid directly over the outer shell create playful and iconic expressions similar to nail-art, with clear versions for those who prefer simplicity. A miniscule window in the shell allows for light to enter; data collected and stored is then transferred directly to the mobile app through an NFC chip.

Recognition

Awards

  • IDEA

    • Finalist, 2020
  • SF Design Week

    • Winner - Product Design FashTech, 2019
  • NewBeauty

    • Best Innovations - My Skin Track UV, 2019
  • Fast Company Innovation by Design

    • Finalist - L'Oreal UV Sense, Health, 2018
    • Honorable Mention - L'Oreal UV Sense, Products, User Experience,
      Fashion and Beauty, 2018
  • CES 2018 Digital Trends

    • Emerging Tech Notable Mention - L'Oreal UV Sense, 2018
  • Core77

    • Notable Consumer Product - L'Oreal UV Sense, 2018

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