Enhancing retail personalization with a GenAI-powered fashion assistant

Industry: Retail


Duration: 2 weeks

Role: UI/UX Designer


Objective: The AI Fashion Assistant aims to enhance retail personalization by providing tailored product recommendations based on real-time inventory using GenAI. This solution helps retailers drive customer engagement and brand loyalty through an intuitive, responsive chat experience.

Project background

This project was a short two-week proof of concept (POC) created as part of "The Impossible Factory," an immersive event showcasing Slalom's most impactful solutions. The event aimed to inspire clients, demonstrate breakthrough innovations, and facilitate rapid innovation sessions with cross-functional teams.

The specific use case was the AI Fashion Assistant, designed to bridge the gap between consumers' expectations for personalized digital experiences and what most retailers can currently offer. Leveraging GenAI, the assistant aimed to provide tailored product recommendations based on available inventory, enhancing customer engagement and brand loyalty. The technology stack included Snowpark Container Services, Streamlit, Python, and LLaMa 2, with the solution deployed through Snowflake.

Process and Approach

As the sole UI/UX designer, I collaborated with developers and a solution owner to create this POC. Given the tight timeline, we focused on building a compelling experience rather than conducting extensive user research. The approach included:

  1. Service Blueprinting – I started by creating a service blueprint based on available information about the client’s needs and existing systems. This helped define the customer journey and key interaction points.

  2. Rapid Prototyping – Without direct user input, I designed an intuitive interface that demonstrated how GenAI could enhance retail experiences.

  3. Interactive Demonstration – The prototype was showcased in working sessions and presented to white-glove retail clients, illustrating GenAI’s potential in curating product recommendations dynamically.

AI assistant tablet mockup

Challenges and Solutions

  • Limited time for user research → Addressed by relying on available client data and industry insights to shape the user experience.

  • Aligning AI recommendations with real inventory → Focused on designing an experience that emphasized the seamless integration of real-time inventory data.

  • Ensuring a compelling demo experience → Prioritized intuitive UI and clear interactions to maximize impact within the short presentation window.

Speech to text

Impact and Results

  • Successfully delivered a functional prototype within two weeks, demonstrating the potential of AI-driven fashion recommendations.

  • Showcased the solution to high-end retail clients, helping them visualize how GenAI could enhance their digital strategy.

  • Provided a strong foundation for future iterations and potential real-world implementation.

AI assistant desktop mockup

Reflection

This project highlighted the power of rapid prototyping and strategic storytelling in showcasing AI-driven innovations.

While a longer timeline would have allowed for user testing and deeper refinement, the exercise reinforced the value of service design thinking even in fast-paced POCs.

It also underscored the importance of cross-functional collaboration in bringing AI-driven experiences to life effectively.

Feedback

“Alaa and I worked together to deliver a retailing design concept for the Impossible Factory. From the beginning the ask was slightly unclear from whether we were building a generative AI-enabled clienteling tool or product recommendation tool. Alaa was quick to put forward some rapid prototypes to gather feedback and determine where we needed to reposition.

We found that in each conversation with our stakeholder, the request evolved to add more features. Alaa was able to incorporate the new suggestions and deliver a video walkthrough of the designs within the requested timeline while contributing to a full-time client!

I greatly appreciate Alaa's resiliency and ability to respond to ambiguity and changing requirements. This demo will be shared broadly throughout Slalom, with external partners, and highlighted with potential retail clients to show the art of the possible with generative AI.”

Cara V, Senior solution owner at Slalom