OVERVIEW
ReSolve - A strategic vision of closing the loop in the beauty industry
January - April 2022
This three-month project is part of the Whitespace challenge. The project focused on developing a system-based approach and intervention to recycling beauty waste and was conducted in two major phases.
Throughout the project, my team received professional mentoring from Associate Professor of Practice Mark Jones, Adjunct Faculty Shilpi Kumar from IIT Institute of Design, and Steven Jambor, Managing Partner of Northwestern University.
TEAM
Myself - Design Researcher, Visual Designer and Project Lead
Palak Shah - Design Researcher and Product Designer
Smrti Ganesan - Design Researcher and Business Dev.
METHODS
User Research, Product Design
Contextual Inquiry, Ethnography,
Business and Strategy, UI Design
Visual Communication Design
BACKGROUND
What the current data shows us?
Looking closely at the gaps that exist.
Our glowy skin & bouncy hair have left deeper ecological footprints. The booming beauty industry heavily relies on plastic making.
Of all the plastic generated, only
9%
gets recycled
12%
incinerated
ends in landfills
79%
They are leading consumers to look for smaller indie brands which have better fundamental environmental policies, greener formulations, and better recycling options.
But today’s greener actions are not enough
Unexciting/ undifferentiated refill packs
Lack of green options
Operational limitations of the supply chain
The inability of brands to be completely plastic free
PRIMARY RESEARCH
Understand key problems in
ANALYSIS
Recycling is slowly but steadily becoming a myth. 


High grade packaged beauty products are hazardous and cannot be recycled through conventional methods. 


Consumers approach making greener decisions in different ways.
ANALYSIS
Now, Let’s look at the recycling chain in the beauty industry.
The demand for recycled materials is much higher than the supply.
But, the recycling process itself is laborious and expensive. There’s a lack of access to transparent recycling touch-points
This demotivates Skeptics & Armchair Spectators
COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Three main players
The current players in the recycling industry don’t recycle hazardous waste and are not transparent in their operations.
There is a huge opportunity to create transparency & convenience while fulfilling unmet needs of our audience
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
Goal, scope
and impact


Develop an innovative and transparent recycling solution to minimize high-grade beauty waste from going into landfills.
Breakdown by
- increasing active recycling by consumers 

- easing sorting for recyclers
- 

preventing high-grade material from going into landfills
REFLECTIONS
My learnings and takeaways
Collaboration with Multiple stakeholders
Reflection: This project was a multi-level collaborative experience that involved multiple stakeholders, including patients, families, and healthcare providers. Collaborating with these stakeholders allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the healthcare system and its complexities, and ensured that our solution addressed the needs and concerns of all parties involved. This collaborative approach ultimately led to a more comprehensive solution that better met the needs of patients and providers alike.
Mindful Communication Around Cancer and Recovery
Reflection: The sensitive nature of cancer and recovery requires that communication be approached with empathy and sensitivity. As such, it was essential for me to be mindful of my language and approach when discussing these topics with patients and their families. By creating a safe and supportive environment that encouraged open communication, I was able to establish a trusting relationship, which allowed me to better understand their needs and provide more effective support.
For more information feel free to contact me 💬