The Shopping Speed Bump

Creating Mindful Moments in Online Shopping

In the split second between desire and purchase, what if we could insert a moment of reflection?

The fashion industry's environmental crisis is fueled by impulsive consumption patterns and the frictionless nature of online shopping. With a single click, desire transforms into ownership, bypassing any opportunity for consideration or reflection.

Our project targets the critical middle space — that brief moment between seeing an item and clicking "purchase." We're designing a shopping "speed bump" that gently prompts users to pause and reflect: "Do you already have something similar?"

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See desirable item

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Speed Bump

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Purchase decision

The Problem Space

2.5 seconds

Avg. time between seeing & buying online

73%

Consumers report impulse fashion purchases

30%

Of clothes never worn after purchase

50%

Of clothing ends up in a landfill within a year of being made

60%

Expected rise in fashion carbon emissions by 2030

200 years

For polyester clothing to decompose

Our Approach

We're not trying to stop purchases or induce guilt. Instead, we're creating a gentle intervention — a moment of mindfulness in the shopping journey. By asking users to briefly consider what they already own, we transform unconscious consumption into conscious choice.

Design Philosophy

"A speed bump doesn't stop you from driving — it just asks you to slow down and pay attention."

Click on the road

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Impulse to Buy

Slow Down & Reflect

Proceed Online