Madison Reed Colorist App
A redesigned stylist app for Madison Reed Color Bars—driven by interviews, a focused design sprint, and a simpler flow that stylists will actually use.
TL;DR / Outcomes
- It did make the appointment process more efficient.
- Technology in the salon was new to everyone, so adaptation would still need to happen.
- Colorists were excited to contribute to machine learning improvements.
Context
The Colorist App supported in-store colorists during customer consultations. It helped capture customer needs, guide recommendations, document color history, and support service consistency. If the flow was confusing or slow, it affected appointment quality, data capture, product recommendations, and revenue opportunities.
Who used the product
- Colorists running consultations and documenting formulas during appointments
- Salon and store teams managing schedules, service flow, and day-to-day Color Bar operations
- Customers receiving in-person color consultations and recommendations
- Internal teams using captured visit data for operations, product strategy, and service quality
Why a redesign was needed
Interviews with colorists showed the existing stylist app was not supporting consultations as intended. Colorists were working around the product instead of relying on it.
The main issues identified were:
- Color Advisor: A confusing experience that colorists could not depend on during live appointments.
- Photos: Clients wanted more examples of hair color results on real people.
- Workflow: Too many steps for colorists to use comfortably while consulting with clients.
My Role & Scope
I led design from ideation through implementation (Sept 2018 → Jan 2019), partnering closely with one Product Manager and three Software Engineers. The re‑launched Colorist App rolled out to all Color Bars in March 2019.
- Collaborated with Color Bar operations, engineering, and data science to align salon workflows and ML capture.
Key Design Decisions
Four decisions shaped the redesign — each tied to how colorists worked in live appointments and what the business needed from the data behind them.
Simplified the consultation flow
Colorists needed to guide clients through consultations in real time, not navigate a complicated app. Reducing steps and clarifying progression helped them stay focused on the appointment instead of fighting the interface.
Improved access to customer history and photos
Better recommendations depended on prior visit context and realistic visual examples. Bringing history and photo reference into the consultation flow gave colorists what they needed without leaving the appointment screen.
Standardized UI patterns across platforms
Colorists used the product across web, desktop, iOS, and Android, and new hires needed to ramp quickly in busy salons. Shared patterns reduced training burden and gave engineering a more maintainable foundation as the stack moved to React and React Native.
Supported cleaner data capture
Inconsistent formula and visit data limited recommendation quality and downstream product learning. Structured inputs during appointments helped capture cleaner data for personalization, operations, and machine learning initiatives.
Process
Research & Insights
We synthesized research, then ran a focused 5‑day design sprint to de‑risk the biggest problems.
Better Data
- Consistent and accurate customer hair data using Machine Learning.
- Better SLA data for labor efficiency tracking.
- Tracking of customer's desired result.
- Standardized formula input.
Speed
- From start to the timer in 3 clicks for returning customers.
- Fast navigation for colorists within the app.
- The color advisor replaced with a quick backie.
Better Tools
- Product images to help customers pick a shade.
- Full historical view of the client's visit history.
Revenue
- Upsell core products within the appointment.
- Accurate charges for the extra product used in a service.
Exploration & Options
Mapping the Current & Proposed Experience
We synthesized research, then ran a focused 5‑day design sprint to de‑risk the biggest problems. We documented the current experience, then designed a clearer end-to-end flow with fewer steps and better decision support.
UI / Structure
This project was completely redesigned from the UI, UX, and tech stack—moving from Angular to React/React Native.
We created a cross-functional design system that stayed consistent across web, desktop, iOS, and Android without being tied to any single platform guideline.
The best way to describe it: if iOS and Material Design had a baby.
Daily Appointments
Check your daily schedule and understand what is happening in the Color Bar at a glance.
The Consultation
Taking a backie and logging client hair details while chatting gives stylists the right context for product recommendations.
The Service
Select the shade, record usage, and set the timer so every visit runs consistently—and on schedule.
Key Improvements
Color Advisor
Simplified questions, clearer outcomes, and more trustworthy recommendations.
Real‑World Photos
Added real customer examples to set accurate expectations.
Flow & Codebase
Reduced steps, aligned patterns, and prepared for a modernized stack.
Final Direction & Rationale
After presenting to stakeholders and aligning the direction with the design, we tested with Madison Reed colorists within the Color Bars for their honest feedback.
What we learned
- It did make the appointment process more efficient.
- Technology in the salon was new to everyone, so adaptation would still need to happen.
- Colorists were excited to contribute to machine learning improvements.
Results & Impact
Color Advisor
Simplified questions, clearer outcomes, and more trustworthy recommendations.
Real‑World Photos
Added real customer examples to set accurate expectations.
Flow & Codebase
Reduced steps, aligned patterns, and prepared for a modernized stack.
What I'd Do Next
- Expand post-launch analytics to tie appointment efficiency to specific workflow updates.
- Layer guided education within the app for new stylists ramping into Color Bars.
Credits
- Product management, engineering, operations, and Color Bar stylists across Madison Reed.