End-to-End IOS Mobile App
Project Overview
Delivering a Comprehensive Sustainable Lifestyle App to Market
Duration:
8 Weeks
Tools:
Figma, Adobe Creative Suite
Role:
Conceptual Project mentored by Anna Brenner
Contributions:
Research, Concept, Product Design, UX/UI Design, Prototype & Testing
✗✗ Problem
Despite the increasing awareness and interest in sustainability, users are confronted with a market lag that falls short of meeting their evolving needs, leading to a perception of limited impact from their efforts. Whether novices or seasoned practitioners, users encounter barriers of fear, intimidation, and uncertainty while navigating available resources, limiting their capacity for meaningful sustainability progress.
✓✓ Solution
A centralized hub for sustainable living that maximizes individual growth, fosters environmental balance and empowering users to make tangible, meaningful strides towards a greener future.
Background
Why a Sustainability App?
I regularly seek reliable resources to guide my daily decisions and inform my environmentally conscious lifestyle. Moreover, on a broader scale, I recognize the challenge in persuading individuals to willingly adopt new attitudes, behaviors, and ways of living in pursuit of sustainability. I aim to understand and address this challenge to engage more people in this crucial issue.
Competitive Analysis
Evaluating the Sustainable Market Landscape
I conducted an in-depth analysis of six diverse sustainability-focused apps, examining both direct and indirect competitors. My objectives were to comprehensively assess the information provided to users in the sustainable living sector, identify areas for potential improvement, and pinpoint any unmet needs or gaps within the industry.
✧✧ Key Takeaways
Existing apps focus on specific niches
There is a market gap for an app that comprehensively addresses various aspects of sustainable living
Color palettes in the market predominantly feature blues and greens
User Research
Exploring Versatile Sustainability Perspectives
Six environmentally conscious individuals generously shared their time and personal experiences with me, engaging in thoughtful conversations about their everyday sustainability endeavors. My aim was to extract valuable insights into their concerns, sources of motivation, and interests in adopting eco-friendly practices.
"I worry that my small efforts won't be enough to make a significant environmental impact."
- Emily, 32
Feedback Synthesis
Feeling the Weight of Environmental Responsibility
These dialogues revealed a profound sense of responsibility and overwhelming feelings among users navigating sustainable living choices. Despite challenges, individuals showed strong commitment to making environmentally conscious decisions.
✧✧ Key Takeaways
Participants are motivated to make an impact but face obstacles like fear and resource constraints, hindering their active involvement
Participants seek platforms to track carbon footprints, access local resources and receive guidance for living greener lives
Community emerged as a central theme, showcasing the importance of social engagement and ongoing support
Target Personas
Defining Sustainable Users
While my research revealed diverse user intentions and sustainable interests, I identified three primary emerging areas of focus to shape my personas:
Personal Impact Tracking
Local and Ethical Consumption
Sustainability Resources and Education
Information Architecture
Integrating Intuitive Hierarchy with Fluid Navigation
When crafting the information architecture, my goal was to strike a perfect balance: offering comprehensive content without overwhelming users, while ensuring intuitive navigation. To achieve this, I employed a mind map as well as hand sketches, grouping content into logical categories, to provide users with a seamless experience.
User Flows
Understanding Interactions on Key Screens
Acknowledging the intricacy of constructing this all-encompassing app, user flows clarified the essential screens vital for the app's functionality and usability. These pathways were developed around the three user personas defined earlier in the research stage.
Design Principles
Anchoring Sustainability with User Affinity & Connection
In response to user feedback indicating overwhelm with the breadth of sustainability and personal responsibility, anchoring the design in principles that address these concerns was imperative. These principles guided concept deliverables, prioritizing coherence, clarity, and effectiveness throughout the design process.
Branding
Giving GreenPath its Identity, Perspective & Tone
The logo icon, inspired by a humble leaf, pays homage to nature and community. Its varying transparency levels create a compelling Venn diagram effect, symbolizing conservation's interconnectedness. Paired with a bold yet congenial typeface, GreenPath's brand embodies a strong yet approachable stance toward sustainability.
Lo-fi Wireframes + Feedback
User-based Iterative Enhancements
Four participants tested preliminary designs for clarity, usability, and layout, leading to rapid iterations and improvements in the user experience.
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
Evolving from Low-Fidelity to Mid-Fidelity
After addressing initial feedback on the low-fidelity wireframes, I advanced to mid fidelity, defining the key areas guided by user flows. Despite the app's scale, focus remained on the realization of essential screens and the ensurance of usability.
Harmonizing Design for Consistency
UI Kit
To ensure design consistency across the app, I developed a UI guide that outlines color palettes, typography, and reusable UI elements.
Onboarding
Aligning the User Experience with Personal Preferences
The onboarding screens feature a gentle aesthetic, leading users through steps to calculate their carbon footprint and customize the app based on their interests, lifestyle and location.
Home Page
An Immersive Home Base for Sustainability Exploration
Upon entry, users find a half-screen of information, encouraging exploration without inundating them. The home page showcases personalized sustainability resources based on the user's onboarding, including their carbon footprint data, local businesses and events, as well as guides and news articles. Each section serves as a condensed avenue for users to explore the app's features easily.
Shop Pages
Aligning Ethical Values with Sustainable Purchases
The shop pages provide an ethical shopping experience, enabling users to align their purchases with their values. Starter kits simplify the transition to eco-friendly living, offering prebuilt packages of sustainable products to replace everyday household items. With the subscribe and save feature, users can effortlessly replenish their preferred products while enjoying cost savings.
Community Pages
Connecting Users with Resources in their Community
The community pages act as a central hub for connecting users with local green businesses, and sustainability events. Users can engage in local forums to ask questions and deepen their understanding of eco-friendly practices. Additionally, the road map view offers easy access to locating nearby eco-friendly resources.
Discover Pages
Empowering Exploration & Environmental Awareness
The Discover pages serve as a gateway to the latest sustainability news, offer comprehensive guides for adopting greener practices, and provide access to impactful environmental charities. Each aspect is designed to empower users, helping them to stay informed, foster sustainable habits, and affirm a lifelong commitment to sustainable living.
User Profile
Managing Users’ Sustainability Progress
The user profile acts as a checkpoint, allowing users to reflect on and manage their sustainability journey. Within this section, users can access goals to reduce their carbon footprint, manage saved sustainability interests to customize their GreenPath experience, and access saved resources and products for sustainable living.
Usability Testing
Evaluating Usability & Participant Engagement
I conducted two rounds of testing, each with five users, to refine my design. I intentionally selected a diverse pool of individuals with varying levels of interest in sustainability. This approach allowed me to evaluate overall usability and gauge the engagement of users less familiar with sustainability practices.
“I believe GreenPath has great potential to resonate with many people. With a just few adjustments, it could be very successful.”
- User 2
☞☞ User Testing Takeaways
Users who are not heavily involved in sustainability currently expressed genuine interest and appreciation for the app
Feedback was largely positive about the overall the app’s message, aesthetic and ease of use
2 users suggested further refinements to the volume of information, highlighting the need to keep all aspects of the app intentional
Reflection
Everything Learned & Gained
✧✧ Key Takeaways
End-to-end app development takes time, countless iterations and cycles of user feedback to bring a fully realized product to completion
Flexibility and readiness to pivot are crucial when initial assumptions are challenged
Feedback is essential for informing a product of this magnitude
❥❥ Areas of Enjoyment
Tackling methods to promote sustainable living and environmental consciousness
Exploring creative design elements to deliver a unique and engaging user experience to both environmental enthusiasts, as well as novices
Developing a deeper understanding of environmental issues and identifying new practices to incorporate into my daily routine to enhance my commitment to sustainability
👣👣 Next Steps
Continual product building, testing and iterations to enhance usability, functionality, and viability in the market
Collaborate with developers to finalize the app and prepare for launch, ensuring alignment with user expectations and sustainability goals