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Project constraints: project must be a non-profit mobile app solution.
The Problem
Recycling and properly disposing of waste is a time-consuming and difficult endeavor even for the most environmentally conscious individuals. Additionally, researching sustainable products frequently results in unattainable aspirations rather than actual purchasing practices.
Our Solution
My team and I (3 UX/UI students) set out to create a mobile app that helps users make more sustainable purchases when shopping and helps them recycle the items they purchase more efficiently and effectively.
Research Methodology
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User Survey: We conducted a 12-question Google Forms survey about users’ recycling and purchasing habits via email and social media. There were 33 respondents ranging in age from 18-70+.
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User Interviews: 5 user interviews were conducted to collect qualitative data from participants about their recycling and purchasing habits. We interviewed 5 individuals, ranging in age from 21-76. User interviews ranged in length from 10 to 25 minutes.
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Market Analysis: 4 competitors within the recycling mobile app market were analyzed to find what strengths, weaknesses and opportunities in the market exist.
Findings
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Between our survey results and interview findings, we were able to form a user insight.
A lack of clear information on what is recyclable, how certain materials should be recycled, and what happens after they dispose of recyclables is making many consumers unsure and untrusting of the recycling process. More concise information regarding the recycling process and its systems could yield more efficient recycling practices from ECObuddy’s users.
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After brainstorming features and organizing them based on complexity and impact, we referenced our user insight and competitor analysis to come up with a problem statement.
It is too time-consuming and difficult for consumers to gain all of the relevant information regarding recycling and the environmental impact of the products they purchase on their own. Making one purchase comes with many questions: Is this product sustainably-sourced? How do I dispose of it when I am done using it? Where does it go and what happens to it when I am done using it?
How might we build an app that delivers timely and relevant information to consumers as they make daily recycling and purchasing decisions?
User Persona and Journey
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Testing Feedback
After creating a user flow, we created a mid fidelity prototype for user testing. The feedback we gained was invaluable- we realized that we had started to stray from our ultimate goal of delivering timely and relevant information to consumers as they make daily recycling and purchasing decisions. This caused us to make search results and scanned items both lead directly to greener alternatives, as opposed to only scanned items as tested. We also added the option for users to purchase the greener options through links to websites where the product is sold, as opposed to only making recommendations. We felt these changes helped solve the problem of how to simplify the green shopping experience.
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Before Testing
After Testing
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Reflection
Throughout this project, it was hard to ignore the tension between aspirations to buy green and always recycle versus the practicality of it all. From what we learned, there is a direct correlation between people who make more eco friendly decisions and the amount of effort exerted into the task. While I think our final result does make the task of finding greener options and recycling facilities easier, I feel that the extra effort needed to download and use our app gives us a rather narrow audience. If we are going to target a smaller segment, I think we should refocus our efforts to supporting those who are already more involved with environmental consciousness.
Revisiting the Aesthetic
I also feel our project could use a bit more aesthetic refinement, as we focused more of our time researching and organizing our product in the most logical way. These are a few concepts I made of what our app could look like in future iterations.
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