Short Summary - Inspired to take initiative by the state of the environment in my country, I designed a recycling mobile app that aims to give users the ability to visualize their recycling impact and help them choose eco friendlier products.
My Role - Solo project.
The Challenge - Helping create a viable and sustainable recycling ecosystem in Serbia by designing a Recycling App (among other things).
To validate the problem, I’ve scoured the internet for any info about the extent of the problem and it’s impact.
Time for some humans - after staring at articles and factsheets on my monitor for a really extended period of time, I invited some potential users to a semi-structured interview session.
Based on the insights I’ve collected, I got a clear notion of exactly what and who I was designing for.
Now the only thing left was finding out how to make it viable.
Users needed a quick and easy way to check products at the supermarket.
What better way to do it than doing something they already associated with grocery shopping - Scanning Bar Codes.
Where's the Bin?
Another user paint point is finding recycling collection points. Giving the users access to a recycling point map allows them do complete their entire recycling journey on the app.
Plus, it makes it easier for them to dispose of their e-waste and other hard to recycle materials.
A Place for Us!
A passionate community can move mountains, so why not try and help it move the mountain of trash growing bigger every year.
All it needs is a place to grow and a loudspeaker - The Community page.
Brutalist
Incorporating the recognizable brutalist architectural style associated with the state and the need for inclusivity and transparency birthed some interesting results.
When looking at the possible users one thing stands out - everyone creates waste.
Pretty broad yes, but one way of narrowing it down is by finding out their special needs.
Everyone creates waste, so when designing a recycling app that’s exactly who I’m designing it for.
But who is “everyone” and what are their special needs?
Aging population
While trying to answer this question I found that tech literacy presents itself as a sizable obstacle for a lot of our users.
All interview participants over the age of 50 voiced a concern about the ease of use of the app. Many are relatively new to using mobile apps actively and find it difficult to start using certain apps.
Segmented app tour - To ease users into the experience, I’ve developed a guided tour that walks new users through the initial steps of familiarization.
Visual Impairment
Another challenging aspect when designing for everyone is accommodating the experience for people with disabilities.
Accessibility mode - A separate mode, selectable on the initial onboarding screen. Simplified, visually optimized version of the app tailored for users with visual impairments.
Gamification
Recycling’s a chore, so we won’t pretend it’s this magical journey toward a greener future...
... but that doesn’t mean we can’t make it a bit more fun and engaging.
One way this can be done is by gamifying the entire process.
Points
Points - Transforming waste into value through a point system.
Users can redeem points for discount codes applicable to affiliated products at store checkouts, as well as for refilling public transport balances and making charitable donations
Groups
Tracking household and group recycling is facilitated through customizable groups.
Group statistics aggregate individual member data to provide an overview of recycling efforts.
Community groups represent all active users in the local area, offering insights into the community’s recycling efforts and serving as a platform for open discussions on related topics.
Achievements
User activity on the app will be incentivized with achievements, each carrying a corresponding point value.
This provides an additional incentive for users to engage with the platform.
Impact
User statistics, including weekly, monthly, and year data, are showcased on the user profile page through an informative graph.
Visualizing user impact is done by comparing the estimated volume of recycled waste to familiar objects, like a fridge or a garbage truck.
The Results
Viability
The numbers shown above are very much real and pose an evident problem in not only my life but the lives of all individuals in Serbia.
What I Learned
Constellation of Collaboration
Tackling a problem such as this on my own has made me more appreciative of every non design role in the product chain.
It's revealed the dense web of skills and contributions, and reinforced my understanding of the collaborative efforts required to bring a vision to life.
Transformative exploration
Embarking on an in-depth exploration of recycling and sustainability has been more than just research.
It's been a transformative expedition.
The insights I've gathered along the way have not only influenced the course of my career but have become guiding stars illuminating my personal journey towards a greener and more sustainable lifestyle.
To My Future Self
Test as early as possible and as often as possible. (Be resourceful, insights can come from unexpected places)
The hypothesis becomes the solution when the test results come back positive.
When designing, consider the overall journey and ecosystem in which the product exists.
