Ecoflow is a mobile recycling experience that encourages users to practice sustainable waste management, share their recycling journey with others and earn rewards for their efforts.
The goal of this project was to design and evaluate and mobile application addressing waste management challenges using a collaborative Ideation method. The app aims to promote recycling and waste reduction by providing users with an intuitive and engaging experience, empowering them to adopt sustainable recycling practices. This case study showcases the design process and evaluation of the mobile app.
This project was carried out for my Master's dissertation. I was responsible for the entire process from research, ideation, creating user personas, user stories, information architecture, UI design, and prototyping. The project duration was from October 2023 - January 2024 (12 Weeks)
Nigeria grapples with severe waste management issues due to rapid urbanisation and lack of infrastructure, education, and policies to support sustainable practices, leading to open burning, dumping, environmental degradation, and health risks. Additionally, there exists a significant awareness gap among the urban population regarding recycling initiatives and proper waste segregation methods, hindering the adoption of recycling habits and sustainable waste management practices.
My challenge was to design a solution that could make a measurable impact on this issue. The key problem statement was:
How might we bridge the awareness gap and motivate users to actively participate in sustainable recycling practices?
Ecoflow aims to bridge the awareness gap and motivate users to actively participate in sustainable recycling practices. Some key features include:
The research process started with secondary research by looking into research papers, articles, and journals, to gain insights into established theories and best practices within the waste management space. the second step was to conduct primary research with potential users (students, young professionals, and environmentally conscious citizens) to see if the results align with the secondary research findings. Current waste collection and recycling applications were also reviewed to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
The research goal was to understand user perspectives, behaviours, and preferences regarding waste management and recycling practices, leveraging these findings to inform the development of innovative solutions that promote sustainable waste management practices and encourage recycling.
From preliminary research in academic journals, I identified recycling as a key element in sustainable waste management, drawing inspiration from successful global models and recommended by the UN in the 3R initiative as an strategy to efficiently minimise waste.
Some of the users made valuable comments during the interview process. One of the participants said:
"I would love to recycle, but I don't know where to start. I wish there was a way to make recycling fun and rewarding." - Survey Participant
The survey and the interviews provided valuable insights offering a deeper understanding of the challenges users were facing and their motivations for practicing sustainable waste management. The key insights from the research were:
Using the insights I got from the user research, I created the persona to capture the user's needs and motivations. The insights also guided the creation of the card system used in the ideation workshop.
The ideation stage was a collaborative process involving participants using a gamified ideation process called “Gamebidea” to generate ideas. A custom ideation card system was used to guide the participants, helping them to create scenarios and see the user's problem from different lenses.
The ideation card system was designed to help with scenario development focusing on key elements like time, location, technology, and activity (Taking inspiration from Instant Cards). The theme cards used game mechanics to help develop innovative ideas, while the criteria cards helped the assessment of the ideas. The card system was designed to be easily understandable using colours, symbols, and typography. The size of the cards was also considered to be easily handled by the participants.
After generating the ideas, the participants all pitched their ideas before moving to the next stage which was the auction stage. In this stage, the participants were allotted game money and had to bid for the ideas they preferred. The bought ideas at the end of the workshop were selected for further evaluation.
The ideation process was found to improve engagement with the use of constraints and game elements. The ideation cards were found to be effective in developing contextual scenarios and also in generating and evaluating ideas.
I designed the application structure to be intuitive and user-friendly, using User Flows and Hierarchical Task Analyses (HTAs) to break down user journeys and mitigate potential challenges.
Mapping out the detailed steps for critical tasks like checking waste pickup schedules and using camera features provided valuable insights. By visualising each decision point and action, I could better understand the user's thought process, pinpointing potential stumbling blocks and areas of confusion. Streamlining the camera workflow simplified the user experience, enabling effortless scanning and photo capture while minimising user effort and cognitive load.
Creating HTAs for complex actions like redeeming points and finding directions allowed me to identify opportunities for simplification by breaking tasks into smaller subtasks. The HTA for finding map directions highlighted potential friction points like selecting recycling centres or transportation modes, allowing me to address usability concerns easily.
Based on user requirements and insights from the ideation workshop, I developed an information architecture to logically structure content and ensure an intuitive flow of information within the application.
Wireframes were created to visualise the layout and structure of the app, focusing on the placement of key elements and interactions. The wireframes were iterated based on feedback and user testing to ensure a seamless user experience.
The visual design was inspired by the theme of sustainability and recycling, using a green colour palette and eco-friendly imagery. The UI elements were designed to be clean and minimalistic, ensuring a modern and engaging look. The typography and iconography were chosen to be easily readable and recognisable, enhancing the user experience.
The high-fidelity prototype was developed using Figma, allowing for interactive testing and feedback. The prototype was iterated based on user testing and stakeholder feedback to ensure that it meets users' expectations.
A user testing study was conducted with the primary goal of evaluating the usability and effectiveness of the designed prototype. The study involved two rounds of testing, with the first round involving 10 participants and the second round involving an additional 10 new participants. The key insights are outlined below.
During the initial round of testing, 7 out of 10 participants expressed confusion regarding the colour coding and categorisation of materials for waste collection schedules. They found it challenging to understand which specific recyclables were accepted on each day. To address this, a clear and detailed breakdown of accepted materials was implemented for each collection day, eliminating ambiguity.
In the first round, 8/10 participants found the initial camera flow confusing when attempting to switch between photo and scanning modes. They desired a more seamless transition without having to exit the camera screen. The camera screen was redesigned including contextual popups and an improved onboarding process. These changes provided users with better guidance and a more intuitive experience.
After implementing these changes, the second round of testing revealed a significant improvement, with 9/10 participants expressing satisfaction with the updated camera flow.
During the initial testing, 6/10 participants expressed a need for visual guides and turn-by-turn directions to locate nearby recycling bins. This feedback was addressed by implementing animations and clear directions to recycling bins, significantly improving accessibility. One participant mentioned
"I love the map feature! It's so easy to find recycling bins now. I can't wait to start recycling more!" - User Testing Participant
In the second round of testing, 9/10 participants found the new design to be more accessible and user-friendly. Another participant expressed their satisfaction with the map animations, stating:
"I like the new animation and how easy it is to get directions to the recycling bins." - User Testing Participant
The first round of testing revealed that 8/10 participants had difficulty discovering and accessing achievement badges, as they were initially hidden on the profile page. This hindered user engagement and motivation. To address this, the profile page was redesigned to prominently display points and achievement badges, increasing visibility and incentivising sustainable behaviour.
Accessibility was a key priority in designing Ecoflow. User feedback led to the implemention of visual guides, turn-by-turn directions, and real-time updates on recycling bin capacity using smart bin technology. This empowered users with accessible information for locating bins and planning trips. The app's design also adhered to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to ensure inclusivity for users with diverse abilities. By prioritising accessibility, Ecoflow aims to create an inclusive experience, enabling broader participation in sustainable waste management practices.
This case study explored the design process of Ecoflow, a mobile application aimed at bridging the awareness gap and motivating users to actively participate in sustainable recycling practices. Through research, collaborative ideation, design, and user testing, I uncovered valuable insights that helped me to create an engaging and user-centric solution that makes recycling fun and rewarding. To further enhance the app's effectiveness and broaden its impact going forward, the following recommendations are proposed:
The high-fidelity prototype can be interacted with below using the embedded Figma