Recycling & Composting Tracking App. Spring 2019.

The Problem

Recycling apps in the US are typically limited to trash day reminders or helping users locate where to dispose of old mattresses. None track users' impact on waste, recycling, or composting.

The Solution

I took a human-centered design approach to reduce risk and uncertainty and created an app that incentivizes recycling and composting through a points-based rewards program.
My Role

Lead UX/UI Designer. I led the competitive analysis, ideation, user research, UI design, and conducted two rounds of user testing.

Tools

Figma, InVision, Google Forms, Try My UI, Marvel, Markers, Sketchpad, Sticky Notes, Phone, Google Hangouts, and Zoom.

Goal

Encourage recycling and composting with a mobile app that rewards users with points they can redeem for discounts.

Discovery

I couldn’t find a similar product in the US, so I looked at Hackney Recycling Rewards in the UK for ideas. This program encouraged users to submit recycling data weekly and gave them points to spend at local businesses.

I first discovered Hackney Recycling Rewards in 2016 when I was living in Hackney, London.

Key features include reminders to submit recycling information each week and submissions are done through the app. Points are accumulated each time the user logs their recycling or composting and those points can be used for discounts in over 100 Hackney businesses listed in the website and app.

WASTED & RecycleNation

RecycleNation’s activity log informing users how their recycling habits were impacting the world. This impact section would serve as an important component in my design later on which at the time of discovery had not been obvious to me.

Another app, WASTED began in 2015 as a community initiative in Amsterdam raising awareness in waste separation.

The main takeaway from Wasted was its impact section. Users receive one digital coin per each scanned bar code of their recyclables and/or compost. Digital coins can be used around Amsterdam in exchange for goods and services.

Methodology

• Screener Survey - 41 participants total in 48 hours. Participants were men and women ages 18-64 living in urban and suburban areas who recycle at a minimum.

• User Interviews

  Five participants were chosen from the screener for more in depth user interviews.

Personas

After synthesizing all research, interviews, and creating an affinity map — I created the following two personas who would benefit the most from RecycleMe.

The Framework

After ideation came creation in the form of thick markers and lots of blank pages.

Visual Design

Prototyping & UI

You can try out the prototype on InVision.

Validation through Usability Testing

The first round of usability testing consisted of 5 tests- 3 remotely moderated tests, 1 unmoderated remote test, and 2 in-person moderated tests.

Participants were both male and female with ages ranging from 29-60 that met the basic prerequisites of living in an urban/suburban community, using social media at least once daily, owning a smartphone, and composting and/or recycling.

Testers were tasked with the following: (1) Log in as a returning user (2) Look through rewards listings (3) Upload recyclables and scan barcode (4) Redeem points with digital card. I wanted to test the app’s functionality, ease, concept.

Solutions

After receiving feedback, I opened up Figma and made changes to the design based on the chart above. Most testers wanted to know how many points they can get per bag, as well as other questions not previously addressed. To alleviate for this, I created a FAQs page that can be accessed through the bottom dashboard.

Another major update was adding a location search bar in the Rewards Listings page. Originally a tester could only see rewards limited to radius. In order for testers to plan ahead they wanted a function where they could search different locations free of radius. These two major design changes allowed a much better user experience in the second round of testing.

Reflections

Completing this project took about 4 months. I enjoyed the research and usability testing the most. I had some difficulty with the visual design since I was still learning Figma. The positive feedback during testing and initial interviews made me believe this app could succeed if developed. I'm not currently working on the prototype, but I'd like to revisit it later. It’s a personal project related to my interests in sustainability and mindful living.