Finalist
Mobile Application and Watch UI
Mobile Application and Watch UI
Mobile Application and Watch UI
UX/UI Design
UX/UI Design
UX/UI Design
Service Design
Service Design
Service Design
AR Design
FuturePlo is a grassroots plogging service to promote sustainable practices. It integrates gamified elements within the app to encourage users to participate in plogging voluntarily and consistently.
Project
Team Project (6 people)
Project
Team Project (6 people)
Role
Product
Designer
3D Modeling
UI Design
UX Research
Role
Product
Designer
3D Modeling
UI Design
UX Research
Timeframe
July 2021 - December 2021
Timeframe
July 2021 - December 2021
Tools Used
Figma
Blender
Adobe Illustrator
Tools Used
Figma
Blender
Adobe Illustrator
Outcomes
Presentation
Ewha Creativity for Survival Workshop
As our work gained recognition from the Human City Workshop and the iF Talent Award, I presented our project to peers and alumni, emphasizing its impact on promoting sustainable technology.
Event Design
Designing Offline Event
During the design process, our team discovered that many potential users were interested in plogging but lacked opportunities to participate. To address this, our team collaborated with Songpa District Office and Korea National Sport University to organize an actual plogging event, and conducted user testing.
Research
Background Context
Research Goals
Discovering existing plogging events
Identifying key groups involved in these activities
Analyzing the sustainability of these efforts
Plogging event flyers and celebrity promoting plogging
" Many plogging activities were organized as one-time events, making them less accessible for the general public. "
User Research
To understand people's awareness of and experiences with plogging, our team conducted a survey with 34 individuals involved in environmental protection activities and interviewed 5 people with prior plogging experience. I contributed by designing the questionnaire for both the survey and interviews and participated as an interviewer in one of the sessions.
Q1. Are you aware of Plogging?
Q2. Are you continuously involved in environmental activities?
Interview Insights
Analysis
After gathering raw data, our team coded the data by affinity diagram to uncover three key insights.
Users felt frustrated by not seeing the results of their efforts, leading to disengagement.
Many stopped over time as the process felt bothersome and boring.
Users stayed motivated longer when engaging in environmental activities with others.
Challenge
People are losing motivation
to impact the environment
The unclear impact of personal habits on the environment may explain why many people lack motivation to stay committed to preservation efforts. Without knowing the difference their actions make, it’s harder to stay engaged.
Insights
How Might We?
How might we showcase users' environmental efforts while keeping them motivated to plog regularly and reducing any hesitation to start?
Challenge
People are losing motivation
to impact the environment
People are losing motivation
to impact the environment
The unclear impact of personal habits on the environment may explain why many people lack motivation to stay committed to preservation efforts. Without knowing the difference their actions make, it’s harder to stay engaged.
The unclear impact of personal habits on the environment may explain why many people lack motivation to stay committed to preservation efforts. Without knowing the difference their actions make, it’s harder to stay engaged.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Presentation
Ewha Creativity for Survival Workshop
Presentation
Ewha Creativity for Survival Workshop
As our work gained recognition from the Human City Workshop and the iF Talent Award, I presented our project to peers and alumni, emphasizing its impact on promoting sustainable technology.
Event Design
Designing Offline Event
Event Design
Designing Offline Event
During the design process, our team discovered that many potential users were interested in plogging but lacked opportunities to participate. To address this, our team collaborated with Songpa District Office and Korea National Sport University to organize an actual plogging event, and conducted user testing.
Research
Research
Background Context
Background Context
Research Goals
Discovering existing plogging events
Identifying key groups involved in these activities
Analyzing the sustainability of these efforts
Research Goals
Discovering existing plogging events
Identifying key groups involved in these activities
Analyzing the sustainability of these efforts
Plogging event flyers and celebrity promoting plogging
" Many plogging activities were organized as one-time events, making them less accessible for the general public. "
" Many plogging activities were organized as one-time events, making them less accessible for the general public. "
User Research
To understand people's awareness of and experiences with plogging, our team conducted a survey with 34 individuals involved in environmental protection activities and interviewed 5 people with prior plogging experience. I contributed by designing the questionnaire for both the survey and interviews and participated as an interviewer in one of the sessions.
Q1. Are you aware of Plogging?
Q1. Are you aware of Plogging?
Q2. Are you continuously involved in environmental activities?
Q2. Are you continuously involved in environmental activities?
Interview Insights
Analysis
After gathering raw data, our team coded the data by affinity diagram to uncover three key insights.
Users felt frustrated by not seeing the results of their efforts, leading to disengagement.
Many stopped over time as the process felt bothersome and boring.
Users stayed motivated longer when engaging in environmental activities with others.
Insights
How Might We?
How might we showcase users' environmental efforts while keeping them motivated to plog regularly and reducing any hesitation to start?
How might we showcase users' environmental efforts while keeping them motivated to plog regularly and reducing any hesitation to start?
Develop
Based on the research findings, I worked through design iterations to create the screen UI and interactions.
User Flow
I created a user flow to map each step a user takes and design a more goal-oriented experience.
Wireframes
To refine the user flow and improve the information architecture, I designed multiple low-fidelity wireframes and conducted user testings.
User Testing Insights
With our prototypes, our team conducted user testing with three participants during a plogging event to assess usability in a real plogging activity, gaining valuable insights to revise our designs.
Develop
Based on the research findings, I worked through design iterations to create the screen UI and interactions.
Based on the research findings, I worked through design iterations to create the screen UI and interactions.
User Flow
I created a user flow to map each step a user takes and design a more goal-oriented experience.
I created a user flow to map each step a user takes and design a more goal-oriented experience.
Wireframes
To refine the user flow and improve the information architecture, I designed multiple low-fidelity wireframes and conducted user testings.
To refine the user flow and improve the information architecture, I designed multiple low-fidelity wireframes and conducted user testings.
User Testing Insights
With our prototypes, our team conducted user testing with three participants during a plogging event to assess usability in a real plogging activity, gaining valuable insights to revise our designs.
With our prototypes, our team conducted user testing with three participants during a plogging event to assess usability in a real plogging activity, gaining valuable insights to revise our designs.
Final Designs
As a UX/UI Designer, I designed interfaces based on research findings and user testing insights.
AR Contents
Making the Plogging Activity Fun and Engaging
To support user motivation beyond internal factors, we incorporated external rewards to sustain plogging activity.
In addition to motivating users to collect characters, they can share their AR photos on social media, encouraging others to take action together.
Plogging Activity
Reducing the bothersome activities
Research showed that many people quit plogging due to the hassle of tasks like finding trash bins and planning routes. To ease these burdens, I designed simple interactions that let users save time and start plogging instantly by offering prioritized options.
Additional Interactions
Overcoming Interaction Constraints
Acknowledging the interaction constraints while plogging, we integrated with smart devices like smartwatches and earphones. By providing information with watch and voice navigation, it offers hands-free assistance to keep users engaged. This approach reflects a practical solution to balancing physical activity with usability.
Plogging Report
Visual Quantification of Plogging Results
In the research, users mentioned that uncertainty about their impact led them to quit. To boost their sense of efficacy, we designed a system that provides data to help them assess their actions and impact.
Community
Building Sustainability through Community
Building Sustainability through Community
Futurplo provides a platform that allows users to connect with a community of like-minded individuals, enabling them to engage in and sustain their plogging efforts.
Futurplo provides a platform that allows users to connect with a community of like-minded individuals, enabling them to engage in and sustain their plogging efforts.
Futurplo provides a platform that allows users to connect with a community of like-minded individuals, enabling them to engage in and sustain their plogging efforts.
Takeaways
Iterative Design: Transforming User Feedback into Improved Solutions
Throughout the process, we conducted multiple iterations, allowing me to refine the designs by effectively incorporating user feedback. This experience deepened my understanding of how to create user-centered solutions that continuously improve.
Designing with Context in Mind: Aligning UI with Real-World Scenarios
Initially, our team designed the app with a game-like UI and a dark color theme to emphasize the concept of urban waste issues. However, user testing revealed that this approach hindered usability, as it didn’t align with the outdoor context of plogging. From this experience, I learned that design must consider the broader context beyond the interface itself.
Iterative Design: Transforming User Feedback into Improved Solutions
Throughout the process, we conducted multiple iterations, allowing me to refine the designs by effectively incorporating user feedback. This experience deepened my understanding of how to create user-centered solutions that continuously improve.
Designing with Context in Mind: Aligning UI with Real-World Scenarios
Initially, our team designed the app with a game-like UI and a dark color theme to emphasize the concept of urban waste issues. However, user testing revealed that this approach hindered usability, as it didn’t align with the outdoor context of plogging. From this experience, I learned that design must consider the broader context beyond the interface itself.
Iterative Design: Transforming User Feedback into Improved Solutions
Throughout the process, we conducted multiple iterations, allowing me to refine the designs by effectively incorporating user feedback. This experience deepened my understanding of how to create user-centered solutions that continuously improve.
Designing with Context in Mind: Aligning UI with Real-World Scenarios
Initially, our team designed the app with a game-like UI and a dark color theme to emphasize the concept of urban waste issues. However, user testing revealed that this approach hindered usability, as it didn’t align with the outdoor context of plogging. From this experience, I learned that design must consider the broader context beyond the interface itself.
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu
© 2024 Ellen Lee
kwellen@umich.edu