Boosting Climate Change Engagement With User-Centered Design
Team
1 Project Supervisor
1 UX/UI Designer
Role
UX/UI Designer
Deliverables
Design Documentation
Figma Prototype
Timing
Summer 2024
Summary
Sustainabite is a grocery list app that aids users in purchasing groceries that leave a positive impact both on themselves and the environment. Utilizing double diamond as design process, both the problem and potential solutions were thoroughly explored.
The problem
Learning about sustainable eating practices and cooking delicious recipes can be difficult, especially for beginners. The subject matter is also plagued with misinformation, which hinders learning even more. In addition, staying motivated and engaged with sustainable eating habits is challenging.
The solution
The app addresses these pain points in various ways. Users can add to, remove and cross off items from their grocery list. In addition, the user can:
- Learn about their list's sustainability and alternative choices in a quick and engaging manner
- Browse recipes, bookmark them, and add items smoothly to their list
- For social engagement, the user can invite family and friends to join their list
74% are concerned about biodiversity and the state of nature in Finland
2 out of 3 people are ready to make changes in their lifestyle habits to be more sustainable.
Researching the users
Primary research consisted of user interviews. In total, 5 people were interviewed, with the goal of learning more about how our users shop for groceries and what are their attidudes towards sustainability in diet. Most interviewees had experience using different types (grocery) list apps, and were interested in learning more about how to eat in a planet-friendly way. One participant described how they would like to learn more about a sustainable diet, as long as they wouldn't have to go out of their way to search for this information. Participants would often try out different recipes, ranging from once a week to once a month. Health was also an important factor, and so was the cost of food.
Secondary research revealed a lot of attitudes that people in Finland have towards nature. Literature reviews also revealed the positive impact that gamification can have in engaging people in sustainability related issues.
The collected data helped to model the typical user that Sustainabite should cater towards.
Defining the main problem
It quickly became obvious that various issues arise when people try to adobt more sustainable eating habits. Utilizing a typical user persona and a scenario crafted from the interviews and other research data, user journeys both before the app and with a rough structure of the app helped define the actions, pain points of the user and helped explore potential solutions to these problems.
Mapping out the user's sustainable eating journey before the app
The initial user journey revealed lots of pain points related to actions and feelings the user would have. Lack of time, learning, and food choices were the biggest discovered challenges.
Developing a feature list from real life actions, pain points and improvement ideas
After mapping out the initial user journey, it was possible to explore improvement ideas and thus create a rough feature list. These features were cross-referenced with literature, that helped clarify the features then further.
.png)
Exploring different solutions
User flows and paper prototypes helped more thoroughly explore the potential solutions to the problems. Prototypes and user flows were evaluated against the pain points found earlier, ensuring that the design didn't go against the user's interests.
.png)
Delivering a functional Figma prototype
Supporting grocery lists
Provides the basic functionality that behavioural, cognitive and social engagement are built around. Most interviewees utilized grocery lists regularly, aside from one participant.
Ability to invite family and friends
Not only is it useful to be able to share lists between family members, it also provides a meaningful way of learning together. Interviews revealed that some participants would share their lists with others.
Recipes
By combining both grocery lists and recipes, users can both shop and eat sustainably. User interviews revealed that most participants utilized recipes to some degree.
Feedback and tips on grocery lists
Engaging cognitively with sustainability related issues is a key aspect of adopting positive, long term habits. Users want to learn more, as long as the information is concise and not spread acoss multiple platforms.
Feedback session
A feedback session was conducted using a Figma prototype. Four people took part in testing out the prototype, and provided valuable feedback afterwards.