Project: App development
case study
My role: UX designer
Discover, Connect, and Bee the Change! Together, for Bees and Bats
X-plore environmental app can serve as a powerful tool to foster environmental consciousness, facilitate collective action, and contribute to the preservation of the planet for future generations
X-plore app feature:
About this project
X-plore app
This semester project focuses on creating an environmental learning app that focuses on protecting but also helping the decline population of bees and bats. ... These small creatures play an important role in pollinating plants and making sure that fruits and vegetables continue to grow and maintain a healthy ecosystem. Without these created, food production would be severely impacted. The app will help individuals to take action to protect these amazing creatures and also protote actions that have a positive impact on the environment. Over a four week time frame I will conduct in-depth research to explore the unique needs, preferences, and challenges that forms the foundation for generating ideas, building a prototype, and testing it to gather valuable insight into the app users' needs and preferences. The goal is also to create an app that aligns with Xplore’s mission to make a difference
Explore, Learn, stay updated with X-plore Environmental app!
The app provides various selection of video, audio and article content with focus on environmental conservation, bees and bats. ... Users are able to expand their knowledge in these field. They also have the option to select articles and videos with different lengths making it easy for them to choose if they want to get a deeper understanding of subjects that are most interesting. For new users they are able to tailor the app's content level and goals by completing the onboarding process.
Explore, post, stay updated with X-plore Environmental app!
The app provides engaging features that lets users interact with features related to environmental content ... The user can read posts, comments, like and share posts. They can also create their own posts which include images, text and emojis. On the home the user has access to the latest post and events updates making it easy to interact with the Xplore community. This feature encourages positive action and awareness that will contribute in a positive way related to environmental issues. The post and event feature create engagements and making it easy to participate in a community that focuses on action that is positive for the environment
Explore, participate, stay updated with X-plore Environmental app
The X-plore apps event feature makes it easy to participate, meet and connect with other individuals who want to make a positive change and action for the environment ... Users can meet other like minded individuals, participate in eco friendly workshops, and participate in recycling events. Users can create their own events that will have a positive impact on the enviroment. This feature makes it fun easy and engaging to take action that has a positive impact on the environment
Explore, connect stay updated with X-plore Environmental app
Xplore app lets individuals create their own unique profile by adding image, background image, name, address, email and interes ... This makes it easier for users to stand out and connect with others on the platform. Users can also join eco friendly communities and forums making the app interactive and user friendly
Explore, chat, stay updated with X-plore Environmental app
X-plore provides users with an option to chat with other users on the platform. These features help bringing people together ... Users can connect, share their knowledge, discuss and communicate with other platform users making it easy to collaborate on environmental topics and issues. This feature makes it easy but also motivating to take action, collaborate with others with action that has a positive impact on the environment
Summary for X-plore app semester project
The project has been rewarding and challenging because it allowed me to combine problem solving skills with user centered design by using the design thinking process. ... The most challenging part with this project was how to design an engaging digital solution for users that are environmentally conscious that also inspire them to take meaningful action and incorporate sustainable habits into their daily lives. Due to lack of personal experience in this field made it difficult to be able to develop features and functionality that would truly benefit the end user of the app. By conducting extensive primary and secondary research I gain valuable insight into the unique challenges, frustration, motivativation and need of environmentally conscious users. This research became the foundation for designing a user-friendly, intuitive, and innovative app tailored to this audience. After analyzing and synthesizing the research data a persona, empathy map and problem statement was developed to guide the design thinking process. Competitor and SWOT analyses for mobile apps like Inaturalist, Bee map, Bee plus assisted in identifying useful features and functionality. HMW questions, mind mapping, brainstorming and storyboarding techniques were used to generate ideas while NUF testing and MoSCoW analysis ensured that only the most valuable and critical features were prioritized. To make sure that the user experience is clutter free, user flow, taskflow, wireflow, and IA was created. Through low, mid and high fidelity prototypes , I refined the app’s usability, ensuring users can effortlessly achieve their goals based on usability testing data. Reflection on the project I would further enhance the app by incorporating gamification elements and rewards to motivate user engagement in environmental activities, challenges, and quizzes. Adding features to calculate the environmental impact of choices, such as transportation and diet, could also encourage more informed decisions. This can help them make more informed decisions. These features will enhance the overall user experience of the app.