Recycle App and Responsive Website
Role: UX/ UI Designer
Duration: June, 2022
Tools: Adobe XD
Overview
Recycle is an initiative that allows users to help recycle their daily waste. It’s targeted at busy working adults and students who need help sorting out their waste that can be recycled and shows the nearest recycling centers in their area to drop off their waste.
In India, recycling rates are way below international benchmarks — for packaging paper, it is 27 percent; plastics, 60 percent; and metals, a mere 20-25 percent. We have identified a lack of general knowledge about recycling and limited understanding of personal impact as crucial drivers for the low recycling rates in the country.
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As a UX/ UI designer, I led the app and responsive website design from concept to delivery by conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs, determining information architecture, and responsive design.
Research
I used Recycle’s data on recycling to develop interview questions, which were then used to conduct user interviews. Most interview participants reportedly felt bad about not recycling but they didn’t actively try to educate themselves and start recycling their daily wastes. The feedback received through research made it very clear that users would be open and willing to work towards recycling their daily waste if they had access to an easy-to-use tool to guide them.
Personas
After completing the primary research, I interviewed 10 people who recycle regularly or want to start recycling in order to better understand their needs and goals. I then created user personas based on the user research that helped me paint a clear and realistic picture of users’ goals, needs, and behaviors.
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Problem Statement: Rhea is a working adult who needs guidance and reminders to start segregating their waste because they want to start recycling.
Competitor Analysis
I conducted market research and competitor analysis to better understand who my competitors were and what they did well or poorly. 5 competitors were identified in the country - Ecolekt, Sellixo, Encashea, Swachh Delhi & I Clean India. However, after studying their offerings, how they positioned themselves in the market, and their strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, a set of opportunities were identified that would help Recycle App stand apart from its competitors - To help users to sort out and recycle all categories of waste across the country and not just in any one state.
Wireframes
I started designing low-fidelity wireframes using Adobe XD for my low and high-fidelity wireframes. Throughout the different fidelity stages, continuous iterations were made to improve the app’s functionality and UX.
The high-fidelity mockups:
I changed the layout so that the users can be directed to the nearby recycling centers based on what they want to recycle.
Watch the high-fidelity prototype:
Site Map
I created a site map before proceeding to the design of the responsive web layouts.
Responsive Web Design
Mobile
Tablet
Desktop
Style Guide
Impact and Learning
Users shared that the app made recycling something that they actually start following on a regular basis.
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I learned that even though the problem I was trying to solve was a big one, diligently going through each step of the design process and aligning with specific user needs, helped me come up with solutions that were both feasible and useful.