Project Brief
This project’s objective is to use Figma to create an iPhone mobile application that improves a social service or tackles a civic issue. The goal of the app was to enhance community service or find a solution to an issue. This could be accomplished by expanding access to vital resources, enhancing service effectiveness, or bringing significant social issues to the public’s attention. It is important to concentrate on developing an intuitive user interface for the project that satisfies the requirements of the intended audience while following the design principles of iOS 18. To make sure your app prototype is usable, aesthetically pleasing, and accessible to all users, you will also need to use Figma and the Apple iOS 18 design system.
Project Idea
The idea behind the game is to provide an interesting and interactive environment where users may learn about environmental challenges and take action to protect the earth. When players finish environmentally benefiting tasks, they receive awards, and a rating system that takes into account their environmental contributions. This encourages players to keep playing and to climb the ranks. Users can also post their accomplishments on social media to raise awareness and inspire others to become involved. Players are rewarded with customized enhancements as they advance and gain character modifications. The game is impactful and entertaining because of its combination of social sharing, gaming, and education, which motivates users to take practical environmental action.
Primary User
The primary user for this app is anyone living in Colorado currently and looking to improve their community’s environment by getting the people of Colorado recycling and taking responsibility for the environment they live in.
Problem
Colorado is home to many families who are ill informed of how to properly dispose of or recycle items. This leads to the environment being damaged and wildlife being hurt.
Rationale
This app will help with the lack of awareness towards recycling and how to properly dispose of materials. Bringing a wider awareness to the public of ways to help your community and events about the topic.
Description of Feature
For this project, I focused on developing a gameplay feature designed to engage users in environmental conservation through interactive tasks and achievements. I approached this project by considering the gameplay feature’s interaction flow in addition to building the user interface. I began by researching competitors, making a user journey flowchart, and drawing the main components of the game. After that I made wireframes to show how the user interface would look and feel. I then used high fidelity mockups to further polish the design and make sure the features were both visually appealing and simple to use. The majority of this work was done through Figma due to its quick prototyping resources. In addition to the design work was also the project management aspect. To make sure the gameplay feature had consistency to the other features and matched the overall project objectives, I worked with my team. This required establishing a common project schedule, monitoring due date, and making sure that everyone on the team could communicate with one another. We had weekly check-ins to talk about our progress, resolve problems, and decide on the next course of action. A non-design work I did was researching best practices for gaming and its mechanics. I also helped with the project documentation, which described the feature’s functionality, user flow, and design choices.
Design Research & Planning
I focused on understanding the environmental problem we sought to solve as well as the user needs during the design research and planning stages of this project. I started by looking at gaming strategies now used in games and apps that try to encourage beneficial behavior, like educational games, fitness trackers, and sustainability apps. This helped me in determining practical methods for motivating and involving users. I also looked at how these platforms utilize social sharing and user rewards to promote community and increase involvement. Additionally, I looked into the environmental issues the game would bring to light, making sure that the objectives and achievements matched eco-friendly activities like cutting carbon emissions and promoting sustainability initiatives. After that, I developed wireframes and user flows that addressed how users would interact with the application and monitor their progress. For running an unmoderated remote usability test, we had asked a professional in the UX/UI design field to overlook our progress. We also asked for them to assess the usability of the app’s interface and provide criticism.
Figures & Data
Health Statistics:
13.7 million of deaths per year in 2016, amounting to 24% of the global deaths, are due to modifiable environmental risks. This means that almost 1 in 4 of total global deaths are linked to environmental conditions.
Plastic Statistics:
Most of the plastic we make, 72%, ends up in landfills or the environment, according to a 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and 19% has been incinerated. Some of it reaches the sea; estimates suggest that between 8 million and 11 million tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year. According to the National Academy of Sciences, that’s the equivalent of dumping a garbage truck of plastic into the ocean every minute.
Common Issues:
National Geographic found that 91% of all plastic that has ever been made is not recycled, representing not only one of the biggest environmental problems of our lifetime. In 2018, about 146.1 million tons of MSW were landfilled. Food was the largest component at about 24 percent. Plastics accounted for over 18 percent, paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent, and rubber, leather and textiles comprised over 11 percent. Other materials accounted for less than 10 percent each.
Competitive Analysis
Team Flowchart
Personal Feature
Gameplay Wireframe
Areas of Improvement
Improvements to the game’s difficulty and social interaction could be beneficial for the app’s gameplay feature. Some users may not find the game’s difficulty curve to be optimal, since certain activities may be too simple or too difficult. A more interesting and fulfilling experience might be found by adjusting the difficulty progression depending on user performance or playing time. Furthermore, the app incorporates the concept of cooperative gameplay, users may find it a little confusing on how players can cooperate. The user experience would be improved and greater participation would be encouraged by having tutorials or a help button that offers more precise instructions on how collaboration works. Enhancing social aspects such as friends, leaderboards, and others increase user involvement and promote a feeling of community. A/B testing, user feedback, and engagement metrics can all be used to evaluate and confirm these improvements and gauge how they affect satisfaction.
Final Deliverable
Prototype Walkthrough
View the Figma prototype here: https://www.figma.com/design/ldKUaZUro3blGXye0wnRsc/Project-Proposal-Template?node-id=5-662&t=z5HkhP95HtdRXfAP-1
View the Figma wireframe here: https://www.figma.com/board/GKyKG5IQzvLbW1iJxDpyuu/PlanetPal-App-WireFrame?node-id=0-1&t=QO8pD3nSARlN82H4-1
Sources
Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, November 22). National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials#composting(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
World Health Organization. (n.d.). Public Health and Environment. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/public-health-and-environment(World Health Organization)
Main, D. (2023, October 22). Think that your plastic is being recycled? Think again. MIT Technology Review. https://technologyreview.com/2023/10/12/1081129/plastic-recycling-climate-change-microplastics #:~:text=Only%209%25%20of%20the%20plastic,enter%20the%20ocean%20each%20year. (MIT Technology Review)