Terra
Terra
Picatta
Overview
Overview
Overview
Overview
With an objective to build product that allow for better interaction with nature with ease, we designed a digital composting guide to make sustainable practices accessible and enjoyable
With an objective to build product that allow for better interaction with nature with ease, we designed a digital composting guide to make sustainable practices accessible and enjoyable
With an objective to build product that allow for better interaction with nature with ease, we designed a digital composting guide to make sustainable practices accessible and enjoyable
Collaborative cooking app in hopes that UT students find value and community in eating healthy
Role
Role
Role
Role
UX Research
Interface Design
UX Research
Interface Design
UX Research
Interface Design
Research
UI Design
Client
Client
Native
Native
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
8/23 - 12/23
8/23 - 12/23
8/23 - 12/23
9/20-12/20
Tools
Tools
Tools
Tools
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Aligning with nature: The Challenge
Aligning with nature: The Challenge
Aligning with nature: The Challenge
Process: Designing for Joyful, Community-Centered Nutrition
We navigated our design from Native’s interest in products that are integrable into any existing home system and asked how we could create a conscious solution. Our challenge was to develop a prototype that:
Reconnect to nature with minimal changes to their daily routine
Appeal to a wide range of users from many backgrounds and walks of life
Offers simplicity and functional
As the team Earth, our objective was to zoom in on solutions that directly engaged with the Earth, but:
Earth and gardening — pretty open ended, right?
How do we incorporate the ethos of native in the interactions the users have with the earth
We navigated our design from Native’s interest in products that are integrable into any existing home system and asked how we could create a conscious solution. Our challenge was to develop a prototype that:
Reconnect to nature with minimal changes to their daily routine
Appeal to a wide range of users from many backgrounds and walks of life
Offers simplicity and functional
As the team Earth, our objective was to zoom in on solutions that directly engaged with the Earth, but
Earth and gardening — pretty open ended, right?
How do we incorporate the ethos of native in the interactions the users have with the earth
We navigated our design from Native’s interest in products that are integrable into any existing home system and asked how we could create a conscious solution. Our challenge was to develop a prototype that:
Reconnect to nature with minimal changes to their daily routine
Appeal to a wide range of users from many backgrounds and walks of life
Offers simplicity and functional
As the team Earth, our objective was to zoom in on solutions that directly engaged with the Earth, but
Earth and gardening — pretty open ended, right?
How do we incorporate the ethos of native in the interactions the users have with the earth
Story
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team became interested in exploring the dietary dietary habits of our friends, both those on campus and those off-campus. With some of us were part of the primary user group, we realized nutrition played a crucial role in our physical, mental, social, and financial well-being.
As we conducted initial research to develop a point of view to guide our efforts, we found ourselves driven by a central question: "How can we help people build healthier diets?"
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
Understanding the Need
Understanding the Need
Understanding the Need
Challenge
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We interviewed gardeners, gathering valuable insights into their:
Gardening experiences and routines
Space constraints
Motivations
Soil and composting practices
Time constraints and pain points
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We interviewed gardeners, gathering valuable insights into their:
Gardening experiences and routines
Space constraints
Motivations
Soil and composting practices
Time constraints and pain points
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We interviewed gardeners, gathering valuable insights into their:
Gardening experiences and routines
Space constraints
Motivations
Soil and composting practices
Time constraints and pain points
Some tensions and conflict we noticed as we were framing problems
Because sedentary lifestyles are unhealthy (mentally and physically), it may lower quality of life.
Because people are changing their food and diet habits due to COVID, people are choosing between cooking and eating out differently.
Because COVID is increasing work hours, it may affect people's time to cook.
Affinity Mapping
Affinity Mapping
Affinity Mapping
We synthesized our findings with affinity mapping to discover the trends from our user research. This helped us define our problem statement and gave us an idea of what our users want and need in their gardening experience.
We synthesized our findings with affinity mapping to discover the trends from our user research. This helped us define our problem statement and gave us an idea of what our users want and need in their gardening experience.
We synthesized our findings with affinity mapping to discover the trends from our user research. This helped us define our problem statement and gave us an idea of what our users want and need in their gardening experience.
To create a meaningful product, we asked more questions to get us closer to the market, the user, and contexts of use in purpose to inform our research and design
Problem
UT students would like to be healthier , but lack the resources and incentives to do so. How do we improve the nutritional habits of UT students?
Then we developed two primary personas: the novice gardener and the experienced enthusiast. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience.
Then we developed two primary personas: the novice gardener and the experienced enthusiast. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience.
Then we developed two primary personas: the novice gardener and the experienced enthusiast. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience.
As we were framing hypothesis, assumptions about college students were (What are the key user needs for this product today?)
Students want easy-to-make meals.
Students need adequate nutritional intake.
Students have a wide range of economic backgrounds.
Some students care more than others about being nutritionally adequate
Changes we foresee What changes do we foresee in user expectations or needs?)
Increase in time being sedentary.
Changes in motivation or desire for nutritional adequacy.
Changes in grocery shopping habits.
Changes in income.
Students relying on delivery food more than ever
Changes we foresee What changes do we foresee in user expectations or needs?)
Increase in time being sedentary.
Changes in motivation or desire for nutritional adequacy.
Changes in grocery shopping habits.
Changes in income.
Students relying on delivery food more than ever
What ifs-? (Write several of these statements “What would happen if...?” Circle a few to test in the research.)
More variety of foods are available at the dining halls?
A reward system is put in place for healthy eating?
Instant food was healthier?
It was easier to teach ut students to build healthier diets?
Friends could meet up
What ifs-? (Write several of these statements “What would happen if...?” Circle a few to test in the research.)
More variety of foods are available at the dining halls?
A reward system is put in place for healthy eating?
Instant food was healthier?
It was easier to teach ut students to build healthier diets?
Friends could meet up
Research
Our research methods involved user interviews, both remotely via Zoom and in-context observations, leveraging tools like Miro for collaborative notetaking and analysis. To understand participants' perspectives on healthy eating and how COVID-19 impacted their dietary habits, we asked:
What do you define as “healthy food?”
Do you like to cook? Why or why not
How many times a day did you eat before covid-19?
How has this changed since covid began?
Findings - 79 insights
Participants
UT participants
Who are living at home or on campus
Who are responsible for their food and meals
Family currently living with students
To create a meaningful product, we asked more questions to get us closer to the market, the user, and contexts of use in purpose to inform our research and design
Key Insights
UT Students have a desire to be nutritious but struggle with finding the motivation to change eating habits
Students eating habits are deeply influenced by their family and friends eating habits
Supporting examples
C.E. is able to support his nutritional habits with the support and influence of his four other roommates
M.O, H.I, E, and more show a trend of positive nutritional learnings while growing up leading to a healthy lifestyle in college
All participants noted a desire to be healthier, even if they are already considerably helahtier than other participants
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
The problems we're trying to solve and the final direction of service are as follows
After ideating on various solutions like a plant app, gardening community, watering system, we recognized composting as a unique opportunity to address several user needs simultaneously.
Our interviews and site visits revealed that while essential, home composting presented a barrier to entry with issues like odor, storage, and maintaining a healthy compost pile were recurring themes. Aligning with Native's brand ethos, we decided to tackle composting with our app, Terra, to guide users through the process manageably.
After ideating on various solutions like a plant app, gardening community, watering system, we recognized composting as a unique opportunity to address several user needs simultaneously.
Our interviews and site visits revealed that while essential, home composting presented a barrier to entry with issues like odor, storage, and maintaining a healthy compost pile were recurring themes. Aligning with Native's brand ethos, we decided to tackle composting with our app, Terra, to guide users through the process manageably.
After ideating on various solutions like a plant app, gardening community, watering system, we recognized composting as a unique opportunity to address several user needs simultaneously.
Our interviews and site visits revealed that while essential, home composting presented a barrier to entry with issues like odor, storage, and maintaining a healthy compost pile were recurring themes. Aligning with Native's brand ethos, we decided to tackle composting with our app, Terra, to guide users through the process manageably.
How might we...
Encourage good nutritional habits with a community during covid-19?
Create an experience that teaches students how to cook?
Make cooking more fun for students?
Make healthy foods seem more obtainable?
Make healthy foods seem less challenging?
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still affordable and beautiful process for users?"
Problem Statement
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still affordable and beautiful process for users?"
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still affordable and beautiful process for users?"
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still affordable and beautiful process for users?"
02 / Design
02 / Design
02 / Design
02 / Design
Wireframe
Wireframe
Wireframe
Potential concepts
We conceptualized Terra, a digital composting guide that seamlessly integrates into users' gardening routines, emphasizing simplicity, affordability, and sustainability. We picked 4 main flows to focus our attention on from our user flow, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
We conceptualized Terra, a digital composting guide that seamlessly integrates into users' gardening routines, emphasizing simplicity, affordability, and sustainability. We picked 4 main flows to focus our attention on from our user flow, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
We conceptualized Terra, a digital composting guide that seamlessly integrates into users' gardening routines, emphasizing simplicity, affordability, and sustainability. We picked 4 main flows to focus our attention on from our user flow, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
In person cooking competition / Encourages community and learning new things. Demonstrates how to be nutritious at home and in college.
Subsidized supplies or supply rental / Provide students with a means to cook for themselves if it doesn't already exists. Attempt to eliminate barriers to entry for students.
Collaborative cooking & social media app / Connect students and enable them to cook with each other remotely to encourage learning in a community.
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Solution
Through ideation and user flow mapping, we designed a minimum viable product (MVP) with key features:
Through ideation and user flow mapping, we designed a minimum viable product (MVP) with key features:
Through ideation and user flow mapping, we designed a minimum viable product (MVP) with key features:
Picatta
Collaborative cooking & social media app
Enables people to connect and cook with their community
Suggest & reward nutritious meals
01
01
01
01
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
Tailor the experience based on the user's living space, composting goals, odor tolerance, and storage location
Tailor the experience based on the user's living space, composting goals, odor tolerance, and storage location
Tailor the experience based on the user's living space, composting goals, odor tolerance, and storage location
Tailor the experience based on the user's living space, composting goals, odor tolerance, and storage location
02
02
02
02
Home Screen
Home Screen
Home Screen
Home Screen
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, and a schedule for upcoming tasks like adding 'greens' or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, and a schedule for upcoming tasks like adding 'greens' or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, and a schedule for upcoming tasks like adding 'greens' or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, and a schedule for upcoming tasks like adding 'greens' or turning the pile
03
03
03
03
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
Track start date, days until usable compost, condition status, and graphing the three main factors over time
Track start date, days until usable compost, condition status, and graphing the three main factors over time
Track start date, days until usable compost, condition status, and graphing the three main factors over time
Track start date, days until usable compost, condition status, and graphing the three main factors over time
04
04
04
04
Log
Log
Log
Log
Allow users to search and log ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the compost's current state
Allow users to search and log ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the compost's current state
Allow users to search and log ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the compost's current state
Allow users to search and log ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the compost's current state
Lo-fidelity Physical Prototype
Lo-fidelity Physical Prototype
Lo-fidelity Physical Prototype
Lo-fidelity Physical Prototype
To complement the digital experience, we conceptualized a physical composting system
HOBO Sensor to read relative humidity and temperature
Connected to sensors located throughout the internal part of the box to give an overview of the health and status of the compost
pH Sensors
Scale to detect the weight of the overall compost and to relay how much can be added to the compost at any given time
Bluetooth + detachable battery to charge without having to plug in the whole thing
To complement the digital experience, we conceptualized a physical composting system:
HOBO Sensor to read relative humidity and temperature
Connected to sensors located throughout the internal part of the box to give an overview of the health and status of the compost
pH Sensors
Scale to detect the weight of the overall compost and to relay how much can be added to the compost at any given time
Bluetooth + detachable battery to charge without having to plug in the whole thing
To complement the digital experience, we conceptualized a physical composting system
HOBO Sensor to read relative humidity and temperature
Connected to sensors located throughout the internal part of the box to give an overview of the health and status of the compost
pH Sensors
Scale to detect the weight of the overall compost and to relay how much can be added to the compost at any given time
Bluetooth + detachable battery to charge without having to plug in the whole thing
To complement the digital experience, we conceptualized a physical composting system
HOBO Sensor to read relative humidity and temperature
Connected to sensors located throughout the internal part of the box to give an overview of the health and status of the compost
pH Sensors
Scale to detect the weight of the overall compost and to relay how much can be added to the compost at any given time
Bluetooth + detachable battery to charge without having to plug in the whole thing
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Further refine features that users enjoy
Try not to tend to every single pain point (scoping)
Discuss tradeoffs and ideating new features
Letting go of features that users found not useful
Further refine features that users enjoy
Try not to tend to every single pain point (scoping)
Discuss tradeoffs and ideating new features
Letting go of features that users found not useful
Further refine features that users enjoy
Try not to tend to every single pain point (scoping)
Discuss tradeoffs and ideating new features
Letting go of features that users found not useful
Further refine features that users enjoy
Try not to tend to every single pain point (scoping)
Discuss tradeoffs and ideating new features
Letting go of features that users found not useful