Terra
Terra
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
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
Role
Role
Role
Role
UX Research
UI Design
UX Research
UI Design
UX Research
UI Design
UX Research
UI Design
Client
Client
Native
Native
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
5 Weeks
5 Weeks
5 Weeks
5 Weeks
Tools
Tools
Tools
Tools
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Figma
Adobe CC
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
Introduction
In collaboration with Argo Studio, we were challenged to design a solution inspired by their former client, Native — a brand focused on integrating sustainability seamlessly into the home.
Native’s core pillars were clear:
Effortlessly integrate into any home system
Make sustainability feel like second nature
Live in harmony with the environment
Create an outdoor haven for everyone
In collaboration with Argo Studio, we were challenged to design a solution inspired by their former client, Native — a brand focused on integrating sustainability seamlessly into the home.
Native’s core pillars were clear:
Effortlessly integrate into any home system
Make sustainability feel like second nature
Live in harmony with the environment
Create an outdoor haven for everyone
In collaboration with Argo Studio, we were challenged to design a solution inspired by their former client, Native — a brand focused on integrating sustainability seamlessly into the home.
Native’s core pillars were clear:
Effortlessly integrate into any home system
Make sustainability feel like second nature
Live in harmony with the environment
Create an outdoor haven for everyone
In collaboration with Argo Studio, we were challenged to design a solution inspired by their former client, Native — a brand focused on integrating sustainability seamlessly into the home.
Native’s core pillars were clear:
Effortlessly integrate into any home system
Make sustainability feel like second nature
Live in harmony with the environment
Create an outdoor haven for everyone
As Team Earth, we explored how people could reconnect to the planet through simple, beautiful, and functional interactions. Our challenge was:
As Team Earth, we explored how people could reconnect to the planet through simple, beautiful, and functional interactions. Our challenge was:
As Team Earth, we explored how people could reconnect to the planet through simple, beautiful, and functional interactions. Our challenge was:
As Team Earth, we explored how people could reconnect to the planet through simple, beautiful, and functional interactions. Our challenge was:
“How can we design a stylish product that helps people reconnect with nature without disrupting their daily routine?”
“How can we design a stylish product that helps people reconnect with nature without disrupting their daily routine?”
“How can we design a stylish product that helps people reconnect with nature without disrupting their daily routine?”
“How can we design a stylish product that helps people reconnect with nature without disrupting their daily routine?”
Project Context
Project Context
Project Context
Project Context
Rather than starting with a predefined problem, we began with a thematic prompt: the element of Earth. We explored gardening, sustainability, and our daily rituals — seeking opportunities to enhance people’s connection with the natural world.
Rather than starting with a predefined problem, we began with a thematic prompt: the element of Earth. We explored gardening, sustainability, and our daily rituals — seeking opportunities to enhance people’s connection with the natural world.
Rather than starting with a predefined problem, we began with a thematic prompt: the element of Earth. We explored gardening, sustainability, and our daily rituals — seeking opportunities to enhance people’s connection with the natural world.
Rather than starting with a predefined problem, we began with a thematic prompt: the element of Earth. We explored gardening, sustainability, and our daily rituals — seeking opportunities to enhance people’s connection with the natural world.
Through this, we arrived at a broad yet central question:
Through this, we arrived at a broad yet central question:
Through this, we arrived at a broad yet central question:
"How might we incorporate Native’s ethos into users’ everyday interactions with the Earth?"
"How might we incorporate Native’s ethos into users’ everyday interactions with the Earth?"
"How might we incorporate Native’s ethos into users’ everyday interactions with the Earth?"
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
To ground our concept in real behavior, we visited the Sunshine Community Garden and interviewed 7 individuals engaged in different levels of gardening—ranging from beginners to longtime enthusiasts.
To ground our concept in real behavior, we visited the Sunshine Community Garden and interviewed 7 individuals engaged in different levels of gardening—ranging from beginners to longtime enthusiasts.
To ground our concept in real behavior, we visited the Sunshine Community Garden and interviewed 7 individuals engaged in different levels of gardening—ranging from beginners to longtime enthusiasts.
To ground our concept in real behavior, we visited the Sunshine Community Garden and interviewed 7 individuals engaged in different levels of gardening—ranging from beginners to longtime enthusiasts.
Research Goals
Research Goals
Research Goals
Research Goals
Understand motivations behind gardening and composting
Identify common frustrations or barriers
Explore spatial constraints, community influences, and composting habits
Understand motivations behind gardening and composting
Identify common frustrations or barriers
Explore spatial constraints, community influences, and composting habits
Understand motivations behind gardening and composting
Identify common frustrations or barriers
Explore spatial constraints, community influences, and composting habits
Understand motivations behind gardening and composting
Identify common frustrations or barriers
Explore spatial constraints, community influences, and composting habits
What we heard
What we heard
What we heard
What we heard
“I love the idea of giving back to my community.”
“I want to garden more, but it’s overwhelming to know where to begin.”
“Tracking what I’ve done and what my garden needs is hard.”
“I love the idea of giving back to my community.”
“I want to garden more, but it’s overwhelming to know where to begin.”
“Tracking what I’ve done and what my garden needs is hard.”
“I love the idea of giving back to my community.”
“I want to garden more, but it’s overwhelming to know where to begin.”
“Tracking what I’ve done and what my garden needs is hard.”
“I love the idea of giving back to my community.”
“I want to garden more, but it’s overwhelming to know where to begin.”
“Tracking what I’ve done and what my garden needs is hard.”
Key Insights
Key Insights
Key Insights
Key Insights
Users struggle with tracking compost progress
Finding and adapting to their space
Community drives motivation, but resources are fragmented
Composting is common but often abandoned due to odor, pests, or complexity
Users struggle with tracking compost progress
Finding and adapting to their space
Community drives motivation, but resources are fragmented
Composting is common but often abandoned due to odor, pests, or complexity
Users struggle with tracking compost progress
Finding and adapting to their space
Community drives motivation, but resources are fragmented
Composting is common but often abandoned due to odor, pests, or complexity
Users struggle with tracking compost progress
Finding and adapting to their space
Community drives motivation, but resources are fragmented
Composting is common but often abandoned due to odor, pests, or complexity
02 / Synthesizing
02 / Synthesizing
02 / Synthesizing
02 / Synthesizing
Affinity Mapping
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.
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.
User Persona
User Persona
User Persona
User Persona
We synthesized findings into two personas — a novice and an experienced gardener. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience. But more importantly, we asked: how do these personas shape opportunity?
We synthesized findings into two personas — a novice and an experienced gardener. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience. But more importantly, we asked: how do these personas shape opportunity?
We synthesized findings into two personas — a novice and an experienced gardener. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience. But more importantly, we asked: how do these personas shape opportunity?
We synthesized findings into two personas — a novice and an experienced gardener. These personas guided our design decisions, ensuring our solution addressed the needs of our target audience. But more importantly, we asked: how do these personas shape opportunity?
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Instead of using personas as static references, we focused on design implications, like:
Interfaces must be intuitive across age groups
The experience needs to lower the learning curve
Features must balance depth with simplicity
Instead of using personas as static references, we focused on design implications, like:
Interfaces must be intuitive across age groups
The experience needs to lower the learning curve
Features must balance depth with simplicity
Instead of using personas as static references, we focused on design implications, like:
Interfaces must be intuitive across age groups
The experience needs to lower the learning curve
Features must balance depth with simplicity
Instead of using personas as static references, we focused on design implications, like:
Interfaces must be intuitive across age groups
The experience needs to lower the learning curve
Features must balance depth with simplicity
These principles helped us narrow the opportunity space from general gardening tools to a more focused problem:
These principles helped us narrow the opportunity space from general gardening tools to a more focused problem:
These principles helped us narrow the opportunity space from general gardening tools to a more focused problem:
These principles helped us narrow the opportunity space from general gardening tools to a more focused problem:
"Home composting is a sustainable action, but difficult to maintain."
"Home composting is a sustainable action, but difficult to maintain."
"Home composting is a sustainable action, but difficult to maintain."
"Home composting is a sustainable action, but difficult to maintain."
So we reframed our question:
So we reframed our question:
So we reframed our question:
So we reframed our question:
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still afforadable and beautiful process for users?"
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still afforadable and beautiful process for users?"
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still afforadable and beautiful process for users?"
"How might we make composting a smoother, easier, simpler, yet still afforadable and beautiful process for users?"
03 / Design
03 / Design
03 / Design
03 / Design
We conceptualized Terra, a composting assistant that integrates seamlessly into your routine, helping you manage your bin without stress, smell, or guesswork.
We conceptualized Terra, a composting assistant that integrates seamlessly into your routine, helping you manage your bin without stress, smell, or guesswork.
We conceptualized Terra, a composting assistant that integrates seamlessly into your routine, helping you manage your bin without stress, smell, or guesswork.
We conceptualized Terra, a composting assistant that integrates seamlessly into your routine, helping you manage your bin without stress, smell, or guesswork.
Why composting?
Why composting?
Why composting?
Why composting?
In a short timeframe, we needed a problem that was tangible, under-explored, and grounded in sustainability. Composting checked every box. It aligned with Native’s values and gave us space to think both digitally and physically.
In a short timeframe, we needed a problem that was tangible, under-explored, and grounded in sustainability. Composting checked every box. It aligned with Native’s values and gave us space to think both digitally and physically.
In a short timeframe, we needed a problem that was tangible, under-explored, and grounded in sustainability. Composting checked every box. It aligned with Native’s values and gave us space to think both digitally and physically.
In a short timeframe, we needed a problem that was tangible, under-explored, and grounded in sustainability. Composting checked every box. It aligned with Native’s values and gave us space to think both digitally and physically.
Wireframe
Wireframe
Wireframe
Wireframe
We prioritized 4 core flows that reflected both user pain points and impact, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
We prioritized 4 core flows that reflected both user pain points and impact, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
We prioritized 4 core flows that reflected both user pain points and impact, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
We prioritized 4 core flows that reflected both user pain points and impact, starting with a sketch and digitizing it into a low-fidelity wireframe.
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
Hi-Fidelity Prototype
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:
Through ideation and user flow mapping, we designed a minimum viable product (MVP) with key features:
01
01
01
01
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
Personalized Onboarding
→ Because every user’s space is different
→ Because every user’s space is different
→ Because every user’s space is different
→ Because every user’s space is different
Ask about living arrangements (apartment vs house), goals, odor tolerance, and compost size. This allowed us to customize reminders and thresholds
Ask about living arrangements (apartment vs house), goals, odor tolerance, and compost size. This allowed us to customize reminders and thresholds
Ask about living arrangements (apartment vs house), goals, odor tolerance, and compost size. This allowed us to customize reminders and thresholds
Ask about living arrangements (apartment vs house), goals, odor tolerance, and compost size. This allowed us to customize reminders and thresholds
02
02
02
02
Home Screen
Home Screen
Home Screen
Home Screen
→ Show real-time compost health
→ Show real-time compost health
→ Show real-time compost health
→ Show real-time compost health
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, along with gentle prompts for adding materials or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, along with gentle prompts for adding materials or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, along with gentle prompts for adding materials or turning the pile
Display pH level, moisture, and temperature with color-coded indicators for optimal ranges, along with gentle prompts for adding materials or turning the pile
03
03
03
03
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
→ Make composting visible
→ Make composting visible
→ Make composting visible
→ Make composting visible
Track compost progress over time: start date, days until ready, changes in compost condition, and nutrient graphs to build confidence
Track compost progress over time: start date, days until ready, changes in compost condition, and nutrient graphs to build confidence
Track compost progress over time: start date, days until ready, changes in compost condition, and nutrient graphs to build confidence
Track compost progress over time: start date, days until ready, changes in compost condition, and nutrient graphs to build confidence
04
04
04
04
Log
Log
Log
Log
→ Composting isn’t just “throw and forget”
→ Composting isn’t just “throw and forget”
→ Composting isn’t just “throw and forget”
→ Composting isn’t just “throw and forget”
Allow users to search and log common ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the existing compost balance
Allow users to search and log common ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the existing compost balance
Allow users to search and log common ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the existing compost balance
Allow users to search and log common ingredients, with auto-calculated recommended amounts based on the existing compost balance
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
This part of the project was especially meaningful — most app designs stop at screens, but we wanted to close the loop between digital and physical behavior
This part of the project was especially meaningful — most app designs stop at screens, but we wanted to close the loop between digital and physical behavior
This part of the project was especially meaningful — most app designs stop at screens, but we wanted to close the loop between digital and physical behavior
This part of the project was especially meaningful — most app designs stop at screens, but we wanted to close the loop between digital and physical behavior
04 / Reflection
04 / Reflection
04 / Reflection
04 / Reflection
What we learned
What we learned
What we learned
What we learned
Small actions need structure. Composting isn't intuitive — a little guidance goes a long way
Behavior change happens with feedback. Seeing progress visually helped users stay engaged
Not everything needs to be solved. We learned to scope tightly and iterate on what mattered most
Small actions need structure. Composting isn't intuitive — a little guidance goes a long way
Behavior change happens with feedback. Seeing progress visually helped users stay engaged
Not everything needs to be solved. We learned to scope tightly and iterate on what mattered most
Small actions need structure. Composting isn't intuitive — a little guidance goes a long way
Behavior change happens with feedback. Seeing progress visually helped users stay engaged
Not everything needs to be solved. We learned to scope tightly and iterate on what mattered most
Small actions need structure. Composting isn't intuitive — a little guidance goes a long way
Behavior change happens with feedback. Seeing progress visually helped users stay engaged
Not everything needs to be solved. We learned to scope tightly and iterate on what mattered most
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
Tight timeline = limited user testing and iterations
Research was broad at first — narrowing down took effort
Translating sensor data into intuitive UI was technically complex
Tight timeline = limited user testing and iterations
Research was broad at first — narrowing down took effort
Translating sensor data into intuitive UI was technically complex
Tight timeline = limited user testing and iterations
Research was broad at first — narrowing down took effort
Translating sensor data into intuitive UI was technically complex
Tight timeline = limited user testing and iterations
Research was broad at first — narrowing down took effort
Translating sensor data into intuitive UI was technically complex
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Test with users across age groups
Explore partnerships with city composting services
Refine the balance between reminders and user control
Test with users across age groups
Explore partnerships with city composting services
Refine the balance between reminders and user control
Test with users across age groups
Explore partnerships with city composting services
Refine the balance between reminders and user control
Test with users across age groups
Explore partnerships with city composting services
Refine the balance between reminders and user control