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
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
Challenge
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
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
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
01 / Research
Interview and site visits
Interview and site visits
Interview and site visits
Interview and site visits
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We conducted 7 user interviews to understand the scope of the challenge and gain insights into their experience:
What motivates them to gardening?
What are the highs and lows of their journey?
What influences their choice of resources (e.g. community plot, tools, student org)
What spaces do they use?
How knowledgeable are they about gardening?
What are their soil and composting practices like?
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We conducted 7 user interviews to understand the scope of the challenge and gain insights into their experience:
What motivates them to gardening?
What are the highs and lows of their journey?
What influences their choice of resources (e.g. community plot, tools, student org)
What spaces do they use?
How knowledgeable are they about gardening?
What are their soil and composting practices like?
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We conducted 7 user interviews to understand the scope of the challenge and gain insights into their experience:
What motivates them to gardening?
What are the highs and lows of their journey?
What influences their choice of resources (e.g. community plot, tools, student org)
What spaces do they use?
How knowledgeable are they about gardening?
What are their soil and composting practices like?
Our research began with site visits to local gardening communities like Sunshine Community Garden and interactions with organizations like UT Farmstand. We conducted 7 user interviews to understand the scope of the challenge and gain insights into their experience:
What motivates them to gardening?
What are the highs and lows of their journey?
What influences their choice of resources (e.g. community plot, tools, student org)
What spaces do they use?
How knowledgeable are they about gardening?
What are their soil and composting practices like?
Key findings
Key findings
Key findings
Key findings
Users are motivated by the idea of giving back to their commmunity
Sustainability is a core value that inspires people to garden
Gardening alone can be often overwhelming, prompting users seek to join local communities
Finding the right space can be challenging and users often have to work with the space they have
Users find it difficult track of their progress and meet the specific needs of their garden
Users are motivated by the idea of giving back to their commmunity
Sustainability is a core value that inspires people to garden
Gardening alone can be often overwhelming, prompting users seek to join local communities
Finding the right space can be challenging and users often have to work with the space they have
Users find it difficult track of their progress and meet the specific needs of their garden
Users are motivated by the idea of giving back to their commmunity
Sustainability is a core value that inspires people to garden
Gardening alone can be often overwhelming, prompting users seek to join local communities
Finding the right space can be challenging and users often have to work with the space they have
Users find it difficult track of their progress and meet the specific needs of their garden
Users are motivated by the idea of giving back to their commmunity
Sustainability is a core value that inspires people to garden
Gardening alone can be often overwhelming, prompting users seek to join local communities
Finding the right space can be challenging and users often have to work with the space they have
Users find it difficult track of their progress and meet the specific needs of their garden
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
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.
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.
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
Insight into opportunities
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.
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.
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?"
"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
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.
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.
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
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