Recycle Quest
Your Quest for a Greener World Starts Here
Objective
Work in a team to develop a user-friendly mobile application that promotes sustainable practices by assisting users in recycling efficiently
My Role
Duration
Tools
UX Designer
UX Researcher
4 Months
Adobe Xd
Illustrator
Google Suite
Problem 🤔
Users lack guidance, motivation, and intuitive tools for effective recycling
Users struggled with improper recycling habits due to unclear guidance and fragmented resources. Additionally, the lack of motivation and intuitive tools made it difficult to adopt and maintain sustainable practices.
Solution
The design features educational resources, gamification, and a user-friendly interface
Key Features
A step by step guide that tell users how to use the app
Educational Resources
Incentivizing recycling with rewards and progress tracking
Gamification
Ensures easy navigation for users of all ages.
User-Friendly Interface
Research
Uncovering recycling habits to inform user-centered design and enhance app solutions
We conducted user interviews to understand recycling habits and identify pain points, gaining valuable insights into user behavior. Additionally, we analyzed existing recycling apps to assess their strengths and weaknesses for potential improvements.
Competitive Analysis
Bower
Gamification
Community Support
Difficult Sign-Up
Confusing Interface
Yuka
Simple Instructions
Easy To Navigate
Simple Nutritional Analysis
Misleading Ratings
Fetch Rewards
Wide Variety of Rewards
Clear Visual Hierarchy
Difficult Claiming Rewards
Unobtainable Rewards
Define
Developed user personas ensuring a user-centered approach to design and development
Key target demographics were represented through detailed user personas, addressing diverse needs and preferences. This approach ensured a user-centered design that aligned with specific behaviors and expectations.
Personas
Science Professor
Raymond Li
41 years old
"I am interested in recycling but I don't know where to start"
Student-Athlete
Mason James
20 years old
"Recycling isn't something that I am really interested in"
Cashier
Danielle Smith
22 years old
"I recycle everyday and participate in weekly community service"
Raymond Li -Science Professor
Age: 41
Location: New York, NY
Occupation: Science Professor
About
Joseph has dedicated his life to environmental advocacy. Growing up in a small, polluted industrial town, he witnessed the effects of environmental degradation firsthand. This shaped his passion for sustainability. Joe holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and has been teaching for 15 years at a university where he also organizes campus-wide green initiatives, such as tree-planting events, recycling drives, and seminars.
Pain-Points
-
Overcomplicated Tools: He often encounters apps that are too complex or poorly designed, making them unappealing for new users.
-
Time Constraints: As a professor with a packed schedule, Joe needs a tool that integrates smoothly into his daily routine without requiring significant time investment.
Design
Wireframes and feedback guided prototypes to the final design
After creating wireframe sketches, we ran Instagram polls to gather user feedback on final design decisions. This input allowed us to refine the design, resulting in a final version that better aligns with user preferences and enhances the overall experience.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Testing
User Feedback
Our team ran multiple polls on Instagram and google forms to get user feedback on design decisions
Final Design
Outcome and Reflection
What we accomplished
Conducted user research and interviews
Developed a functioning high-fidelity mobile prototype
Presented Recycle Quest to Rider University's User Experience
​Tested Recycle Quest with potential users
Reflection
Reflecting on the design process for Recycle Quest, I realized I could have conducted more user testing throughout the project. While feedback shaped the final design, testing at every stage would have uncovered issues earlier and ensured a more user-centered approach.
​
Working in a group taught me the value of collaboration and how diverse perspectives strengthen the design process. It also emphasized the importance of clear communication and alignment, especially when managing different ideas and timelines.
​
Finally, I learned the importance of research, competitive analysis, and thoughtful integration of details like page hotspots. This experience reinforced that design is more than visuals it’s about effective teamwork and creating meaningful user experiences.