habit forming tech

ux design & research

Traces

Traces

Traces

User Experience Design 1

at the Academy of Art University

September - December 2023

Figma, Adobe CC

Role: UX Design & Research

premise

Pinpointing the Problem: Empowering Individuals to Take Charge of Their Carbon Footprint

Pinpointing the Problem: Empowering Individuals to Take Charge of Their Carbon Footprint

Pinpointing the Problem: Empowering Individuals to Take Charge of Their Carbon Footprint

Individuals want tools that make sustainability actionable and engaging. The challenge lies in creating a solution that simplifies carbon tracking, motivates behavior change, and integrates seamlessly into everyday life, empowering users to take measurable steps toward reducing their environmental impact.

Individuals want tools that make sustainability actionable and engaging. The challenge lies in creating a solution that simplifies carbon tracking, motivates behavior change, and integrates seamlessly into everyday life, empowering users to take measurable steps toward reducing their environmental impact.

Individuals want tools that make sustainability actionable and engaging. The challenge lies in creating a solution that simplifies carbon tracking, motivates behavior change, and integrates seamlessly into everyday life, empowering users to take measurable steps toward reducing their environmental impact.

hypothesis

Hypothesis: Guiding Users Toward Sustainable Choices Through Technology

Hypothesis: Guiding Users Toward Sustainable Choices Through Technology

Hypothesis: Guiding Users Toward Sustainable Choices Through Technology

We believe that empowering users with real-time carbon tracking, tailored recommendations, and a sense of community will inspire eco-conscious decisions. By simplifying the complexities of sustainability, the Traces app aims to create a supportive environment where individuals can track their progress, receive personalized guidance, and take actionable steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

We believe that empowering users with real-time carbon tracking, tailored recommendations, and a sense of community will inspire eco-conscious decisions. By simplifying the complexities of sustainability, the Traces app aims to create a supportive environment where individuals can track their progress, receive personalized guidance, and take actionable steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

We believe that empowering users with real-time carbon tracking, tailored recommendations, and a sense of community will inspire eco-conscious decisions. By simplifying the complexities of sustainability, the Traces app aims to create a supportive environment where individuals can track their progress, receive personalized guidance, and take actionable steps to reduce their carbon footprint.

User Interviews and Surveys

Listening to Users: Insights That Shaped Our Approach

Listening to Users: Insights That Shaped Our Approach

Listening to Users: Insights That Shaped Our Approach

Eco-tips, carbon offset information, and community tracking & challenges were named as the three key features essential to help people reduce their environmental impact.

Eco-tips, carbon offset information, and community tracking & challenges were named as the three key features essential to help people reduce their environmental impact.

Eco-tips, carbon offset information, and community tracking & challenges were named as the three key features essential to help people reduce their environmental impact.

80% of participants who were interviewed stated that they were frustrated that there is not enough carbon information on the e-commerce products they buy.

80% of participants who were interviewed stated that they were frustrated that there is not enough carbon information on the e-commerce products they buy.

80% of participants who were interviewed stated that they were frustrated that there is not enough carbon information on the e-commerce products they buy.

100% of participants would like more carbon footprint resource information with products, transportation, and home useage.

100% of participants would like more carbon footprint resource information with products, transportation, and home useage.

100% of participants would like more carbon footprint resource information with products, transportation, and home useage.

Accessibility SME interview revealed that many commonly used apps are too complex with too many buttons and lines of text.

Accessibility SME interview revealed that many commonly used apps are too complex with too many buttons and lines of text.

Accessibility SME interview revealed that many commonly used apps are too complex with too many buttons and lines of text.

persona definition

Meet Jill: A conscious consumer seeking sustainable solutions

Meet Jill: A conscious consumer seeking sustainable solutions

Meet Jill: A conscious consumer seeking sustainable solutions

Jill, a 30-year-old master’s student and line cook from San Francisco, is deeply motivated to live sustainably. She’s passionate about reducing waste and supporting local, ethical sources, like farmers markets. However, her sustainability journey comes with challenges.

Jill, a 30-year-old master’s student and line cook from San Francisco, is deeply motivated to live sustainably. She’s passionate about reducing waste and supporting local, ethical sources, like farmers markets. However, her sustainability journey comes with challenges.

Jill, a 30-year-old master’s student and line cook from San Francisco, is deeply motivated to live sustainably. She’s passionate about reducing waste and supporting local, ethical sources, like farmers markets. However, her sustainability journey comes with challenges.

Frustrations

Frustrations

Frustrations

Food waste

Excess packaging material

Lack of sourcing information

Food waste

Excess packaging material

Lack of sourcing information

Food waste

Excess packaging material

Lack of sourcing information

User Needs

User Needs

User Needs

Reduce Amazon packaging

Track carbon footprint

Find offset resources

Reduce Amazon packaging

Track carbon footprint

Find offset resources

Reduce Amazon packaging

Track carbon footprint

Find offset resources

task flows

Designing Engagement: Task Flows for Core Features

Designing Engagement: Task Flows for Core Features

Designing Engagement: Task Flows for Core Features

To craft the core experience for this application, I designed these task flows, mindful of cognitive load, and the hooked model principles. These task flows were designed to make interactions with the app meaningful while fostering continuous engagement.

To craft the core experience for this application, I designed these task flows, mindful of cognitive load, and the hooked model principles. These task flows were designed to make interactions with the app meaningful while fostering continuous engagement.

To craft the core experience for this application, I designed these task flows, mindful of cognitive load, and the hooked model principles. These task flows were designed to make interactions with the app meaningful while fostering continuous engagement.

Reduce Food & Product Waste

Reduce Food & Product Waste

Reduce Food & Product Waste

Selects “Reduce”

Selects “Reduce”

Selects “Reduce”

Selects “Food Tracking”

Selects “Food Tracking”

Selects “Food Tracking”

User Inputs Current Food

User Inputs Current Food

User Inputs Current Food

App Alerts User to Food Expiration

App Alerts User to Food Expiration

App Alerts User to Food Expiration

Find Eco-Tip Resources

Find Eco-Tip Resources

Find Eco-Tip Resources

Selects Industry To Explore

Selects Industry To Explore

Selects Industry To Explore

Selects Tip of the Day

Selects Tip of the Day

Selects Tip of the Day

Clicks “Get Started”

Clicks “Get Started”

Clicks “Get Started”

Views Eco-Tip & Video

Views Eco-Tip & Video

Views Eco-Tip & Video

Track Transit Carbon Footprint

Track Transit Carbon Footprint

Track Transit Carbon Footprint

Selects “Footprint”

Selects “Footprint”

Selects “Footprint”

Selects “Transit”

Selects “Transit”

Selects “Transit”

User Inputs Daily Transit

User Inputs Daily Transit

User Inputs Daily Transit

App Readout of Carbon Footprint

App Readout of Carbon Footprint

App Readout of Carbon Footprint

first iteration

Early design development focused on food waste tracking.

Early design development focused on food waste tracking.

Early design development focused on food waste tracking.

I first crated designs to help users input and track their food consumption, expiration dates, and waste patterns. These features encouraged users to stay mindful of their habits and reduce waste through inventory tracking and timely reminders.

I first crated designs to help users input and track their food consumption, expiration dates, and waste patterns. These features encouraged users to stay mindful of their habits and reduce waste through inventory tracking and timely reminders.

I first crated designs to help users input and track their food consumption, expiration dates, and waste patterns. These features encouraged users to stay mindful of their habits and reduce waste through inventory tracking and timely reminders.

USABILITY TESTING OUTCOMES

USABILITY TESTING OUTCOMES

USABILITY TESTING OUTCOMES

Addressing user frustrations: Improving navigation, Clarity, & Flow

Addressing user frustrations: Improving navigation, Clarity, & Flow

Addressing user frustrations: Improving navigation, Clarity, & Flow

Research revealed three key themes: users struggled with navigation, finding it difficult to access previous pages; lacked clear nomenclature, making icons and labels confusing; and experienced issues with user flow, causing frustration with specific processes. These findings highlighted the need for improved navigation, intuitive labeling, and a streamlined user journey to enhance the overall experience.

Research revealed three key themes: users struggled with navigation, finding it difficult to access previous pages; lacked clear nomenclature, making icons and labels confusing; and experienced issues with user flow, causing frustration with specific processes. These findings highlighted the need for improved navigation, intuitive labeling, and a streamlined user journey to enhance the overall experience.

Research revealed three key themes: users struggled with navigation, finding it difficult to access previous pages; lacked clear nomenclature, making icons and labels confusing; and experienced issues with user flow, causing frustration with specific processes. These findings highlighted the need for improved navigation, intuitive labeling, and a streamlined user journey to enhance the overall experience.

1

Navigation Challenges

Navigation Challenges

Navigation Challenges

Users found it difficult to access previous pages, highlighting the need for more intuitive navigation.

Users found it difficult to access previous pages, highlighting the need for more intuitive navigation.

Users found it difficult to access previous pages, highlighting the need for more intuitive navigation.

2

Symbol Clarity

Symbol Clarity

Symbol Clarity

Users struggled to understand symbols, emphasizing the need for clearer labeling and nomenclature.

Users struggled to understand symbols, emphasizing the need for clearer labeling and nomenclature.

Users struggled to understand symbols, emphasizing the need for clearer labeling and nomenclature.

3

Confusing User Flow

Confusing User Flow

Confusing User Flow

Users were unclear about certain processes, indicating the need for simplified and guided workflows.

Users were unclear about certain processes, indicating the need for simplified and guided workflows.

Users were unclear about certain processes, indicating the need for simplified and guided workflows.

Iterative Improvements

Enhancing Traces: Simplifying sustainability for everyday action

Enhancing Traces: Simplifying sustainability for everyday action

Enhancing Traces: Simplifying sustainability for everyday action

Building on user feedback, I refined the design of Traces by improving navigation, enhancing symbol labels, and optimizing the user flow. These updates created a more intuitive and seamless experience, enabling users to effortlessly track their carbon footprint, access actionable tips, and make eco-conscious decisions in their daily lives.

Building on user feedback, I refined the design of Traces by improving navigation, enhancing symbol labels, and optimizing the user flow. These updates created a more intuitive and seamless experience, enabling users to effortlessly track their carbon footprint, access actionable tips, and make eco-conscious decisions in their daily lives.

Building on user feedback, I refined the design of Traces by improving navigation, enhancing symbol labels, and optimizing the user flow. These updates created a more intuitive and seamless experience, enabling users to effortlessly track their carbon footprint, access actionable tips, and make eco-conscious decisions in their daily lives.

outcomes

Empowering sustainable choices: Anticipating a measurable reduction in carbon footprints

Empowering sustainable choices: Anticipating a measurable reduction in carbon footprints

Empowering sustainable choices: Anticipating a measurable reduction in carbon footprints

The final design of Traces effectively addressed the core challenges identified during research, simplifying carbon tracking, enhancing navigation, and providing actionable eco-tips. By integrating user feedback at every stage, the app not only meets user needs but also aims to encourage measurable behavior change. This solution is expected to empower users to make more eco-conscious decisions, with the potential to significantly reduce their individual carbon footprints and collectively contribute to a more sustainable future. This project highlights the impact of a user-centered, iterative approach to solving global environmental challenges.

The final design of Traces effectively addressed the core challenges identified during research, simplifying carbon tracking, enhancing navigation, and providing actionable eco-tips. By integrating user feedback at every stage, the app not only meets user needs but also aims to encourage measurable behavior change. This solution is expected to empower users to make more eco-conscious decisions, with the potential to significantly reduce their individual carbon footprints and collectively contribute to a more sustainable future. This project highlights the impact of a user-centered, iterative approach to solving global environmental challenges.

The final design of Traces effectively addressed the core challenges identified during research, simplifying carbon tracking, enhancing navigation, and providing actionable eco-tips. By integrating user feedback at every stage, the app not only meets user needs but also aims to encourage measurable behavior change. This solution is expected to empower users to make more eco-conscious decisions, with the potential to significantly reduce their individual carbon footprints and collectively contribute to a more sustainable future. This project highlights the impact of a user-centered, iterative approach to solving global environmental challenges.

takeaway

From challenges to solutions: Lessons in scaling human-centered design

From challenges to solutions: Lessons in scaling human-centered design

From challenges to solutions: Lessons in scaling human-centered design

This project highlighted the importance of prioritizing user engagement, embracing incremental improvements, and planning for scalability. By aligning solutions closely with user needs, the experience reinforced the transformative power of user-centered design in addressing real-world challenges effectively.

This project highlighted the importance of prioritizing user engagement, embracing incremental improvements, and planning for scalability. By aligning solutions closely with user needs, the experience reinforced the transformative power of user-centered design in addressing real-world challenges effectively.

This project highlighted the importance of prioritizing user engagement, embracing incremental improvements, and planning for scalability. By aligning solutions closely with user needs, the experience reinforced the transformative power of user-centered design in addressing real-world challenges effectively.

Traces

Traces

Traces

ADAM BUNCE

Product Designer passionate about transforming complex user problems into thoughtful, human-centered solutions.

© 2024 All Rights Reserved

Built by Adam Bunce

WORK

UX Design Intern @ TRC Companies

October 2023 - Present

Architect @ Davis Partnership Architects

January 2020 - June 2023

Weld Shop & Armory Supervisor @ US Navy

March 2010 - April 2015

EDUCATION

MA Interaction & UI/UX Design

Academy of Art University

BA Environmental Design, Architecture

University of Colorado Boulder

AWARDS

Magna Cum Laude

University of Colorado Boulder