TEAM
Rana, Vishal
ROLE
User Research and UX Design
TIMELINE
7 Weeks 2022 College Project
TOOLS
Figma
Brief
“Roof to the table.”
How can we shorten the production chain in a city?
Problem
The longer supply chain affects people’s health, the regional economy, and the environment.
Goals
To reduce the carbon prints.
Provide fresh, nutritious harvest.
Create a sustainable community.
Research
The current food system supports urbanisation and fast- the growing population is costing society and the environment an enormous cost.
If people eat freshly harvested food from an urban or peri-urban farm, food supply chains will be shortened, positively affecting the environment.
The current food system is shaped by urbanization and the growing population, leading to a centralized approach to food production and distribution (Pretty et al., 2018).
This system often relies on long supply chains, mass production, and intensive use of resources, resulting in significant costs to society and the environment (Hawken et al., 2017).
Urban and peri-urban farming can provide a sustainable and locally sourced alternative to the current food system (Despommier, 2010).
By growing and consuming freshly harvested produce, the food supply chain can be shortened, reducing transportation emissions and lowering the overall carbon footprint (IPCC, 2019).
Urban farming can provide a range of social, economic, and environmental benefits, such as improving food security, reducing food waste, and promoting community engagement (FAO, 2018).
Promoting urban agriculture and supporting local food systems can move us towards a more sustainable and resilient food system that benefits both people and the planet (Urban Agriculture Committee, 2019)
TARGET GROUP
Working professionals in the city.
Prefer fresh and healthy food.
People like to spend quality time at home, with family or alone.
We conducted Interviews with participants who were single working professionals in Berlin and participants who were living with family.
Primary Research
Main Insights
The user needs a solution to spend less time commuting to opt for fresh harvest, which would encourage a short supply chain.
Major Insights
1- Fresh Harvest
2- Save time
3- Reduce carbon prints.
User Persona- 1
“I wish I could spend more time with my dog after work.”
Carrie | 26 years old, Engineer
Hello! I am Carrie, I try to manage my work and health, but sometimes it’s challenging and stressful due to work pressure.
To eat and cook more healthily.
I prefer to spend more time at home.
Actively wants to support sustainable city solutions.
Goals
Pain Points
She needs time to spend on her well-being.
Quit most of the other applications due to a lack of motivation.
Struggles hard to reach goals.
Motivation
Reduce stress
Loved one’s priority
Become a responsible citizen
User Persona- 2
“I want to eat healthily, but after work commute, I get tired to go out for veggie grocery shopping.”
Mark | 25 years old, Developer
Hello! I am Mark, and I often hang out with my friends on weekends and prefer low calories food. On weekdays, I sleep early because I get up early for a workout. I feel stressed when I feel de-motivated to reach my fitness goals.
Goals
To strictly follow low calories diet.
Get up early to stay fit.
Save time to enjoy with friends.
Pain Points
Finds it difficult to achieve healthy lifestyle priority.
Doesn’t find an inspirational solution regularly.
Unable to spend more time on hobbies.
Motivation
Health is a priority.
Balance between work and personal life
User Journey -1 To collect orders quickly and conveniently
User Journey -2 An individual who prioritises fresh harvest and reduced supply chain.
SETBACKS + DISCOVERY OF NEW DIRECTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Our initial thought was to create a small garden on top of the roof, and each apartment resident could grow their harvest, and if they wanted to share, they would have options, just like neighbour exchange sugar. But we did more research on it and found that harvest would need more time this way, and different weather conditions can also be a problem in growing a particular harvest.
The solution we figured out that can solve the weather conditions and be less time-consuming was vertical farming indoors, inside the building (parking area, building lobby etc.), which building authorities can care for. They would receive the profit generated by harvest sales, which would be a hassle-free sustainable solution for the user.
Ideate
Solution A
Users can reserve harvest through the application, which will be reserved for a given time. Once harvest is reserved, the user can go to the unit and collect the harvest.
Solution B
The user can go directly to the unit, cut and take the harvest. For both options, the user can pay now from the application or at the unit else. The user can use the other given payment options.
Wireframes - Initial ideas
Mobile Application
Wireframes - Initial ideas
The Unit
USER TESTING + IMPROVEMENTS
Other classmates and Professors shared their feedback constantly, which helped to iterate the design in the given timeline.
A
The alphabetical order search page needed a similar harvest's reserving layout.
B
Based on Professor’s feedback, the search button required clear search directions for the user.
C
The user wanted to see a clear difference between everyday and seasonal harvest.
D
The bottom navigation has been revised to make it more understandable for the user.
A
The user house key number has been added as the user id.
B
Central lights feature added to highlight the selected harvest on screen. Once the harvest gets cut, it will turn off.
C
Harvest quantity can be seen on the display screen as soon as the user cuts the harvest and proceed with the payment.
Homestead
Phone application
The easy-going digital solution for users who want to save time and find the motivation to make healthy life choices.
The Unit
A digital screen is connected to the harvest unit. It makes the user feel like they are experiencing natural farming, where they cut the harvest and add healthy greens to their everyday.
Application walkthrough
This walkthrough will help to understand the user journey while reserving the harvest.
The unit
To understand the cutting and picking process of reserved harvest can be seen in the unit walkthrough.
CONCLUSION + LEARNINGS
In my debut UX project, collaboration taught me patience and trust. Practice honed my skills in transitioning to Figma, emphasizing simple solutions. Research unveiled insights into sustainable solutions, and feedback was crucial for growth as novice UX designers.
For more work inquiries or to grab a coffee, do email me at rrenurana8@gmail.com