Category:
Mobile Design
Client:
Business Plan Competition
Duration:
1 week 02/24
// PROBLEM STATEMENT
The U.S. recycling system is plagued by consumer confusion due to inconsistent recycling policies across different regions, leading to high contamination rates, operational inefficiencies, and significant environmental and economic impacts. Despite the desire to recycle, many individuals lack the knowledge and tools needed to participate effectively, resulting in improper disposal and underutilization of recycling programs.
HOW MIGHT WE CREATE A UNIFIED AND ACCESSIBLE RECYCLING PLATFORM THAT EDUCATES CONSUMERS ON LOCATION-SPECIFYING RECYCLING RULES, REDUCES CONFUSION, AND MINIMIZES CONTAMINATION, WHILE ALSO PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIORS?
// BRAINSTORM
After our endless midnight brainstorms and conversations, we came up with three main solutions..
After our endless midnight brainstorms, conversations, and two bags of kettle chips, we came up with three main solutions:
// SOLUTIONS
AI-Powered Sorting Assistance
By using image recognition AI, the app informs users about the recyclability of items based on their location, addressing geographic inconsistencies and reducing sorting errors. This empowers users to recycle correctly, improving overall recycling efficiency.
ChatBot Assistance for Recycling Repurposing Items
The app encourages a shift to a circular economy by providing creative suggestions for repurposing items, reducing waste, promoting sustainability, and fostering a culture of reuse.
B2B & C2C Secondhand Marketplace
The marketplace connects customers with businesses (C2B) and other customers (C2C) to buy and sell recycled materials like glass, plastic, and paper. The C2B model allows customers to sell products that are broken down into raw materials for bulk purchase by industries. The C2C model enables customers to sell used items to others, promoting recycling and reuse while providing financial incentives.
Above is the B2B Marketplace, where users will be able to drop off their items at the locations listed. Here, the items will be broken down into raw materials and will be sold to manufacturers.
Above is the C2C Marketplace, where users will be able to upload their items and sell it to another users.
// REFLECTION
Our solution is poised to leave a lasting impact by embedding sustainable practices into everyday life, enriching individuals and communities economically, and fostering a healthier environment for generations to come. Empowering individuals to transform their environmental impact from the convenience of their smartphones, we are dedicated to turning the act of recycling into a universally embraced habit, enriching both our planet and the lives it sustains.
As the only UX Designer working on this project, I felt grateful to be in charge of the creative direction! I had a lot of fun playing around, customizing the icons, and have it to have an organic feel to stay cohesive with the theme. Designing the logo was also a lot of fun!
