Designing A Future-Forward App That Promotes Clean Energy, While Also Encouraging Physical Activity As A Secondary Objective
I collaborated with 2 Designers to address the UN’s 7th goal of clean energy and tackle the growing issue of Obesity.
Ecotag
We put the power in users hands and motivate them to make good decisions for the planet and for themselves. It involved harnessing kinetic energy from human activity and converting it into electricity.
What is the problem
Users need a way to incorporate sustainable energy generation and regular exercise into their daily routines because current solutions are often inconvenient and lack engagement. This is challenging due to the difficulty of seamlessly integrating these practices into busy lifestyles while maintaining motivation and interest.
What We delivered
Electricity Generation and Health Impact
Leaderboards and Adding Friends
Introduced a Leaderboard and Challenge feature to track electricity generated by users, motivating them to stay active by competing for the top rank.
Users can also add a friend and see how their friend is doing.
Profile and Avatar Edit
Users can customize their profiles and edit their avatars.
This personalization feature allows users to create a unique identity within the app.
It includes options for challenges, editing personal information, choosing avatar designs, etc.
Research Overview
HOW MIGHT WE
After Three Brainstorming Sessions!
In these sessions, we brainstormed many ideas, narrowed down to three. We made a concept map and then made detailed storyboards to ensure user resonance, visualize daily integration, and guide our final selection.
We Chose The Chip
We chose The Chip for its versatility. Unlike the Bike Device, for cyclists, and the Exercise Mat, for workout people, the chip is universally applicable. It’s lightweight, portable, and easily attaches to items for daily use. It generates clean energy, tracks fitness, and incentivizes use, making it a practical solution for clean energy and fitness promotion.
Prototyping: From
Paper To 3D
In the design phase, we used paper prototyping for low-fidelity, enabling quick feedback and changes. For high-fidelity, we used Figma for its interactivity and Autodesk Fusion 360 and Cura for 3D printing the device to give a more real feel.
Testing
After a final round of testing we also decided to conduct individual heuristic evaluations. This method allowed each team member to independently assess the chip against established usability principles, ensuring a comprehensive evaluation free from groupthink or bias.
PS: Proper consent was taken before using the images.
Designing for engagement was challenging but rewarding. Gamification elements motivated users, but required iterative refinement based on feedback. This underscored the importance of user-centered design, prioritizing user motivation and enjoyment. Continuous experimentation and responsiveness to feedback were key in maintaining user interest.
Estimating the device’s environmental impact underscored sustainable design. Despite current limitations, the project taught me to project benefits and make data-driven decisions. Translating theoretical impact into practical outcomes emphasized the importance of sustainable products. This experience highlighted designers’ role in addressing environmental challenges.