Environmental sustainability
Amazon Affiliate App for refillable & reusable products
Project Detail
Mobile app design affiliated with Amazon, focusing on sustainability
Team
Reina Lee (me)
My Role
UX Research
Affinity Diagramming
Information Architecture
Wireframing
User interface design
Branding/Graphic Design
Timeline
Nov 2024 - Dec 2024
(6 weeks)
Tools
Figma
Illustrator
This project is about
Environmental Susatinability
Annually, numerous tons of waste are generated, continuously harming our environment. I reflected on the impact of this waste and considered ways to lessen the environmental harm, even if we can’t completely stop the generation of trash. My thoughts started with educating users about the environmental impact they create and offering simple steps they can follow. This begins with adopting sustainable behaviors that align closely with their daily lives. I designed an app to revolutionize eco-conscious shopping by making refill and reuse options easily accessible at their fingertips.
Topic Selection
What do people easily overlook?
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Using single-use plastics
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Leaving lights on when not needed
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Letting the water run while brushing their teeth
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Disposing of recyclable items in general waste
We use single-use plastics every day, and it is challenging to find places that don’t use them. I considered how plastics could be reused, then expanded the scope to include other products. This led me to think about solutions that could minimize waste.
If we can't reduce, REUSE
What common behavior do people routinely engage in unconsciously in everyday life?
I wanted this solution to help create a habit that people can practice repeatedly and sustainably. I thought about a few daily behaviors that contribute to environmental issues. One of these is shopping, which can be addressed by encouraging the purchase of refills or reusable items, fostering eco-conscious shopping habits.
The Outcome
Develop a eco-conscious shopping platform that educates consumers on proper reuse options, provides information on compatible refills, and raises awareness on sustainable practices.
Find
Scan
Track
Purchase
The Solutions
MAIN FEATURE 1
Find Your Perfect Refill Match in a Snap!
Allow users to easily find refills by scanning a product, which the system identifies to suggest same-brand or compatible refills, displaying a percentage match for factors like safety, type, and ingredients to aid in optimal selection.
Scan
Identify
Get Recommendations
MAIN FEATURE 2
Search Products
Make Eco-Friendly Choices in 3 Steps!
Users can explore and purchase reusable and refillable products for sustainable, long-lasting use.
Choose a Category or Search
Explore & Find
Purchase
MAIN FEATURE 3
Profile
Small Habits, Big Impact: Track Your Eco Progress
Track the environmental impact of users' actions and purchases by visualizing data, enabling them to set monthly streaks, which raises awareness and helps users transform small behaviors into sustainable habits. Key features include environmental impact tracking, monthly streaks for sustainability, and promoting awareness to foster habit formation.
Data Visualization
Purchase History
Monthly Streaks
01
EMPATHIZE
Research
Insights Through Data
In the United States, the term "reusable rate" isn't commonly used in official statistics. Therefore, I researched recycling status and interpreted in a similar context.
The image highlights a significant gap between recyclable (75%) and actual recycling rates (30%), with municipal solid waste projected to increase by 70% from 2018 to 2050, emphasizing the urgent need for improved waste management systems.
Research & Surveys
More than 70% of Respondents Replied Positively
Do you currently reuse products by refilling them after their initial use?
If optimal options were available, would you be open to reuse by refilling?
How open are you to refill products with same-brand refills and different brands (compatible)?
More than 15 people responded to the survey, expressing a positive willingness to try refilling products, even though they are not currently practicing it. They indicated that they would be open to adopting this habit if given the right opportunities and options. This suggests that the lack of familiarity with the topic is a key barrier to their current behavior.
Interviews
Only One Step More to Practice Sustainability
Insights
What Are the Concerns?
Cost savings
Safety
Time
All of the interviewees stated that they only need one more factor to fully adopt sustainable behaviors. The main obstacles preventing them from purchasing reusable and refillable options were time, cost savings, and concerns about safety.
02
DEFINE
Problem Statement
Focused on Reusability
Millions of tons of packaging waste are generated annually, much of which could be reduced through affordable refill options and proper recycling.
However,
a significant portion of this waste persists due to
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limited access to cost-effective refills
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Widespread confusion about reusability
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insufficient consumer education on disposal practices
How Might We empower consumers to easily discover and purchase refillable and reusable products, while encouraging them to adopt sustainable reuse habits by offering cost-effective options and making the process easy, safe, and comfortable?
The Goal
Target Customers
For Environmentally Conscious Young Adults and Millennials
This app addresses the increasing demand for sustainability, particularly among younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z). These generations prioritize eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions but often face challenges when it comes to finding refillable or reusable products that are convenient and easy to access.
Persona
Olivia
“Eco-Conscious Cosmetic Lover”
24 | Manager at Target | Dallas, TX
Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science
Pain Points
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Difficulty finding compatible refill options
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Time constraints
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Concerns about safety
Needs and Expectations
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Product recommendations for compatible refills
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Convenient and easy-to-use app features
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Information about the sustainability and benefits
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Affordable refill options
Competitive analysis
Competitor’s apps app provides valuable features such as personalized product recommendations, barcode scanning for disposal instructions, and advanced search filters, helping users discover eco-friendly options easily. However, competitors often suffer from issues like overwhelming text, limited range of refillable products, and a lack of consistent habit formation support, leaving opportunities to improve user experience, expand product variety, and focus on visually engaging content.
03
IDEATE
User Flow
How It Works?
Throughout the research and interviews, I identified users' needs and ideated faster ways to meet their priorities. I used affinity mapping to generate and organize features.
1. Scan
Allow users to effortlessly find refill options. When a product is scanned, the system will identify it and recommend appropriate refill options. Users will have two choices: refills from the same brand or compatible refills from different brands. Compatible options will display a percentage match based on factors like safety, type, and ingredients, making it easier for users to analyze and choose the optimal option.
2. Search
In addition to refills, users can also explore a variety of reusable products. They can discover and purchase these options for long-lasting and sustainable use, contributing to a more eco-friendly future.
3. Sustainable Brand Recommendations
I observed that most users lack knowledge about what products can be reused in the future. Align with search feature, categorizing products by brand can encourage users to continuously consume specific brands, fostering brand advocacy.
4. History
Track past scans and encourage users to repurchase over time.
5. Profile
Education purpose: Track the environmental impact of users' actions and purchases by visualizing data and allowing them to set up monthly streaks. This will help users become more aware of their small behaviors and turn them into sustainable habits.
Why It Works?
Convenience, personalization, interactivity, and faster performance.
The concept of a refill and reusable product purchasing app works because it leverages the growing consumer demand for sustainable practices and convenience. By offering an intuitive platform that identifies products through scanning, provides tailored refill and reusable options, and tracks users' environmental impact, the app encourages eco-conscious behavior. Its ability to categorize products by brand and compatibility, visualize data, and promote sustainable habits through features like monthly streaks and personalized recommendations ensures continuous engagement and advocacy. This solution not only addresses the practical needs of users but also fosters long-term sustainable habits, making it a valuable addition to the market.
User Flow
Closer to the Solutions
Based on feature prioritization, I created an intuitive user flow to ensure users clearly understand the app's purpose and the features it offers.
Problem Statement
A sustainable app Educates users on the environmental impact of waste to encourage product refill and reuse and helping them easily find refills from the same brand or compatible options based on their needs, such as cost, safety, and convenience.
Brand Identity & Design System
Refill Today, Refeel our Environment
Refeeling is an Amazon Affiliate App designed to highlight refillable and reusable products and scanning feature that helps users find compatible refills for their existing items, encouraging sustainable and cost-effective shopping habits.
The app fills an essential gap by not only promoting sustainability but doing so in a way that is simple, accessible, and in line with the digital shopping habits of younger consumers. This aligns with the values of a generation that is deeply concerned about environmental impact and cost savings.
What Does "Refeeling" Stand For
The name 'Refeeling' symbolizes the act of purchasing refill products while encouraging users to rethink and reconnect with the environment we often overlook. It’s about fostering a sense of responsibility and mindfulness toward sustainable living.
04
PROTOTYPE
Wire frames & Wire flows
I designed wireframes based on the ideation stage, allowing me to develop detailed ideas and incorporate useful, functional features that create a human-centered experience. By connecting all the frames, I evaluated the overall app flow to ensure a seamless user experience, helping users achieve their goals.
The top image displays only a few images from the entire set of wireframes.
← Final Design Prototype
Closing Remarks
I often asked myself how I can contribute my talents as a designer to our community while promoting a sustainable environment. This project gave me the opportunity to explore the direction I should take as a designer. Developing the idea from scratch within a tight timeline was challenging, but it pushed me to reflect on the environment and how human actions impact it.
Through this process, I gained valuable insights into sustainable design and human-centered experiences, learning how to enhance user comfort without sacrificing convenience while fostering environmental responsibility.
Reflection
Next Steps and If I Had More Time..
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Develop an Amazon Affiliation Strategy: Create a comprehensive strategy for integrating Amazon's affiliate program, making it easy for users to discover and purchase refillable and reusable products through the app.
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Conduct More Usability Testing and Implement Filters: Perform additional usability testing to gather user feedback and implement more filters, allowing users to sort items more effectively and enhance their overall experience.
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Enhance the "Set Up Goals" Function: Add more interactive and entertaining elements to the "Set Up Goals" feature to keep users engaged and encourage continuous participation in sustainable practices.
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Design Widgets and Push Notifications: Develop engaging widgets and push notification designs as reminders, helping users stay informed and maintain their habits.