App Design: Flora Craft
Discover, create, and connect with nature through art and conservation.
Role
UX research, UI design, User testing
Tool
Figma, Adobe Illustrator
Time
Sep - Dec 2023
Team
Individual
Background
Vancouver: A City Embraced by Nature
Vancouver seamlessly blends urban living with expansive natural spaces. Boasting over 2,800 acres of city parks, the city dedicates nearly 20% of its area to green spaces. Its coastal setting nurtures rich marine life, while the nearby mountains provide year-round outdoor activities, making it a haven for both residents and wildlife enthusiasts.
design
Feature
The mobile app aims to deepen users' connection with Vancouver's natural environment through plant discovery and creative engagement. The core concept revolves around seamless plant identification and location-based exploration to make nature more accessible.
Homepage
Discover and vote for popular artwork, upload your own creations, and shop unique cultural merchandise inspired by nature, all in one platform that blends creativity, community, and conservation.
Community Page
Users can explore plants through a map, search for specific species, and identify plants using a camera feature for real-time recognition.
Sketch Page
Users can upload their drawings, photos, or poems to the community and explore others' creative works.
How to search plants?
Search for plants by browsing categories or using keyword searches!
Problem Statement
How might we create interactive tools to help people connect with nature, identify and locate plants, and foster creativity while encouraging meaningful community involvement?
Design Process
research
Field Research
🗺️Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Vancouver BC
In my on-site study at the Wreck Beach steps and Pacific Spirit Park within the University of British Columbia, I journeyed through a mesmerizing woodland populated with trees of important historical value. Some of these trees might have been sprouting since the first European settlers arrived in 1791. Even with the forest's scenic allure and crucial historical significance, it remains a lesser-known destination for individuals to hike and indulge in its unique natural marvels.
User Research
Interview
This interview explores the interviewee's connection with nature, highlighting the value of community gardens and local plant-focused events.
Reflecting on research
research synthesis
Persona
Design Ideation
Design Opportunities
Plant Identification & Map Integration
A feature that uses a device's camera to identify plants instantly and provides an interactive map to locate plants discovered by the community, encouraging easier exploration and discovery.
Creative Expression & Community Sharing
A platform for users to upload photos, sketches, or stories about plants they find, fostering a creative and interactive community space for sharing and inspiration.
Monthly Competitions & Product Customization
Regular contests where users submit plant-inspired creations, with winning entries featured on customizable merchandise like postcards or mugs available for purchase.
This app combines plant discovery, creativity, and community engagement. Users can identify plants using their device's camera and explore an interactive map of community-tagged locations. They can share photos, sketches, or stories, creating a space for creative expression. Monthly contests highlight user creations, with winning designs turned into customizable merchandise, blending exploration with artistic inspiration.
DESIGN and prototype
Information Architecture
The Information Architecture of the app is designed to seamlessly integrate plant identification, map exploration, creative community sharing, and personalized experiences. By organizing these features into clear and accessible sections, the structure encourages exploration, creativity, and meaningful connections with nature and the community.
DESIGN and prototype
Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Low-fidelity prototypes of the app allow users to interact with basic features, such as identifying plants and navigating through the app’s plant discovery sections, helping test functionality and gather early feedback on the user experience.
💭User Test
The "Upload" button should be placed in a prominent position, such as a floating action button at the bottom right or a clearly labeled icon in the navigation bar to avoid confusion.
Add a confirmation message or a progress indicator (like a success pop-up) after the upload is completed to assure the user that the action was successful.
design and prototype
Final Design
design and prototype
Style Guide
research synthesis
📑The Business Model Canvas
This app encourages users to record natural observations and creations by providing plant identification services and a community sharing platform, as well as achieving a win-win situation by selling artworks.
research synthesis
🗓️Service Blueprint
By visualizing the service blueprint, we can ensure a holistic understanding of the app, emphasizing user engagement, backstage processes, and supporting elements to deliver a seamless and rewarding experience for nature enthusiasts.
