Useless

Useless App

Project:

Ux Reseach, Branding, Ux /UI

My Role:

Process Deck

Duration:

2020 June/August

Tools:

Figma,Sketch, Miro, Illustrator, Photoshop, Procreate, Blank Paper

Inspiration

When I was living in Portugal I had opportunity to know a particular, artistic, alternative, boho community.I got to know so many people with the ideology of sustainable living. Observing this active community gave me a chance to develop this idea.

I have taken this challenge because the application feels like an unique idea. There are not many applications present that serve the purpose of freecycling or re-using.

Challenges

To create an user-friendly freecycle platform where people can have local groups and communities with auto-reviewing system.
Seamless social networking with personal profiles, notifications, posts and feed. Building trust.
Alternative currency for the listed goods. Using gamification and alternative currency as an incentive to use freecycle groups and as a motivation to list also valuable goods.

What is Useless App?

Useless is my concept app design with the idea of “swapping.” A social networking app for the people who want to create their network with their hobbies and interests by being a part of the free cycle local community.

User research & observations

Why Freecycle?

22 million pieces of furniture are discarded each year only in the UK, and the majority of this furniture is sent directly to landfill.

32% of bulky waste is re-usable in its current state, and this figure rises to 51% if we take into account items requiring slight repair.

Major part of 16-24-year-olds don’t actually know how to recycle or donate.

It’s all about web communities

Giveaway sites are where, instead of binning goods or trying to eBay them, harness the web’s power to offer them to their local community. In return, they often hope they can grab back something when they want.

It’s all about web communities, and the big names are Freecycle and Freegle. They’re free-to-join, volunteer-run local online groups.

It’s up to you to monitor new freebies on offer. When you want to offer something, you just post an offer message to the group page.

What is couchsurfing and how it worked?

Couchsurfing organization created an easy way to connect travelers with potential hosts in 2004 by creating a community website where you can use that to:

gain access to free accommodation in a local’s home (traveler),
host a traveler in your home (host),
meet-up with people from around the world (community members).

Over 10 million members are found in 200,000 cities.
There are also groups with message boards where you can discuss local events.

And as a community member, you can attend meetups and events with like-minded individuals.

Competitor Analysis

There are freecycle groups, swap events, flea markets however there is very few digital platform tackled only with this issue. Because of it’s unpopularity it is nearly impossible to find any item online if you are not in major big cities around the wold. I had this competitor analysis based on networking and sharing goods.

Personas

User Journey Map

Information Architecture

Style guide

Wireframes

After deciding on the structure, I have started to design the wireframes. However I have realized that there were some improvements that could be done. Added some sketches after some brainstorming session.

Login/Onboarding

I have created 3 screens for onboarding to welcome the user and give them an over all idea about the app. They consist of 3 main functions of the app: donate, take, build your network.

Gamification

Human nature always makes us take the challenges and prove that we are able to handle them. So, a challenge is thought to be one of the most compelling game elements to motivate people to take an action. In order to enhance the challenge effect, it may be a good idea to use some kind of rewards, so that users could feel even more motivated.

How it works?

For this concept I have decided to have an alternative currency that you gain and spend for the goods as you donate and take goods on app.

Having achievements and as the achievements get unblocked user gains a different title and the access to the items with higher value in order to create a system that doesn’t allow exploiting and motivate the user to interact with the app.

Mockups

Home

On the app I have designed a bottom nav bar for an easy navigation throughout the app.
User can easily search for an item with the search bar.
I have added discover section to enhance engagement with the user showing them personalized selection of items.

Groups&Feed

I have designed a screen where user can engage with friends and the people on their network by creating posts, events and groups. This feature allows people to connect through their interest such as by posting on groups on “how-to” and tricks about the subjects(interests/hobby) depending on the group .

Nearby

It allows user to see the listed items, events and “swappoints” (local bars, pubs, campuses, shops) chosen as meeting points pinned on the map in their area.

Usability testing

I have conducted usability tests with the mockups that I have created. I had 4 people to try the prototype and give me feedback from their experiences about the app.

These are the outcomes that Had from their feedback.

Groups and feed should be easier to access.
Notifications and messages together on navbar created confusion.
Nearby screen (vertical scroll) can be more intuitive.
Simplier UI.

Takeaways

Useless is the first Ux concept that I have created and the first one that I feel attached the most. It was also a great opportunity to discover various ways of research and enhance my design process. I am happy that it also gave me a chance to learn prototyping on Invision and creating design systems on Sketch.

Although I was not able to fully flesh out other features and designs I wanted to within Useless due to time constraints, it’s not to say I won’t try to incorporate them in future projects down the line.