ECOMMUNE

• UX

• ECOMMUNE • UX •

Role: Sole UX Designer

In many neighborhoods across the country and the globe, industrial pollution poses a significant threat to the health and well-being of residents. However, staying informed about the extent of this pollution and its impact on local communities can be challenging. Having a place to report, learn, and support people’s endeavors could help communities lessen the potential impacts from industrial pollution .

The Problem

Research

I conducted research into current reporting on industrial pollution, and conducted online interviews with potential users ranging from those in environmental scientists to green thumbs. Through these interviews, I found the following pain points when it comes to the creating an impact for your neighborhood and the environment.

Information overload

Users feel information nowadays is incredibly spread thin between various news and social networks. The design should streamline information to the user in a single place.

small fish, big lake

Users find their neighborhoods info can get drowned in the sea of the many problems out there. The design should make local news significant, and highlight other neighborhood reports.

Persona: Alastair Mathis

Persona: Kristina Patel

User Flow: Kristina Patel

Design architecture

The initial planning of ECOmmunes’s functionality.

Wireframes and sketches

I sketched out wireframes and scenarios to start ideating on how ECOmmune would be able to help inform and activate neighborhoods regarding industrial pollution.

Paper Sketches: Scenarios and Wireframes

Digital Wireframe: My Neighborhood

Digital Wireframe: Pollution Map

Digital Wireframe: Your Findings

lofi Prototype

I developed low fidelity prototypes to test out if ECOmmune was meeting the goal of engaging and informing neighborhoods about local industrial pollution.

usability study findings

Prototypes and questionnaires were given to users to test, moderated by myself. They answered questions based on ECOmmune’s functionality, and if the wireframes are engaging the user. You can find the prototype and questionnaire here.

Lack of Identity

Users did not think the site had any themes regarding industrial pollution. They were unable to make the connection between the site’s purpose and it’s function.

Unintuitive

Users did not find the prototype to be intuitive. They did not feel entirely confident when it came to navigating the site and felt they had to take some time to learn how to use it.

Spread thin

Users felt there was an excessive amount of pages they had to navigate, and the content itself was too spread thin. They believed the site itself could be more condensed, and not every feature needed it’s own page.

designing sustainably

With the general concept of the website working towards pollution and sustainability, I wanted design the site with practices towards being green as well. The site’s color pallet is mainly a black base and utilizes reds, yellows and greens. I avoided blues and whites as they consume more energy when loading a website.

To also keep load times low and lower energy consumption, I looked into energy efficient font usage. Open Sans was chosen as the main body font for the site due to its high readability, commonality, and swift load times. To spice up the text I want to highlight, Nunito was chosen for headers due to it having notable design differences, solidly pairing with Open Sans, and still being sustainable.

mock ups and hifi prototype

Based on the usability findings, mock ups were created to address the feedback and refine the functionality and identity of ECOmmune. You can explore the HiFi prototype here.

Process: Home Page Options

Process: Report a Finding

Process: Save History into a Group of Past Conversions

Mock Up: Event Page

Mock Up: Pollution Map (Home)

Mock Up: My Findings

Mock Up: Event Page

Mock Up: Navigation

Mock Up: Pollution Map (Home)

TAKEAWAYS AND NEXT STEPS

Takeaways

Sustainable Design: One of the most significant insights I gained from this project is the importance of designing a website sustainably. Sustainable design goes beyond just the visual aspects; it involves creating a site that is efficient, eco-friendly, and user-centric. By optimizing resources, reducing unnecessary elements, and implementing energy-efficient practices, we can significantly minimize the environmental impact of our website. This approach not only benefits the planet but also enhances the overall performance and user experience of the site.
Identity: Ensuring that users understand how each feature aligns with the overall theme of the site is essential. Throughout the project, I focused on maintaining a cohesive connection between the features and the website's core purpose. Clear explanations, intuitive design, and consistent branding help users comprehend the functionality and relevance of each feature. By prioritizing this cohesion, we can create a seamless and engaging user experience, where every element of the website contributes to its main objective and resonates with the users.
Not Everything Needs A Page: Another crucial takeaway is that not all features require their own dedicated pages. During the design process, I learned the value of consolidating related features to streamline the user experience. By grouping similar functionalities together, we can create a more intuitive and navigable interface. This reduces clutter and helps users find what they need more quickly and efficiently. Condensing features when appropriate ensures that the website remains focused and avoids overwhelming the user with too many separate sections.

Next Steps

Include a section for user-generated content where individuals and communities can share their stories about dealing with industrial pollution.
Implement a tracker that monitors the website's own sustainability efforts.
Create interactive forums where users can discuss environmental issues, share solutions, and support each other.