Have you ever thought about how technology can make beauty more sustainable?
Come with me, and I'll show you a new solution!
The NaturCycle app promotes sustainable beauty by helping users make eco-friendly choices. It features innovative recycling of human waste into skincare and focuses on providing an intuitive, educational experience that aligns with the brand's mission and values.
Design an intuitive and user-friendly app that showcases NaturCycle’s sustainability efforts.
Educate users about the recycling process and the environmental impact of using recycled materials.
Offer an engaging experience where users can analyze their skin and virtually try on products using AR.
Create a transparent system for waste submission and tracking to enhance user trust.
Build a sense of community through shared sustainability goals and social features.
Develop a loyalty program to reward users for their sustainability contributions.
NaturCycle redefines beauty with eco-friendly skincare made from recycled waste, promoting sustainability through a circular economy. Their app combines shopping and education, offering an engaging, natural aesthetic that fosters trust and eco-conscious choices. The vision is to inspire a loyal community where luxury meets sustainability, benefiting both people and the planet.
In this study, the Double Diamond process guided the design of NaturCycle’s app through four phases: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.
Environmental Lawyer
Age: 28
Family/Marital Status: Single
Location: Toronto, Canada
Bio
Chloe, an environmental lawyer, advocates for sustainability in both her professional and personal life. She chooses products like NaturCycle for their transparency and eco-friendly mission, and regularly shops for sustainable beauty products.
Archetype:
The Sage, values knowledge, sustainability, and ethical choices, using expertise in environmental law to guide her decisions.
Preferred Channels:
Chloe prefers online shopping on sustainable marketplaces and frequently checks eco-certifications.
Motivations/Influences:
Chloe is motivated by sustainability and follows brands like Patagonia and environmental advocacy groups.
Preferred Tools:
Uses her laptop and smartphone for research and shopping.
Experience Level:
Chloe has advanced knowledge of sustainability and is familiar with beauty brands that prioritize ethical production.
Preferred Social Media:
The flowchart maps the NaturCycle app user journey, from login and account setup to exploring sustainable beauty tools, product shopping, and recycling programs, all aimed at promoting an eco-friendly beauty experience.
The sitemap organizes NaturCycle’s app structure, guiding users through sections like beauty tools, shopping, sustainability insights, recycling, and account settings for an intuitive, eco-focused experience.
Some rough sketches of the app were created using the Crazy 8 technique, which involves making 8 quick sketches in 8 minutes.
The mid-fidelity prototype focuses on layout and functionality, allowing testing of key features before final design.
This project reinforced the importance of truly understanding the user’s needs. Through empathy maps and personas, I learned how to align design decisions with user pain points and motivations, ensuring the app was both functional and meaningful.
One of the key challenges was balancing eco-conscious features with a seamless user experience. I discovered that users prioritize transparency and education when engaging with sustainable products. This insight shaped the way I designed the recycling tracker and educational content.
The iterative process of moving from low-fidelity wireframes to a high-fidelity interactive prototype taught me the value of user feedback. Each iteration revealed critical improvements, such as simplifying navigation and enhancing the visual hierarchy for better usability.
Conducting a competitive analysis gave me a broader understanding of the market landscape. I learned how to identify competitors’ strengths and weaknesses and leverage those insights to differentiate NaturCycle in the eco-beauty industry.
Overall, this project expanded my understanding of UX strategy, from research and ideation to implementation and delivery. I gained confidence in my ability to lead a design project that aligns user needs with business objectives, especially in a sustainability-focused industry.
Working closely with stakeholders taught me the importance of clear communication and collaboration. Their feedback helped refine key features and align the design with business goals while keeping the user experience at the forefront.
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