UX/UI Case Study

Turn Surplus into Shared Support.

Turn Surplus into Shared Support.

A community-driven app designed to reduce food waste by creating a sustainable exchange and stronger community connections.

Project Context

School Project

Project Timeline
Project Role

Research, UI, UX, User Testing

Wire Framing, Prototyping,

Visual Design, Branding, IA

Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator

Project Timeline

23 Oct - 04 Dec 2023

Feb/Oct 2024 Revised

Project
Context

School Project

Project
Timeline

23 Oct - 04 Dec 2023

Feb/Oct 2024 Revised

Research, UI, UX, User Testing

Wire Framing, Prototyping,

Visual Design, Branding, IA

Project
Role

Figma, Photoshop,

Illustrator

Tools
Project Context

School Project

Project Timeline

23 Oct - 04 Dec 2023

Feb/Oct 2024 Revised

Research, UI, UX, User Testing

Wire Framing, Prototyping,

Visual Design, Branding, IA

Project Role
Tools

Figma, Photoshop,

Illustrator

Overview

Scavenger

Food waste is a growing problem, with countless perfectly edible items ending up in the trash. Scavenger is a mobile app that tackles this issue by connecting neighbours to share surplus, still-good food. It’s an easy way to give away what you don’t need and find what you do, all while building a stronger, more sustainable community.

Food waste is a growing problem, with countless perfectly edible items ending up in the trash. Scavenger is a mobile app that tackles this issue by connecting neighbours to share surplus, still-good food. It’s an easy way to give away what you don’t need and find what you do, all while building a stronger, more sustainable community.

Scavenger

Design Challenge

Design Challenge

The challenge revolves around addressing the growing issue of food waste, particularly in regions like BC, Canada, where rising individualism has led to an increase in solo living. Individuals living alone often struggle with food packaging sizes designed for families, resulting in unused and discarded food.

Additionally, the cultural mindset surrounding food sharing and community connections has diminished, making it harder for people to exchange surplus food in an easy, efficient, and accessible way.

The solution should not only reduce food waste but also foster a sense of local connection and community by creating a platform that encourages sharing and sustainability, without placing additional burdens or guilt on the user.

How Can We…

…effectively reduce the amount of food waste generated everyday?

How Can We…

…effectively reduce the amount of food waste generated everyday?

In British Columbia, people throw away about $1,100 of food from our homes that could have been eaten. In Metro Vancouver, about 13,000 tonnes of food is thrown out each year.

In our evolving society, the trend of individuals living independently has seen a noticeable rise. The trend of an increasing population of people living alone can be attributed to several societal, economic, and cultural factors. As a result, the demand for single servings has surged even further leading to quantity dilemma and cost concerns amongst users who live alone when it comes to grocery shopping.

In British Columbia, people throw away about $1,100 of food from our homes that could have been eaten. In Metro Vancouver, about 13,000 tonnes of food is thrown out each year.

In our evolving society, the trend of individuals living independently has seen a noticeable rise. The trend of an increasing population of people living alone can be attributed to several societal, economic, and cultural factors. As a result, the demand for single servings has surged even further leading to quantity dilemma and cost concerns amongst users who live alone when it comes to grocery shopping.

User Survey

User Survey

Target User: Individuals living alone

Research Method: Online Surveys

Target User: Individuals living alone

Research Method: Online Surveys

Survey Insights:

A survey was conducted to explore the relationship between individuals living alone and the amount of food waste generated in single-person households.


Many respondents living alone highlighted challenges in finding appropriately portioned groceries, which often results in frequent food waste.

Defining Personas

After defining the problem and the users wants and needs, I continued doing research that helped to deeper understand the users goals, needs, and their frustrations.


The persona consisted of two different user groups:

  • Product Lister

  • Product Seeker

Design Solution:

Design Solution:

To create a platform with the purpose of not only reducing food waste, but also nurturing community bonds through the share exchange of surplus, "still good" food items within your local community.
To create a platform with the purpose of not only reducing food waste, but also nurturing community bonds through the share exchange of surplus, "still good" food items within your local community.

Defining Personas

Defining Personas

After defining the problem and the users wants and needs, I continued doing research that helped to deeper understand the users goals, needs, and their frustrations.


The persona consisted of two different user groups:

  • Product Lister

  • Product Seeker

After defining the problem and the users wants and needs, I continued doing research that helped to deeper understand the users goals, needs, and their frustrations.


The persona consisted of two different user groups:

  • Product Lister

  • Product Seeker

User Journey Maps

User Journey Maps

Personas and Journey Map Insights


1. Shared Focus on Reducing Waste and Saving Costs:

- Posters want to avoid waste, while Finders prioritize affordability. The app should emphasize sustainability and economic benefits.

2. Convenience is Key:

- Both users value quick and simple processes for posting and finding items. Features like smart filters, reminders, and streamlined communication are essential.

3. Trust is a Core Need:

- Posters worry about their listings being claimed responsibly, and Finders are concerned about food quality. Verified profiles and reviews can build trust.

4. Emotional Engagement Drives Retention:

- Both users end their journey feeling fulfilled or relieved. Highlighting positive impact (e.g., waste reduction or money saved) will encourage reuse.

5. Targeted Solutions for Pain Points:

- Posters need tools to make listings appealing, and Finders want responsive communication.


By addressing these insights, the app can better meet user needs and foster long-term engagement whilst improving the overall experience for the user.

Identifying user pain points and goals.
Meet Scavenger: a platform designed to meet your needs by fostering meaningful community connections.
Identifying user pain points and goals.

Meet Scavenger: a platform designed to meet your needs by fostering meaningful community connections.

Food Sharing and Searching

  • Users can post food items they want to share or give away, ensuring still-good food finds a home instead of going to waste.

  • Search functionality allows users to easily find specific items posted

Availability Map

  • An interactive map displays nearby available food items, helping users visualize food-sharing opportunities in their local area.

  • Location-based functionality fosters a sense of community and convenience.

Advanced Filters

  • Users can filter food listings based on preferences, such as item type, expiry date, distance, and dietary needs.

  • This feature ensures users can quickly find items that meet their specific requirements.

Key Features

Key Features

Food Sharing and Searching

  • Users can post food items they want to share or give away, ensuring still-good food finds a home instead of going to waste.

  • Search functionality allows users to easily find specific items posted by their neighbours.

Food Sharing and Searching

  • Users can post food items they want to share or give away, ensuring still-good food finds a home instead of going to waste.

  • Search functionality allows users to easily find specific items posted

Availability Map

  • An interactive map displays nearby available food items, helping users visualize food-sharing opportunities in their local area.

  • Location-based functionality fosters a sense of community and convenience.

Advanced Filters

  • Users can filter food listings based on preferences, such as item type, expiry date, distance, and dietary needs.

  • This feature ensures users can quickly find items that meet their specific requirements.

Information Architecture

Information Architecture
Brand System
Brand System

Early Sketches

Early Sketches

UI Design

UI Design

Home

The homepage features a list of all available products nearby. It also includes a section where you can filter items based on specific keywords to find exactly what you're looking for.

Detail

The product detail page provides a description written by the lister, including key details such as purchase date, freshness, and more. If you're interested, you can directly contact the poster to inquire about the product.

Maps

The map feature offers a visual overview of all users in your vicinity, displaying pings for nearby products. You can search for specific locations or the products you need directly on the map for a seamless experience.

User Profile

The user profile displays all the products listed by the user, providing an organized overview of their shared items.

Product Postings

Users can post their products with detailed information, including descriptions, the purchase date, and other relevant details.

Learnings and Takeaways

Learnings and Takeaways
Defining the problem space through primary and secondary research, allowing exploration.

The primary goal of the app was to minimize food waste generated in our local communities while also nurturing community bonds. It was crucial for me to conduct both secondary and primary research to properly define the issue and devise a solution. To achieve this, I dedicated time to conducting multiple user tests, continuously refining the project to enhance user familiarity and meet their needs effectively.

Defining the problem space through primary and secondary research, allowing exploration.

The primary goal of the app was to minimize food waste generated in our local communities while also nurturing community bonds. It was crucial for me to conduct both secondary and primary research to properly define the issue and devise a solution. To achieve this, I dedicated time to conducting multiple user tests, continuously refining the project to enhance user familiarity and meet their needs effectively.

Reflection

Reflection
I was exploring how I could take this project further to see the success of this app and expanding the region from the local community.

One question that came across at the end of the project was "How can I implement this into the real world?". In order to make this happen, in the future my intention is to partner with additional organizations dedicated to addressing food shortages and waste such as "Vancouver Food Runners" and "Refood".


Through these collaborations and the utilization of the app, our community will grow, bringing us closer to mitigating both food waste and shortages. Further enhancements, such as enabling users to broaden their community connections, will be explored. This future development aims to meet user needs while simultaneously contributing to the reduction of food wastage.

I was exploring how I could take this project further to see the success of this app and expanding the region from the local community.

One question that came across at the end of the project was "How can I implement this into the real world?". In order to make this happen, in the future my intention is to partner with additional organizations dedicated to addressing food shortages and waste such as "Vancouver Food Runners" and "Refood".


Through these collaborations and the utilization of the app, our community will grow, bringing us closer to mitigating both food waste and shortages. Further enhancements, such as enabling users to broaden their community connections, will be explored. This future development aims to meet user needs while simultaneously contributing to the reduction of food wastage.

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Yelu Song

UX/UI Designer

Yelu Song

UX/UI Designer