Al-Exchange
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A free app that links you, free of charge, to newly found aliens in another galaxy. College students can trade food waste and garbage with the aliens (using these items for fuel and fertilizer for their bountiful gardens) to gain new items.
Role: UX Researcher & Designer | Team Size: 3 | Duration: 13 Weeks
Tools: Qualtrics (for the survey), Sketch & XD (for lo-fi wireframes), InVision (for hi-fi mockups)
Skills: UX Field Research, Surveys, User Personas and Scenarios, Sketching, Wireframing, Interviews, Empathy Mapping, Qualitative Coding Methods, Ethnographic Observations, Stakeholder Mapping
"SO MUCH FOOD WASTE"
- Someone Famous aka Participant 1
Process
Discover
Reflect
Ideation
Define
Ethnographic Observation
Define the problem
Brainstorm
Prototyping
Empathize
Interviews
Find the solution
Do you like aliens?
Initial Problem Statement
Students living in Munger Graduate Residences with 5 to 6 roommates sharing the common space, which includes a kitchen, with limited fridge space need cheap and accessible solutions to decrease their food waste.
Revised Problem Statement
College students who are on a budget looking for a way to reduce food waste when grocery shopping for one person so that they can save money.
Interviews & Observations Findings
Giving self a treat as an award for getting the grocery shopping done
Users go grocery shopping at least once a week
Students are focused on budget-conscious shopping, while still thinking of food waste and the environment
Always have a snack before you go grocery shopping to decrease impulse buying
User Pain Points
Traveling to grocery stores
Expiration dates vs sell-by dates (not standardized)
Tends not to cook raw meat before it expires
Updated Problem Statement
Graduate students on a budget are concerned with personal food waste and have a desire to reduce their own waste after grocery shopping for themselves so they can save money while still making budget-friendly and healthy choices.
Personas
Avery McDaniel
Avery is a non-binary graduate student in their late 20s. Before attending grad school, they had experience living abroad as a peace corps in the Philippines. This experience allowed them to be more aware of food waste, due to a culture shock when they returned to the U.S.
Solution
Al-Exchange - A free mobile app for aliens to exchange items with college students for their food waste and trash
Final Design