Uni Project | UX Design Studio
GreenUniverse
GreenUniverse
GreenUniverse
Care For Sustainability On Campus
Care For Sustainability On Campus
Sustainable Campus
Digital,
Physical,
Spatial Experience
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
GreenUniverse Helps students develop sustainable habits by turning everyday campus interactions into opportunities for environmental awareness and action.
GreenUniverse Helps students develop sustainable habits by turning everyday campus interactions into opportunities for environmental awareness and action.
GreenUniverse Helps students develop sustainable habits by turning everyday campus interactions into opportunities for environmental awareness and action.
Impact Summary
Impact Summary
Impact Summary
⚡️
【Motivates sustainable actions】
【Motivates sustainable actions】
【Motivates sustainable actions】
I designed GreenUniverse to make sustainable campus initiatives feel rewarding and worth participating in.
I designed GreenUniverse to make sustainable campus initiatives feel rewarding and worth participating in.
I designed GreenUniverse to make sustainable campus initiatives feel rewarding and worth participating in.
🌱
【Raises environmental awareness】
【Raises environmental awareness】
【Raises environmental awareness】
Through interactive and playful experiences on campus, I helped students learn and engage with sustainability in a fun, memorable way.
Through interactive and playful experiences on campus, I helped students learn and engage with sustainability in a fun, memorable way.
Through interactive and playful experiences on campus, I helped students learn and engage with sustainability in a fun, memorable way.
🏡
【Fosters a greener community】
【Fosters a greener community】
【Fosters a greener community】
Built a shared culture of sustainability through collective participation in the gamified “Green House” contribution system.
Built a shared culture of sustainability through collective participation in the gamified “Green House” contribution system.
Built a shared culture of sustainability through collective participation in the gamified “Green House” contribution system.
📅 Timeline
📅 Timeline
📅 Timeline
Feb 2025 - July 2025
Feb 2025 - July 2025
Feb 2025 - July 2025
🤝 Team
🤝 Team
🤝 Team
Cynthia Ni + 2 Team members
Cynthia Ni + 2 Team members
Cynthia Ni + 2 Team members
🛠️ Tools
🛠️ Tools
🛠️ Tools
📁 Project Type
📁 Project Type
📁 Project Type
Uni Project - UX design Studio
Uni Project - UX design Studio
Uni Project - UX design Studio
Digital, Physical, Spatial experience Design
Digital, Physical, Spatial experience Design
Digital, Physical, Spatial experience Design
🌟 My Contributions & Impact
🌟 My Contributions & Impact
🌟 My Contributions & Impact
Conducted interviews, surveys, and online ethnography to uncover key pain points.
Synthesized findings into personas, journey maps, and a clearly defined problem space.
Led concept ideation, mid-fidelity prototyping, and design refinement.
Ran usability testing (think-alouds, SUS surveys, and post-interviews) and analyzed the results.
Built the visual identity and design system for the entire high-fidelity prototype.
Conducted interviews, surveys, and online ethnography to uncover key pain points.
Synthesized findings into personas, journey maps, and a clearly defined problem space.
Led concept ideation, mid-fidelity prototyping, and design refinement.
Ran usability testing (think-alouds, SUS surveys, and post-interviews) and analyzed the results.
Built the visual identity and design system for the entire high-fidelity prototype.
Conducted interviews, surveys, and online ethnography to uncover key pain points.
Synthesized findings into personas, journey maps, and a clearly defined problem space.
Led concept ideation, mid-fidelity prototyping, and design refinement.
Ran usability testing (think-alouds, SUS surveys, and post-interviews) and analyzed the results.
Built the visual identity and design system for the entire high-fidelity prototype.
Context
Context
Context
Following the course’s design brief “Creative Care,” our team chose to focus on care for sustainability on campus.
Following the course’s design brief “Creative Care,” our team chose to focus on care for sustainability on campus.
Following the course’s design brief “Creative Care,” our team chose to focus on care for sustainability on campus.
We asked ourselves:
We asked ourselves:
We asked ourselves:
How can we nurture students’ sustainable practices in their everyday campus life?
What care services can be improved to better support students’ sustainable behaviors?
How can we nurture students’ sustainable practices in their everyday campus life?
What care services can be improved to better support students’ sustainable behaviors?
How can we nurture students’ sustainable practices in their everyday campus life?
What care services can be improved to better support students’ sustainable behaviors?
GreenUniverse is targeting university students that care about sustainability but are not motivated and struggle to start or get engaged with sustainable initiatives
GreenUniverse is targeting university students that care about sustainability but are not motivated and struggle to start or get engaged with sustainable initiatives
GreenUniverse is targeting university students that care about sustainability but are not motivated and struggle to start or get engaged with sustainable initiatives
Problem
Problem
Problem
🥱 Low student engagement in sustainable actions
🥱 Low student engagement in sustainable actions
🥱 Low student engagement in sustainable actions
“Even though the students indicate a great deal of awareness and concern...they lack interest and willingness to participate in initiatives towards achieving sustainability” (Abubakar, 2016).
“Even though the students indicate a great deal of awareness and concern...they lack interest and willingness to participate in initiatives towards achieving sustainability” (Abubakar, 2016).
Research Problem Statement
Research Problem Statement
Research Problem Statement
Research Objectives
Research Objectives
Research Objectives
🔎 To explore what initiatives have already been taken to improve sustainability on campus and how effective or not were they.
📚 How much knowledge and education do student have on food waste and energy consumption?
🤔 Investigate the reason behind student’s lack of motivation to participate in sustainability initiatives.
🚮 What approaches do students take to manage their food waste on campus.?
🔋 How does the university’s students manage to save energy on campus?
🔎 To explore what initiatives have already been taken to improve sustainability on campus and how effective or not were they.
📚 How much knowledge and education do student have on food waste and energy consumption?
🤔 Investigate the reason behind student’s lack of motivation to participate in sustainability initiatives.
🚮 What approaches do students take to manage their food waste on campus.?
🔋 How does the university’s students manage to save energy on campus?
🔎 To explore what initiatives have already been taken to improve sustainability on campus and how effective or not were they.
📚 How much knowledge and education do student have on food waste and energy consumption?
🤔 Investigate the reason behind student’s lack of motivation to participate in sustainability initiatives.
🚮 What approaches do students take to manage their food waste on campus.?
🔋 How does the university’s students manage to save energy on campus?
Research Process
Research Process
Research Process
By triangulating and comparing the three different data types, we can fill in the differences and gaps in research information from multiple perspectives, improve the accuracy and effectiveness of research results, identify correlations within the data, and generate new research questions and directions.
By triangulating and comparing the three different data types, we can fill in the differences and gaps in research information from multiple perspectives, improve the accuracy and effectiveness of research results, identify correlations within the data, and generate new research questions and directions.
By triangulating and comparing the three different data types, we can fill in the differences and gaps in research information from multiple perspectives, improve the accuracy and effectiveness of research results, identify correlations within the data, and generate new research questions and directions.
Data Analysis
Data Analysis
Data Analysis
Insights
Insights
Insights
🏅 Students’ Low Motivation & Commitment
Students are not resisting sustainable action itself, but they feel no personal reason to engage, as these activities often don’t align with their personal values or interests.
🏅 Students’ Low Motivation & Commitment
Students are not resisting sustainable action itself, but they feel no personal reason to engage, as these activities often don’t align with their personal values or interests.
🏅 Students’ Low Motivation & Commitment
Students are not resisting sustainable action itself, but they feel no personal reason to engage, as these activities often don’t align with their personal values or interests.
📣 Student interest vs. campus communication
Students want to participate, but find sustainability initiatives and communication on campus too formal, distant, or irrelevant to their daily lives.
📣 Student interest vs. campus communication
Students want to participate, but find sustainability initiatives and communication on campus too formal, distant, or irrelevant to their daily lives.
📣 Student interest vs. campus communication
Students want to participate, but find sustainability initiatives and communication on campus too formal, distant, or irrelevant to their daily lives.
📘 The lack of sustainability education
School education regarding sustainability on campus fails to convey clear, easily comprehensible concepts.
→ students unaware of the risks and consequences of unsustainable lifestyles.
📘 The lack of sustainability education
School education regarding sustainability on campus fails to convey clear, easily comprehensible concepts.
→ students unaware of the risks and consequences of unsustainable lifestyles.
📘 The lack of sustainability education
School education regarding sustainability on campus fails to convey clear, easily comprehensible concepts.
→ students unaware of the risks and consequences of unsustainable lifestyles.
User Persona
User Persona
User Persona
Journey Mapping
Journey Mapping
Journey Mapping
Luca's journey through an activity shows emotional highs, lows and opportunities to address the pain points.
Luca's journey through an activity shows emotional highs, lows and opportunities to address the pain points.
Luca's journey through an activity shows emotional highs, lows and opportunities to address the pain points.
Goals
Goals
Goals
Design Problem Statement
Design Problem Statement
Design Problem Statement
📝 Students on campus often disengage from sustainable activities due to a lack of personal impact, internal relevance, and visibility of their efforts.
📢 This lack of student commitment is largely a result of insufficient communication and engagement around sustainability on campus.
📝 Students on campus often disengage from sustainable activities due to a lack of personal impact, internal relevance, and visibility of their efforts.
📢 This lack of student commitment is largely a result of insufficient communication and engagement around sustainability on campus.
📝 Students on campus often disengage from sustainable activities due to a lack of personal impact, internal relevance, and visibility of their efforts.
📢 This lack of student commitment is largely a result of insufficient communication and engagement around sustainability on campus.
H.M.W 💡
H.M.W 💡
H.M.W 💡
How might we create visible and engaging sustainability experiences that foster intrinsic motivation around personal values and purpose, while also raising extrinsic motivation through recognition and tangible benefits to build long-term student commitment and strengthen community impact on campus?
How might we create visible and engaging sustainability experiences that foster intrinsic motivation around personal values and purpose, while also raising extrinsic motivation through recognition and tangible benefits to build long-term student commitment and strengthen community impact on campus?
How might we create visible and engaging sustainability experiences that foster intrinsic motivation around personal values and purpose, while also raising extrinsic motivation through recognition and tangible benefits to build long-term student commitment and strengthen community impact on campus?
Design Process
Design Process
Design Process
Ideation - Storyboarding
Ideation - Storyboarding
Ideation - Storyboarding
Our ideation process began with creating individual storyboards depicting the potential user experience and our personal visions for the project.
Using storyboarding helped us visualize our ideas and understand how well they fit within our problem area.
Our ideation process began with creating individual storyboards depicting the potential user experience and our personal visions for the project.
Using storyboarding helped us visualize our ideas and understand how well they fit within our problem area.
Our ideation process began with creating individual storyboards depicting the potential user experience and our personal visions for the project.
Using storyboarding helped us visualize our ideas and understand how well they fit within our problem area.
Evaluation - Decision matrix
Evaluation - Decision matrix
Evaluation - Decision matrix
Post-evaluation
We decided to develop something new, merging different parts of our ideas into one cohesive design experience which would fit all of our requirements, while representing each of our creative visions allowing us to collectively participate in the iteration process.
Post-evaluation
We decided to develop something new, merging different parts of our ideas into one cohesive design experience which would fit all of our requirements, while representing each of our creative visions allowing us to collectively participate in the iteration process.
Post-evaluation
We decided to develop something new, merging different parts of our ideas into one cohesive design experience which would fit all of our requirements, while representing each of our creative visions allowing us to collectively participate in the iteration process.
Mid Fidelity Prototyping
Mid Fidelity Prototyping
Mid Fidelity Prototyping
For the digital element we designed the application “Sustainability app”. The user would interact with the printed wireframes mimicking the functions of the app.
For the physical element we have designed a “Sustainable wizard” booth. Where the user would interact with the sustainable wizard and complete activities to earn points. Within the booth we have also implemented sensory features like light and lavender scent to enhance the user experience.
For the spatial element of this project we designed a moving “Smart Bin” which is a robotic recycling bin driving around campus interacting with students. Through the friendly smart bin character we have implemented sensory features like touch and sound to maximize user engagement and connection.
For the digital element we designed the application “Sustainability app”. The user would interact with the printed wireframes mimicking the functions of the app.
For the physical element we have designed a “Sustainable wizard” booth. Where the user would interact with the sustainable wizard and complete activities to earn points. Within the booth we have also implemented sensory features like light and lavender scent to enhance the user experience.
For the spatial element of this project we designed a moving “Smart Bin” which is a robotic recycling bin driving around campus interacting with students. Through the friendly smart bin character we have implemented sensory features like touch and sound to maximize user engagement and connection.
For the digital element we designed the application “Sustainability app”. The user would interact with the printed wireframes mimicking the functions of the app.
For the physical element we have designed a “Sustainable wizard” booth. Where the user would interact with the sustainable wizard and complete activities to earn points. Within the booth we have also implemented sensory features like light and lavender scent to enhance the user experience.
For the spatial element of this project we designed a moving “Smart Bin” which is a robotic recycling bin driving around campus interacting with students. Through the friendly smart bin character we have implemented sensory features like touch and sound to maximize user engagement and connection.
Testing and Iteration
Testing and Iteration
Testing and Iteration
Usability Testing Workshop
Usability Testing Workshop
Usability Testing Workshop
Testing Process
Testing Process
Testing Process
Think Aloud Method
Think Aloud Method
Think Aloud Method
->
->
->
Fixed Interview
Fixed Interview
Fixed Interview
->
->
->
Survey
Survey
Survey
->
->
->
Post Survey Interview
Post Survey Interview
Post Survey Interview
Analysis
Analysis
Analysis
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
->
->
->
Affinity Diagramming
Affinity Diagramming
Affinity Diagramming
Results
Results
Results
71
71
71
SUS Survey Average Score
SUS Survey Average Score
SUS Survey Average Score
What went well and what didn't?
Based on the data and feedback collected, users responded positively to the theme and overall concept of our experience. However, we identified some visibility issues with the digital prototype and inconsistencies between the physical booth and the moving smart bin.
What went well and what didn't?
Based on the data and feedback collected, users responded positively to the theme and overall concept of our experience. However, we identified some visibility issues with the digital prototype and inconsistencies between the physical booth and the moving smart bin.
What went well and what didn't?
Based on the data and feedback collected, users responded positively to the theme and overall concept of our experience. However, we identified some visibility issues with the digital prototype and inconsistencies between the physical booth and the moving smart bin.
Design Refinement
Design Refinement
Design Refinement
Improve the overall usability of the app.
Improve the overall usability of the app.
Improve the overall usability of the app.
Strengthen the contextual connection between the booth and the bin.
Strengthen the contextual connection between the booth and the bin.
Strengthen the contextual connection between the booth and the bin.
Further explore the potential of the Smart Bin.
Further explore the potential of the Smart Bin.
Further explore the potential of the Smart Bin.
Final Outcome
Final Outcome
Final Outcome
Explore the app here! ⬇️
Explore the app here! ⬇️
Explore the app here! ⬇️
Reflection & Next Steps
Reflection & Next Steps
Reflection & Next Steps
【🧠 Rethinking UX】
【🧠 Rethinking UX】
【🧠 Rethinking UX】
Through GreenUniverse, I reflected on how user experience involves more than just UI. I began to pay closer attention to how the human body interacts with environments; how movement, posture, and the senses all contribute to how an experience is perceived. This project required thinking not just about what users see or click, but how they physically engage with a space, what draws them in, and how their bodies respond.
Through GreenUniverse, I reflected on how user experience involves more than just UI. I began to pay closer attention to how the human body interacts with environments; how movement, posture, and the senses all contribute to how an experience is perceived. This project required thinking not just about what users see or click, but how they physically engage with a space, what draws them in, and how their bodies respond.
Through GreenUniverse, I reflected on how user experience involves more than just UI. I began to pay closer attention to how the human body interacts with environments; how movement, posture, and the senses all contribute to how an experience is perceived. This project required thinking not just about what users see or click, but how they physically engage with a space, what draws them in, and how their bodies respond.
【🫂 Lets Not Cause Harm】
【🫂 Lets Not Cause Harm】
【🫂 Lets Not Cause Harm】
I also began reflecting on the ethical impact of design decisions. It's crucial to consider consent, user vulnerability, and mental well-being, as our choices have real effects on people’s lives.
I also began reflecting on the ethical impact of design decisions. It's crucial to consider consent, user vulnerability, and mental well-being, as our choices have real effects on people’s lives.
I also began reflecting on the ethical impact of design decisions. It's crucial to consider consent, user vulnerability, and mental well-being, as our choices have real effects on people’s lives.