GreenCircle
A nature-driven platform with a live website that empowers people to join and lead cleanup events effortlessly.
TIMELINE
13 Weeks
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
Environmental Technology (EnviroTech) and Sustainability
INDUSTRY
Motion Design by Anthony Okoduwa | Created in After Effects | © 2025. All Rights Reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
GreenCircle makes environmental impact accessible. With a seamless signup process, live waste tracking, and community-driven events, we empower people to take action. By focusing on convenience and impact, GreenCircle turns nature cleanups into a rewarding experience.
About
The Challenges of Organizing Nature Cleanups
Complex sign-up processes and unclear information discourage participation.
Traditional pen-and-paper tracking is cumbersome and error-prone.
Making Cleanups Convenient, Engaging, and Impactful
No more scrambling to find cleanup events. Our app shows them all on a map, so users can see what's happening nearby. You can even filter events by interests and receive directions straight to the cleanup spot.
Location-Based Events
We designed screens that make it super easy to keep track of how much trash users collect. Just tap a button for each type of trash, and the app keeps a running total. No more messing with pen and paper!
Waste Collection Counter
We built a special section in the app packed with information about the environment, including articles about sustainably, safety tips for cleanups and ways to stay mentally healthy. Think of it like a pocket-sized guide to being awesome for the planet and yourself!
Educational and Wellness Widget
We added a fun element to keep users motivated! As you participate in cleanups and collect trash, you'll watch a virtual plant grow. The more you do, the bigger and stronger your plant gets!
Achievements
This project not only sharpened my UX design skills but also highlighted my ability to drive research-backed design decisions that genuinely enhance user experience. By focusing on intuitive navigation and actionable features, we achieved the following:
85% of users appreciated the simplified process for finding and joining cleanup events, boosting community engagement.
90% of users reported that the app’s navigation was intuitive, reducing drop-offs and increasing task completion rates.
75% of users found the waste collection counter effective, encouraging continued use and promoting environmental impact tracking.
Proving Success Through Data-Driven Impact
Research & Personas: Understanding the Users
Research Methods:
10 user interviews, landscape analysis.
Key Findings:
Users prefer spontaneous participation without competitive pressure.
Clear event information boosts sign-up rates.
Persona:
Name: Emily, 28, Eco-enthusiast.
Goal: Make an impact without hassles.
Pain Point: Difficult event discovery, cumbersome tracking of trash picked.
Most people are environmentally conscious to a degree, and wish to be a part of the solution when it comes to combating issues such as climate change and waste reduction.
Nature based cleanups are a great way to build community and help to make a tangible difference to the environment.
Whilst many of our competitors utilize their own version of a collection counter for trash collection tallying - they don't, however, include all the features we have implemented with GreenCircle.
The Why Behind the Design
After conducting user research, we began iterating on several versions of the user flow. Through this iterative process, we refined the flow to align with both user needs and development constraints. The final user flow seamlessly guides both new and existing users on their cleanup journey.
Design Strategy
To streamline the design process and ensure consistency across multiple screens within GreenCircle, I took the lead in developing a comprehensive design system. This initiative enhanced efficiency in our workspace and facilitated the creation of our UI Kit, a valuable collection of reusable components guided by clear standards.
Design System
Typography and Colors
I was tasked with designing the waste collection counter buttons, but I initially struggled to create a visually appealing design without relying on drop shadows. Through iteration and feedback, I adopted a deep flat design approach, using shapes and strategic colours for depth. This not only aligned with modern design trends but also resulted in a cleaner, more streamlined interface, teaching me valuable lessons in balancing aesthetics and usability.
Buttons
Before
After
Grid System
We created high-fidelity prototypes and conducted remote user testing sessions with a diverse group of participants. To ensure a thorough analysis, we recorded sessions to capture user interactions and feedback. The design team carefully crafted insightful questions to test key usability aspects, leading to valuable findings. Based on the results, we iterated on the design, refining the experience to better meet user needs.
Prototyping and User Testing
User Testing Script
Key Findings
HOW COULD AI HAVE ENHANCED GREEN CIRCLE?
I believe AI is an emerging technology that one cannot overlook. It cannot replace Product Designers because design is deeply rooted in human empathy, creativity, and critical thinking—qualities that AI lacks. However, AI can serve as a powerful optimization tool to enhance efficiency, automate repetitive tasks, and generate data-driven insights, allowing designers to focus on strategy, innovation, and user-centered problem-solving.
With GreenCircle, AI could have played a significant role in refining various aspects of the project, making the cleanup experience even more seamless and impactful.
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AI could analyze user preferences, past participation, and environmental data to suggest personalized cleanup events based on location, interest, and availability.
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AI models could analyze collected waste data over time to predict environmental impact, showing users the long-term benefits of their efforts and motivating more participation.
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Instead of manually entering waste details, AI-powered voice assistants could allow hands-free input, making participation more convenient and accessible.