Carbon footprint tracking apps were analysed to identify the strengths and weaknesses based on user feedback and features offered.

Offcents, Capture, livegreen and aerial were selected as they have a similar concept and target user to this project.

Key insights

• People interested in this type of app are interested not just in offsetting carbon footprint but finding out how they can reduce emissions. Therefore the learning aspect is important.

• Users require a quick and easy way to input trip data, any automation needs to be accurate otherwise the solution loses value.

• Clear graphics to show activity and progress are also important to the users.

Persona

Melissa travels regularly for work and leisure, she wouldn’t be able to estimate her carbon footprint and expects she could do more to reduce it.

She enjoys apps with a social dynamic, she finds them more engaging and therefore is likely to use them more.

Her carbon footprint does concern her but she is unsure what the financial impact would be of offsetting emissions and whether it would be affordable.

She would like to learn more about ways she could reduce her emissions and is open to making some lifestyle changes.

Customer journey map

The journey map is based on Melissa starting using the app to track her emissions and find out how she can reduce them. The lows in her journey were identified as the lack of knowledge and frustration of not knowing how to improve.

She would like to make better informed transport decisions so any guidance on which methods have lower emissions would be really beneficial.

Melissa would likely use the community feature regularly so any learnings through that channel would definitely be helpful, such as a way to share tips and details about the projects to which her network are donating.

The key features of the app will be accessible through the main navigation bar, plus a sign up page accessible only from the splashscreen.

The principal screens will also have secondary navigation to access the additional screens detailed below.

The below user flow details the actions, different decision points and possible paths the user could take when interacting with the Equalize app.

The first key decision point is logging in or signing up depending on whether they already have an account with Equalize.

Once logged in the user takes a certain path depending on what they came to the app to do:

• Add a new trip

• Offset credits

• Buy credits through donations

• View or post in the community

• View data on current balance, credits earned etc

Whichever path they take they always have the option to easily switch to another section using the main navigation menu.

Low fidelity wireframes were created to explore different layouts and components that could be used for the main screens.

For the home screen the ideas centred around it being.a snapshot view of the current status including overall footprint, offsets and emissions from trips. The data should be easy to interpret and compare versus activity in previous periods.

The add trip flow is one of the most critical given the users need for a quick way to input data, otherwise they may lose interest and stop using the app. The wireframes detail a series of data inputs that are triggered depending on the input from the previous section, this ensures the experience is tailored to the specific trip and no unnecessary inputs are included or distractions from the task.

Each screen linked from the main navigation then has sub pages accessible through a secondary menu located under the page title. For offsets the user would land on the summary displaying data for both credits earned and utilised but then they could drill into the detail of credits earned or alternatively buy credits through project donations.

The company name ‘Equalize’ was chosen to reflect the app concept of becoming carbon neutral.

The primary brand colours of dark green and teal were selected to link in the eco friendly theme and create a calming palette.

Poppins, a sans serif font was selected for the typography, which combined with the colour palette brings out the brand attributes of friendly, mindful, encouraging and cheery.

The goal of the UI was to be clean and minimal to complement the calming colour palette.

Home

• Labels on the main navigation are used to make the options more obvious to the user as some of the menu items are not easily conveyed with just an icon.

• The use of colour, together with page title, helps indicate the active page.

• The circular dial to represent the data was kept consistent across the home screen, offsets and trips so the user could learn how to interpret it and not have to learn other formats throughout the app.

• The app is mainly white in colour, keeping in line with the calming feel the brand wants to portray.

Add trip

• Users can add trips to track their carbon emissions from travel

• They can select between the different transport methods and define the trip distance. The brand colours and icons are used to help easily distinguish between the different types of transport.

• Once complete they can see the carbon impact of the trip, which also shows recommendations of lower emission alternatives they could consider.

• Then they can choose to add the trip or not (can also be used a simulation before making a trip to guide better decisions).

Offset trip

• Once a trip is input, the user can choose to offset the emissions using existing credits.

• The confirmation screens for actions complete are used to add some fun and colour with a full colour background and use of illustrations.

• They can also make offsets at any point by accessing the offsets screen from the main menu

• If the user does not have enough credits they can buy more by donating to forestry or renewable energy projects. They can browse the full range of these under the buy section within offsets.

Community

• The user can share their activity and progress with the community, for example when they complete an offset or achieve a carbon neutral month.

• Each time they complete an offset there is a CTA on the confirmation screen to allow them to share to community, they can also post at any time by going to the community from the main navigation.

• The community can also be used to follow what their network have been up to. They can like, comment and share others posts.

Interactive prototype

The prototype was setup to allow the use to complete key tasks using the app:

• View data on the home and offsets screen based on current months activity

• Add a trip and see the carbon emissions impact

• Offset a trip using their credits

• Post to the community about their offset

• Browse through available projects to donate to

View prototype

The feedback from the user testing was synthesised using an affinity map to guide the design decisions on what iterations should be made to improve the app.

There was significant positive feedback of the concept itself, the branding and the overall UI.

However the testing did highlight some issues in the navigation, and also some gaps in the solution such as the credits screen. These points were most critical to resolve in the iterations.

Add car details to profile section

• This is a great way for the users to save input time when adding trips as it would just need to be completed once upfront.

• Some additional fields were added to the your details screen so the user could complete them when initially setting up the app. The section is clearly marked as optional so users can decide if they would like to provide that information or not.

• In addition a radio button was included in the add trips flow so the user could choose between using the saved car or inputting a new one. This covers the scenario where the user completes a trip in a car that is not their own.

Improve menu screen

• Some of the participants felt the menu screen was lacking something, this was redesigned to include the icon for each menu item creating a clearer link to the main navigation.

• The close arrow icon was replaced with the same burger menu to make it obvious that shows or hides the menu options.

• A log out button was included on this screen as this was something missing from the original designs.

Credits balance screen

• The majority of users tried to click the credits icon at some point throughout the tasks and various commented they expected to see details of their credits balance when clicking that icon.

• A new screen was created showing the current credits balance and the most recent movements, both credits earned and those used to offset travel.

• Icons were used to clearly indicate how the credits were earned or spent.

• A CTA was included to prompt the user to use any remaining balance to offset their carbon footprint.