Description
Project Overview
Urban Farming — The confluence of technology, engineering, design and farming has set the stage for transformation in farming. The physical boundaries are being redefined. Farms can now occupy rooftops, in parks, and even under a viaduct. Urban agriculture alone will never feed the world, but it can vastly improve the natural capital in cities and produce a range of benefits beyond just food.
IBM Cloud Computing Project
Users and Audience
My Role
- User Research
- Personas
- Scenario
- Task Flow
- IA
- Low Fidelity
- Design System
- High Fidelity
- PET Strategy
- Usability Testing
Project Duration
2
+ Week25
+ ScreenMobile Apps | 2021
Problem Statement
Shortage food security in Singapore during Covid-19. How can we increase Urban Farming for personal consumption and sharing hence gradually reducing the reliance of external food sources?
Possible Solutions
Physical boundaries redefined Food Security in Singapore – increase urban farming for personal consumption and sharing for the population so that we can be more self sufficient contributing to a green sustainable environment. The confluence of technology, engineering, design and farming has set the stage for transformation in farming. Farms can now occupy rooftops, in parks, and even under a viaduct. Urban agriculture alone will never feed the world, but it can vastly improve the natural capital in cities and produce a range of benefits beyond just food.
Tools Used
Figma
AI
Google Form
Design Thinking Process
A framework for innovation
Empathize
Define the challenge & explore the human context
Define
Brainstorm ideas good & bad, don’t stop at the obvious
Ideate
Research, observe, understand & create a point of view
Prototype
Implement the product, show & don’t tell, start to refine the product
Test
Start creating, experiment, fall cheap, and fast
Empathize
User Research
Qualitative Research (1 to 1 Interview)
1 to 1 interview has been conducted with a total of 6 participants. Some data are gathered which allow me to explore deeper about the user’s mental model.
- Where and what type of housing do you stay?
- Can you share with us some of your experiences on urban farming? If don't, what are your thoughts on it?
- What do you feel about the space available for urban farming at your home (balcony / corridor)?
- What do you feel about the nation's goal of growing urban agriculture by increasing food production at the community level?
- How do you feel about Singaporean's interest in urban farming sprouting amidst Covid-19 outbreak?
- Any idea what crops or greens to grow, which will yield in a short span of time?
- How do you think technology can assist to make growing food seamless and productive?
- What do you think about the government's 2030 target to ramp up on agri-tech and innovation to increase home grown food?
Quantitative Research (Survey)
I did an online survey by using Google Form to gather the data. This is easy for me to understand the user pattern of what they are looking for. The total data of 35 participants being collected.
- Where and what type of housing do you stay?
- Have you planted anything before? What do you feel about the space available for urban farming at your home (balcony / corridor)?
- What motivates you to grow your own vegetables? Save more money?
- What do you feel about sharing and exchanging food with your neighbours?
- Can you share with us some of your experiences on urban farming? If don't, what are your thoughts on it?
- What are your thoughts about Npark's Allotment Gardening Scheme for aspiring gardeners / urban farming enthusiasts?
- Would you like to make some suggestions to the existing Urban Farming Programs in the community to promote urban agriculture?
- What do you think about the government's 2030 target to ramp up on agri-tech and innovation to increase home grown food?
Insight
- Consumers have not developed interest in urban farming, not even farming in their balconies.
- Good idea about NPark Allotment Gardening Scheme. but I'm not sure if it's effective. This idea has been there pre Covid-19. Green city to green edible city to city in nature. (e.g. develop an instinct to forage to explore the vast diversity of greens we have in singapore).
- Does not have a short-term solution; rather, it must be addressed through measures in a process with long-term results. These measures may come from urban agriculture, applied under the principles of agroecology.
- Urban agriculture is a complex activity that is currently associated with the idea of multifunctionality, placing emphasis on the various ecosystem services that it generates. However, urban agriculture continues to lack sufficient consideration in urban planning and management.
Pain Point
- Uncertain interest level for urban farming (though there was a spike of interest and increased awareness since Covid-19).
- Challenges for growing edibles. No idea what crops or trees to grow, which will yield in a short span of time.
- Limited space for growing edibles. HDB balcony or corridor not enough space, if possible a bigger plot of land will be ideal.
- Consumers are not able to rent their allotment & rooftop gardens through the mobile apps.
Define
Persona
Using the results of the survey and interview, I created a persona that embody the traits of the target audience. This helps me understand their primary goal and frustration.
Joanne Wang
About
- Age: 35
- Status: Married
- Gender: Female
- Education: Bachelor Degree in Arts and Business
- Occupation: Marketing Manager
- Income: 5,800/mth
Background
Joanne Wang has family's weekend outings or activities, she plans to find time to explore and embark on an Urban Farming journey. She thinks this interest can improve farming practices and minimize food waste, be more self-sufficient and meet the nutritional needs of the nation. So that to further safeguard food security and build stronger community bonding and be the World's Greenest City.
Goal
Part of family's weekend outing activities, and willing to find time to explore and embark on Urban Farming journey.
Frustration
- Over planting in HDB corridor may causing obstruction and fire hazard.
- Sustaining the interest and staying invested in it when one is busy with work and family life. It can easily feel like a chore and just adds on more to-dos on my plate.
Ideate
Information Architecture
The creation of a structure for the apps.
Prototype
Low Fidelity Prototype
The first visual representation of a designer's idea. To ensure that the developers and clients get a clear understanding of the functionalities and designs.
Homepages
Allotment & Rooftop Gardens
Oasis Plant Watering System
Tips & Events
Design System
At this stage, I will start the branding design. A design guideline is created for the company.
Manrope
Aa Bb Cc Dc Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 ‘ ? ’ “ ! ” ( % ) [ # ] { @ } / & \ < - + x ÷ = > ® © € £ $ ¥
#9ac14d
#646664
#ff6a85
#dbecbf
High Fidelity Prototype
Finally High-fidelity has been produced by referring to the branding guideline. Green brings calm feelings of renewal and growth. These emotions fit well with such brands as UrbanFarm that uses green as the main logo color. It's strongly associated with environmentalism and nature. Here is the prototype link.
Homepages
Allotment & Rooftop Gardens
Oasis Plant Watering System
Profile
PET Strategy
Persuasion, emotion and trust are critical factors to increased conversion. There are PET tools have been implemented to motivate people to make decisions that lead to conversion.
Select Payment Methods
Add diffusion of responsibility.
High chance to lead users to link their bank account to make payment.
Tips & Events
Consumers are able to bookmark and share the Tips & Events.
Testing
Usability Testing
After the final prototype has been created, the design proceeds to the usability test. I have invited 3 people to test my design solutions. Some valuable feedback was gathered during this session.
Allotment & Rooftop Gardens
Challenge 1: Promo for Oasis Plant Watering System.
Solution: Bundle packages – Consumers are able to purchase together with Oasis Plant Watering System and schedule appointments for installations.
Reschedule Appointment
Challenge 2: Shortage of customer services center, receive an increasingly high volume of calls every day to schedule deliveries and change the installation appointment.
Solution: Allow consumers to reschedule appointments for Oasis Plant Watering System.
Future Enhancement
MarketPlace: Allow consumers to sell, buy, and exchange the food, veggie or herb.
Soil Analysis: Instant, on-the-spot monitoring of nutrients in soil, feed and leaf. (Find out more – Agorocares.)