TYPE
UI/UX
DURATION
2 WEEKS
MY ROLE
Group Project: Research, Design, Prototype, Testing
CONTEXT
In the age where we enjoy excess of everything, Revive is an app that lets users buy, sell, and donate used electronic products, it’s purpose being to keep used products in a circular economy.
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH
Interviews and a survey were conducted to understand household waste management practices among Bangalore residents. E-waste presented a significant problem, with participants expressing uncertainty about both the definition of e-waste and proper disposal methods. Collection services ranged from infrequent to nonexistent, leaving people with accumulated electronic products and no clear understanding of appropriate disposal channels.
We talked…
7
Interviews
29
Survey Responses
and surveyed.
E-Waste was reported as the hardest kind of waste to dispose of
E-waste
Glass
Menstrual Products
What kind of waste do you find hardest to dispose of of?
Results from survey response
Bengaluru generates
92KTONNES
of e-waste. The city is in third place in terms of e-waste generation in India.
“I hoard e-waste until i don’t have space for it.”
Interview Response
AFFINITY MAPPING
Based on the interviews, we created an affinity map to arrive at themes regarding e-waste management, which are as follows:
PERSONA
Based on our interviews and survey insights, we created a persona of the user who feels frustrated with e-waste piling up in their home, with no channels to dispose of it.
Priya Kumar, 30
Software Engineer
Bio
Goals
Declutter without guilt, clear the space and feel good about where things go
To manage e-waste in a way that causes the least harm to the environment
Know that disposed electronics won't end up in a landfill or informal dump
Needs
A simple way to dispose her devices which are functional and working
Option to donate if a device has low resale value but could still be useful to someone
To have a trustworthy service that carries out this exchange, with timely communication
Frustrations
Feeling helpless about her e-waste due to her unawareness about how to dispose of it
Having no transparency on where her waste is ending up
EXPANDING AND RANKING THEMES
We used the lotus diagram method to expand on problem themes to produce subthemes, then diverged to come up with various solutions for each subtheme.
Additionally, we conducted a card-sorting activity with nine participants to identify and rank major pain points related to dealing with e-waste.
Lack of Awareness
Uncertainty Regarding Disposal
Waste of Resources
Uncertainty over Data Protection
E-Waste
Kabbadiwalas
No Segregation
Environmental Impact
Lack of Motivation
Click to view the full diagram
Lack of Awareness
Uncertainty Regarding Disposal
Environmental Impact
Waste of resources
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Electronics often become e-waste prematurely due to lack of awareness about reuse options and uncertainty about what to do when a device is no longer needed.
CHALLANGES
Self- Selection Bias
Although lack of awareness was ranked as the #1 problem, building an app that gives out information may not be successful; after all people who want to be aware can easily inform themselves through the internet.
This highlights a case of self-selection bias: individuals who download an awareness app are already predisposed to seek information, limiting the intervention’s ability to reach those who lack awareness in the first place.
Point of Intervention
An app that connects people with e-waste recyclers is valuable, but there could be other points of intervention to prevent products from becoming e-waste.
How might we intervene earlier in the product lifecycle so devices never become e-waste in the first place?
HOW MIGHT WE...
Help people easily connect with other people to exchange, donate or sell their used electronic products and encouraging peer to peer responsible disposal practices?
PRODUCT CONCEPT
An app that helps reduce the generation of e-waste by donation, exchange and sell second hand e-products, as a way to extend product life.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
KEY USER FLOWS
DESIGN SYSTEM
USER TESTING INSIGHTS
FINAL SCREENS
Based on the insights from user testing, the screen were refined. These are some of the key screens.
USE CASE SCENARIOS AND PROTOTYPES
Listing a Product for Bid
Adhi works at a tech firm and is getting a new laptop from his company, making his old Acer Aspire 3 redundant. It's still in good condition but he's unsure of its worth or where to sell it. A friend suggests Revive, and Adhi likes the idea; let buyers bid on it and the best price will follow.
Bidding on a product
Lisa needs a new pair of headphones for everyday use. She's had her eye on a specific model but doesn't want to pay full retail for them. A friend mentions Revive, and Lisa thinks, why not find a used pair in good condition for a better price?
REFLECTIONS
E-waste generation is one of the most pressing sustainability challenges of the twenty-first century. The app concept aims to make sure that the product life is extended to prevent them from going to a landfill so soon, yet systemic changes are required handle existing e-waste and products which turn completely obsolete.
While individual marketplaces alone can't solve the e-waste problem, this app demonstrates how technology can facilitate more sustainable consumption patterns and keep electronics in use longer.