The Climate Reality Project
Motivating people to act in a way that is kind to the environment by starting with a very small habit.
T Y P E
Concept project.
T E A M
Nobuto Nishizawa, Rebecca Li.
M E T H O D
Business analysis, competitive analysis, user interviews, surveys, affinity mapping and data synthesis, archetype development, comparator analysis, sketching, wireframing, prototyping and usability testing.
D U R A T I O N
2-week sprint (Jan 2022).
M Y R O L E
UX Designer.
T O O L S
Pen & paper, Figma, Miro, Notion.
Summary
1. Where we started
Our brief was to motivate the general public to act in ways that are kind to the environment by providing them with a tool.
How might we motivate people to start a habit that will positively impact our climate?
2. Conducting research
People felt climate change was far away from them in time and distance.
People are generally eco but when it’s too hard, they stop.
People weren’t sure if what they were doing was positively impacting climate change.
3. Our problem
People need an easy and simple way to contribute correctly and positively towards climate change that will form a long-lasting habit.
4. Where we put our focus
We considered targeting different aspects of climate change, electricity, agriculture, transport being the top 3 CO2 emission contributors in Australia. We needed to start small so the task was easy enough for everyone to do and continue with.
5. Our solution
Start a home herb garden by setting people up with free seeds.
The core idea is not that herbs will change climate change, but this will put people on the path to growing vegetables, community gardens, collaboration with councils which would lead to fewer transport trucks on the road carrying our produce.
All supported by a mobile app that reminds you to water and harvest, along with plants tips and guides.
6. Next steps
Detail research into the cost of seeds and its distribution, human resources for data building of herbs and next step vegetables.
Further research into human motivations and reward-seeking behaviours.
Development of community forum and calendar function.
Reflection
Climate change is a very large topic - focus on one area quickly so you have more time exploring and testing the areas within that topic.
Clearly demonstrate your thinking, if you show people the solution without explaining the reasoning and thinking, sometimes it just won’t make sense to them.
Simplify the idea, people can be lazy about recycling or starting habits, make it as easy as possible so that the concept has a chance to succeed.
