HOW CAN WE INSPIRE THE USE OF FEWER NATURAL RESOURCES AND CONSUME MORE MINDFULLY? Problem: Our Current Value Systems Are Driving Overconsumption And Leading Us To A Detached Relationship With Nature.
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The answer is Equilibrium, a concept for an application where people can track their carbon footprint in real time, by scanning products, services and receipts so people are informed and conscious of their impact on our planet. Equilibrium will create transparency between the retailers and the consumer, leading to changing consumer attitudes and promote mindful consumption; as a result reducing the purchases of harmful products and services.
TARGET AUDIENCE Which age demographic is the most environmentally conscious? It has been proven that Gen Z are the most likely to say they desire to change their lifestyles to be more healthy, environmentally friendly and helpful to others, followed by millennial. Generation Z is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation
Alpha. This is the age catagory between mid-to-late 1990s up until 2010. Looking at these results, my estimated target audience of 18 to 40 years of age seems to be about right. I want to increase this to at least 40 years of age, hoping anyone would want to use the Equilibrium app, increasing the scope my ideas can have on the world.
LOGO DESIGN The logo design for the Equilibrium App is an updated version of the equilibrium symbol commonly used in science. It represents balance and what we want to achieve from the ‘No Waste Challenge’, which is a circular economy. Bellow you can see my logo featuring curved edges matching the aesthetic of the app. Three sizes show how easy it is to resize the logo to any dimension, without it looking deformed.
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The stroke can be adjusted to any point depending on size specification too. A transparent background allows the logo to sit perfectly over any background gradient, texture or image. The logo is fully editable in any Adobe software, first being made in Adobe XD and then transformed into Illustrator. This is important for when the logo needs to be sent to someone or resized to any scale. As a result, the logo is universal and future proof.
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TYPEFACES & ICONS The typefaces used in an application or in any design are one of or if not, the most important aspect in creating a strong and recognisable identity. For my application I wanted to pick typefaces that look modern, sleek, available in a number of weights so they can diversify, and most importantly be very readable in varying sizes. Bellow are the three typefaces used in the design of my application and this presentation; with each explanation written in the associated typeface in bold / semi-bold / medium, 10pt.
Nunito - A Google font that matches the smooth curvaceous aesthetic of my application, used as the only font seen in my app. It also comes in 14 different weights making it a versatile font. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789 Inter - Another Google font that has a sharper, more executive aesthetic. This makes it perfect for the use in this presentation. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Helvetica Neue - Helvetica is a well loved and arguably overused typeface, but one that fits perfectly in my porject. Helvetica Neue has 14 different weights allowing me to find exactly what I needed to recreate an accurate mock-up of my recepit. ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz 0123456789
Next are the icons. The icons represent a specific task or page in which they hyper-link to. The following icons fit the aesthetic of the app and all look uniform together. This is a mix of getting the correct stroke size, scale, edges and shape.
COLOUR SCHEMES To create an iconic and recognisable identity for the Equilibrium App, I needed colour schemes and swatches to stick to. The colour swatches were made from eyedropping colours from the backgrounds used in the application. The primary colour swatch is for reoccuring and common assets such as type, shapes and icons if neccessary. For example, the colour #ebfdac was used to represent impact, and #a8fc50 carbon offset. Creating these identities that stay the same throughout the application forms fimiluarity with the user.
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The secondary colour swatch is for any assets that need to be another colour to the primary swatch. For example, a pie chart or another type of info-graphic where there is more than five data types would need additional colours which will then be taken from the secondary colour swatch.
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Wireframes Wireframes are digital blue print designs made from basic shapes and shadings to represent how information and assets might be organised on the applications UI (User Interface). The process first begins with simple sketches with pen and paper. Then with these simple sketches, you build on them and create a digital counterpart. Without these wireframes the design process would have taken a lot longer, and ultimately the app wouldn’t be what it is now. To the right are the original wireframes for the Equilibrium Application; you can clearly see the evolution from wireframe to final outcome. > Loading In > Login > Sign Up > Camera > Dashboard > Feed > Data Page > Carbon Offsetting > Settings
Mock-ups
Short Video Here are two videos, the first showing how the application is used to scan a receipt with the QR code to update their account. This involves a spacial element, scanning something physical and printed.
The second video runs through the entire UI and UX of the application, giving you a feel for the Equilibrium app’s concept and idea.