Coastal communities struggle with plastic waste pollution, lacking organized efforts and tools for individuals to join clean-ups. There's also a need to engage diverse users and connect them to local clean-up events while raising awareness about plastic waste's environmental impact.
The app solves the need for coordinated efforts to manage coastal plastic waste by organizing clean-ups, raising awareness, tracking waste collected, and fostering collaboration among volunteers, NGOs, and local authorities.
Responsibilities
Research, UX, UI
Scope
156 hours
Self-started project
Qualitative research Insights
Emotional Concern: 90% of coastal residents are deeply concerned about the harm of plastic pollution on marine life.
Coordination Challenges: Difficulties in organizing clean-ups and engaging volunteers.
Motivation Differences: 60% of concerned residents are highly motivated, while 40% of indifferent residents show little interest.
Remote Involvement: 65% of urban environmental enthusiasts need better tools for remote involvement..
Awareness Deficit: 40% of urban residents lack fundamental awareness about the impacts of ocean pollution.
Tool Needs: 65% of users need comprehensive tools for better event management and waste tracking.
To validate my assumptions about coastal ocean pollution, I designed and distributed an online survey to 31 participants.
Awareness: 90% of participants are at least somewhat aware of ocean pollution, showing a high level of awareness.
Experience with pollution: 78% of participants frequently or sometimes see plastic waste on beaches, confirming the relevance of this issue.
Participation: 83% of respondents are open to participating in clean-up events, with time and scheduling being the main limiting factors.
Motivation: The protection of marine life is the most significant motivator, followed by improving the cleanliness of local beaches.
Barriers: Lack of time and lack of awareness of events are the primary barriers to greater participation.
Phases
Awareness: Recognizing ocean pollution issues
Engagement: Participating in clean-ups.
Evaluation: Reviewing current tools and methods.
Feeling
Coastal Residents: Passionate but frustrated by inefficiencies.
Urban Residents: Interested but feel disconnected.
Doing
Community Efforts: Coastal communities conduct clean-ups with basic tools
Tool Usage: Limited functionality in tracking and scheduling.
Campaigns: Educating the public through awareness initiatives.
Thinking
Challenges: Difficulty in organizing and tracking events
Tool Gaps: Insufficient tools for real-time updates and communication.
Awareness: Urban residents are less informed compared to coastal residents.
Primary Persona
Vineeth Kumar
HSR, Bengaluru
Environmental Activist / Volunteer
Tech Proficiency
Moderate to high,
uses smartphones and social media for activism and organizing.
Background
Vineeth is dedicated to ocean conservation, participating in and organizing beach clean-ups. He believes in community action against pollution and connects with like-minded individuals on weekends.Goals
Easily organize and participate in beach clean-up events.
Collaborate with local environmental organizations and volunteers.
Track her contributions and impact (e.g., waste collected).
Educate others about the importance of reducing plastic waste.Motivation
Vineeth wants to make a tangible difference in reducing marine pollution.
He is motivated by data and enjoys seeing the direct results of his efforts (e.g., how much plastic is collected).
He likes rewards and recognition, such as badges or certificates of participation.Frustrations
Difficulty in coordinating with others using multiple tools (social media, emails, etc.).
Lack of real-time updates on event progress.
Limited visibility on how much waste is collected and the positive impact.Needs
Event organization tools,
Waste tracking, and
Community communication.
Secondary Persona
Ganesh
E City, Bengaluru
Owner of a Local
Eco-friendly Café
Tech Proficiency
Low to moderate, uses technology primarily for business purposes.
Background
Ganesh runs a small eco-friendly café near the beach and is committed to supporting the community and local environment. He plans to sponsor clean-up efforts and reward volunteers.Goals
Support local clean-up events by sponsoring and providing resources (e.g., refreshments).
Increase visibility and brand reputation through eco-friendly initiatives.
Partner with organizations and volunteers to drive environmental awareness.Motivation
Ganesh wants to position his café as a leader in sustainable practices and engage with the local community.
He seeks to build partnerships with eco-conscious individuals and organizations.
Ganesh is driven by a desire to see positive changes in the environment and attract like-minded customers.Frustrations
Limited time to directly participate in events due to business commitments.
Lack of a streamlined way to offer sponsorships or rewards to participants.
Difficulty in connecting with volunteers and environmental groups in the area.Needs
Awareness initiatives,
Simple involvement options.
To address the challenges of coastal plastic pollution, the **OceanClean** app streamlined beach clean-up efforts and encouraged eco-friendly business practices through the following solutions:
1. Event Organization & Participation
- Interactive Map for viewing and joining clean-up events.
- Simple Event Creation for NGOs to organize and invite volunteers.
2. Waste Reporting & Geo-Tagging
- Geo-tagged reports allow users to highlight polluted areas and categorize waste types like plastic and glass.
3. Gamification for Engagement
- Points, badges, and leaderboards keep users motivated and engaged in clean-up efforts.
4. Collaboration & Sponsorships, Eco-friendly initiatives
- Local businesses can sponsor events and provide resources.
- Eco-friendly initiatives promoted reusable products like bamboo cutlery, metal straws, and biodegradable bags to reduce single-use plastics.
5. Real-Time Impact Tracking
- Impact visualization shows users how much waste they’ve helped remove, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment.
Streamline scheduling and volunteer coordination.
Implement accurate waste tracking and real-time reporting.
Develop interactive educational content.
Integrate geo-friendly mapping for hotspot identification.
Enable virtual involvement and online contributions.
Volunteer Scenario Statement
Awareness: Recognizing ocean pollution issues
Engagement: Participating in clean-ups.
Evaluation: Reviewing current tools and methods.
Event Organizer Scenario Statement
Coastal Residents: Passionate but frustrated by inefficiencies.
Urban Residents: Interested but feel disconnected.
Achievements:
Earn badges for milestones.
Challenges
Host competitions and challenges.
Leaderboard
Rank users by there contribution.
Points
Reward points for activities.
