Spare is for young adults living alone after moving into rental accommodation for the first time, who want to be able to live comfortably and cost-effectively but they lack the knowledge and feel restricted in their efforts.
Spare provides an insightful experience for the user, highlighting clearly the relevant information relating to their energy consumption, providing choices against both financial and environmental outcomes. The user is at the heart of the concept, making sure it is convenient to navigate and engaging through gestures and tone of voice. Spare uses the natural conversation and willingness to share achievements to motivate, educate, and encourage a shared goal in reducing energy consumption whilst focusing on the user to reduce spending.
The process
Research
We conducted thorough secondary and primary research using research papers, news articles, Internet articles and videos along with an online questionnaire. Key insights included that, with education comes change however accessible, understandable information is needed to empower change.
Build Empathy
Empathy is key in designing a solution that works. A user should always be at the centre of the process and so defining task goals, experience goals, and pain points is essential in the process. Once defined, we added personality; a name and a story, to evoke empathy and as a reminder of what we are designing for.
Wireframe
Before applying any principles of UI design, the structure and layout of the interface was moved through numerous exercises. Starting with the creation of a site map, and then drawing initial wireframes the solution started to form. Body storming followed, an iterative process through to the final Figma solution.
This was a University group project achieving 71%. You can view my University submission boards here