Waste Disposal at the Olympics
Timeline
Timeline
July - Oct 2023
July - Oct 2023
Collaborators
Collaborators
EZ
EZ
Role
Role
UI/UX Design (Smartwatch)
UI/UX Design (Smartwatch)
Research
Research
User Testing
User Testing
Tools
Tools
Canva
Canva
Balsamiq
Balsamiq
Figma
Figma
Introduction
Introduction
The goal of this project was to design a digital solution that promotes sustainability at the Brisbane 2028 Olympics, contributing to a climate-positive event with long-lasting environmental impact.
We developed a mobile and smartwatch application aimed at streamlining the waste disposal process during the Games, making it easy and intuitive for attendees to sort and dispose of waste correctly, ultimately reducing landfill and enhancing recycling efforts.
The goal of this project was to design a digital solution that promotes sustainability at the Brisbane 2028 Olympics, contributing to a climate-positive event with long-lasting environmental impact.
We developed a mobile and smartwatch application aimed at streamlining the waste disposal process during the Games, making it easy and intuitive for attendees to sort and dispose of waste correctly, ultimately reducing landfill and enhancing recycling efforts.
Simplifying waste disposal at the Brisbane 2028 Olympics
Simplifying waste disposal at the Brisbane 2028 Olympics
Research
Research
To gain insight into waste disposal and its impact on large-scale events like the Olympics, we conducted extensive research across academic articles, white papers, and publications from the International Olympic Committee.
To gain insight into waste disposal and its impact on large-scale events like the Olympics, we conducted extensive research across academic articles, white papers, and publications from the International Olympic Committee.
Defining the problem
Large-scale events like the Olympics have a significant environmental impact and therefore must actively engage in sustainable practices. However, a 2021 study highlights a concerning trend: as the Olympics have grown, so has their environmental footprint.
This underscores the urgency of adopting innovative, sustainable approaches to mitigate the Games' ecological footprint and contribute meaningfully to global climate goals.
Large-scale events like the Olympics have a significant environmental impact and therefore must actively engage in sustainable practices. However, a 2021 study highlights a concerning trend: as the Olympics have grown, so has their environmental footprint.
This underscores the urgency of adopting innovative, sustainable approaches to mitigate the Games' ecological footprint and contribute meaningfully to global climate goals.
Competitor Analysis
Including animations/haptic feedback adds an element of visual and sensory excitement to user flows.
Including animations/haptic feedback adds an element of visual and sensory excitement to user flows.
Engaging users in waste disposal through a rewards system was an identified opportunity.
Engaging users in waste disposal through a rewards system was an identified opportunity.
Users are more engaged when goals are broken into steps, allowing them to track progress and see their impact.
Users are more engaged when goals are broken into steps, allowing them to track progress and see their impact.
Getting into research
To understand users' behaviours and motivations around waste disposal in daily life and at large sporting events, we conducted desk research and online ethnography. This approach allowed us to learn through observation, interaction, and experiential insights.
To understand users' behaviours and motivations around waste disposal in daily life and at large sporting events, we conducted desk research and online ethnography. This approach allowed us to learn through observation, interaction, and experiential insights.
How does sustainability affect the games and their attendees?
How does sustainability affect the games and their attendees?
What are people most concerned about ?
What are people most concerned about ?
How can we help mitigate these concerns?
How can we help mitigate these concerns?
Key Insights
Lack of awareness and education on individual impact.
Lack of awareness and education on individual impact.
Differing views and intrinsic motivation for waste disposal.
Differing views and intrinsic motivation for waste disposal.
Barriers in engaging in sustainable behaviours such as the inability to find a bin.
Barriers in engaging in sustainable behaviours such as the inability to find a bin.
When
When
I am sitting down to watch an Olympic game
I am sitting down to watch an Olympic game
be able to dispose my waste in a non-disruptive way
be able to dispose my waste in a non-disruptive way
enjoy the game without interruptions.
enjoy the game without interruptions.
I am attending the games
I am attending the games
be involved in the IOC’s Sustainability practices in an accessible way
be involved in the IOC’s Sustainability practices in an accessible way
maximise my experience at the Olympics.
maximise my experience at the Olympics.
I have waste while walking around the Olympic venue
I have waste while walking around the Olympic venue
conveniently dispose of them
conveniently dispose of them
do my part in maintaining environmental sustainability.
do my part in maintaining environmental sustainability.
I want to
I want to
So I can
So I can
Jobs -To - Be - Done Statements
Ideation
Ideation
The first step was to create hand-drawn sketches to help visualise possible approaches to building the design solution with a huge emphasis on brainstorming and consistent idea exploration.
The lack of screen real estate on the watch screen certainly did not make this phase easy so it was important to only display vital information.
The first step was to create hand-drawn sketches to help visualise possible approaches to building the design solution with a huge emphasis on brainstorming and consistent idea exploration.
The lack of screen real estate on the watch screen certainly did not make this phase easy so it was important to only display vital information.
Some of my hand-drawn sketches
Some of my hand-drawn sketches
Key Features
Locate Bin
Locate Bin
Easily locate bins within the Olympic venue in an accessible way.
Easily locate bins within the Olympic venue in an accessible way.
Incentivise waste disposal
Incentivise waste disposal
Incentivise and Gamify waste disposal by including point redemption and rewards to encourage behavioural change
Incentivise and Gamify waste disposal by including point redemption and rewards to encourage behavioural change
Design
Solution
Design
Solution
This phase involved developing wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes, which were refined through stakeholder feedback and Heuristic Evaluation.
This phase involved developing wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes, which were refined through stakeholder feedback and Heuristic Evaluation.
Home
Locate Bin
Rewards
Badges
LoFi
HiFi
Hover on tooltip for annotations
Home
Locate Bin
Rewards
Badges
LoFi
HiFi
Hover on tooltip for annotations
Qualities Strength
Impact
Qualities Strength
Impact
Research Led
Research Led
The project leverages in-depth research to address waste disposal at the Olympics by investigating attendee behaviour, sustainable practices, and environmental impact. Insights from this research form the basis for creating a targeted solution that aligns with sustainability goals, enhancing both environmental impact and user engagement
The project leverages in-depth research to address waste disposal at the Olympics by investigating attendee behaviour, sustainable practices, and environmental impact. Insights from this research form the basis for creating a targeted solution that aligns with sustainability goals, enhancing both environmental impact and user engagement
Incentives to encourage behavioral change
Incentives to encourage behavioral change
The design incorporates reward-based incentives, encouraging attendees to engage in sustainable waste disposal practices. By gamifying the experience with milestones and rewards, the solution motivates users to adopt eco-friendly habits, fostering behavioural change on a large scale
The design incorporates reward-based incentives, encouraging attendees to engage in sustainable waste disposal practices. By gamifying the experience with milestones and rewards, the solution motivates users to adopt eco-friendly habits, fostering behavioural change on a large scale
Sustainability at Large Scale Events
Sustainability at Large Scale Events
This project could establish a new standard for sustainability in large-scale events like the Olympics, where optimised waste management systems significantly reduce environmental impact. By fostering sustainable practices among attendees, it has the potential to inspire broader adoption of eco-friendly initiatives at similar events worldwide
This project could establish a new standard for sustainability in large-scale events like the Olympics, where optimised waste management systems significantly reduce environmental impact. By fostering sustainable practices among attendees, it has the potential to inspire broader adoption of eco-friendly initiatives at similar events worldwide
Reflection
Reflection
As an introduction to essential tools and frameworks for creating a research-driven digital solution, this project was highly impactful. However, the lack of user feedback posed a significant limitation, as we primarily relied on Heuristic Evaluation to refine the design.
While this provided valuable insights, our solution could have greatly benefited from incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methods, such as user interviews and surveys, to capture more nuanced user needs and behaviours. Engaging directly with users would have provided a broader understanding of motivations and pain points, allowing us to validate and enhance the design with real-world feedback.
This was my first exposure to research driven design. I gained key skills in iterative prototyping based on usability evaluations, wireframing, ideation and research.
As an introduction to essential tools and frameworks for creating a research-driven digital solution, this project was highly impactful. However, the lack of user feedback posed a significant limitation, as we primarily relied on Heuristic Evaluation to refine the design.
While this provided valuable insights, our solution could have greatly benefited from incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methods, such as user interviews and surveys, to capture more nuanced user needs and behaviours. Engaging directly with users would have provided a broader understanding of motivations and pain points, allowing us to validate and enhance the design with real-world feedback.
This was my first exposure to research driven design. I gained key skills in iterative prototyping based on usability evaluations, wireframing, ideation and research.
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