01 / Summary
Recycle Chicago is an end-to-end application that I designed from scratch as my Capstone project for the UX Design Bootcamp. Although this project hasn't been developed, I designed it with a real-world application in mind. I have talked to many Chicago Residents, who were very excited to have an App like this to help them and their community recycle with more ease and get rewarded for it.
Duration: 100 hours
My Role: UX Research, UX Design, UI Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, Mobile App Design
Deliverables: Full Competitive Analysis, Detailed User Interviews, User Flows, Site Map, Design System, Wireframes, User-Interface Designs, High-Fidelity Prototype
Outcomes: Working on a tight deadline, I designed a polished prototype, which can be used as a demo for potential city organizations or businesses who are looking to improve their environmental footprint.
Problem
Objective
Create a free, easy-to-use mobile app that guides residents on how to responsibly dispose of any type of waste.
The app provides:
Clear instructions on what can and cannot be recycled
Information on items requiring special facilities or pickups
Donation options and locations for reusable goods
Solution
A mobile app that:
Quickly provides users with directions on how to dispose of any item
Rewards recycling efforts with points and community impact stats
Makes sustainable behavior feel easy, visible, and rewarding
02 / Understanding the Problem
User Experience Research
To better understand the recycling challenges Chicago residents face, I researched existing apps and resources on the market and conducted interviews to gain insight into their daily waste-handling habits.
Key Insights from Competitive Analysis:
There are apps available in Chicago and other cities that help residents recycle
Only one app had a working "Scan" feature
The website with recycling information in Chicago was hard to find, and it took a long time to find the necessary information
User Interviews
I recruited participants from various neighborhoods and building types in Chicago to gather a diverse range of opinions on Recycling. During the interviews, I asked about their current habits and carefully listened to the challenges residents felt, then asked follow-up questions to delve deeper into the root of the problem.
Who are the users?
After analyzing my research findings, I developed two personas that capture the key pain points and motivations of my interview participants. These personas helped me clearly identify my target users and served as a reference point throughout the entire design process.
Busy Environmentalist
Current Behaviors: Actively researches waste management options and tries to minimize environmental impact, but finds the process confusing and time-consuming
Goals & Motivations: Wants a clear recycling system, easy access to waste management information, and to feel good about her environmental impact
Frustrations: Current recycling feels ineffective despite her efforts, composting is expensive and complicated, and finding accurate waste management information is time-consuming
Recycling Skeptic
Current Behaviors: Doesn't recycle because he believes it's ineffective, occasionally brings down cardboard boxes but doesn't research proper disposal methods
Goals & Motivations: Needs reassurance that recycling actually works, would participate if it was easy, and wants to see others recycling successfully
Frustrations: Believes recycling doesn't get processed anyway, finds composting too expensive and inaccessible, and feels building management doesn't prioritize waste efforts
03 / Solution
User Journey
App Features
Based on the research findings, I identified features that could help Chicago residents better manage their recycling. After evaluating potential impact and feasibility within the project timeline, I narrowed the list to the following features:
Item Search (By name and by category)
Scan multiple items or the whole bin
Reward system with points and redeemable perks
Dashboard to track personal and neighborhood impact
Site Map & User Flows
Site Map was the foundation that tied together research, features, and provided a base structure for the app.
To design User Flows, I spent a lot of time iterating various paths a user can take to get to the ideal outcome. I collaborated with peers to gather feedback and refine the flows. It was important to build a strong journey foundation before progressing further. I often referenced these flows and they helped me immensely to produce the wireframes.
Low & Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
Branding & UI
Color Palette & Logo
Before progressing to wireframes, I focused on building a clear visual system that would guide the app’s look and feel. Defining the color palette was not just about aesthetics — it was about usability and reinforcing the app’s purpose:
Motivation through design: I selected bright, energetic tones to make recycling feel approachable and rewarding
Consistency across screens: Establishing core colors early ensured that the interface would remain cohesive as new features and flows were added
Alignment with brand values: The palette reflects sustainability and trust, reinforcing the app’s mission to guide positive environmental action
Design System
For the Component Library, I combined the selected color palette with bold shadows and clean card layouts to create a modern, playful look. Beyond visual style, design system was important for this project in many ways:
Accessibility checks: I validated color contrast to ensure usability for a wide range of users
Faster iteration: As I gathered feedback, I could make global updates to components instead of redesigning individual screens, accelerating refinement
Consistency across the experience: With reusable components, every screen feels cohesive, helping users trust the product
By making these decisions early, I ensured that every wireframe and high-fidelity screen would feel purposeful, intuitive, and aligned with user needs.
High Fidelity Wireframes
Having established a foundation with user flows, mid-fidelity wireframes, colors, and UI elements, I was able to confidently transition into high-fidelity designs. Taking into consideration feedback from the mid-fidelity user testing, I added a screen where users could redeem points for rewards. In final testing, this feature proved to be one of the most appreciated by users.
Testing & Iterations
When I was ready to test my prototype, I created a User Test Plan, which included tasks that I wanted to test and metrics that would help me to measure success.
I recruited 5 participants and interviewed them over video call.
What users had to say:
Users liked how easy and quick the Scan function is
Users like modern design and ease of use
Most users skipped Onboarding due to the navigation not being clear
Search bar wasn't clear enough
Some users expressed concerns about the accountability of trust based recycling-rewards system
Iterations after User Testing
✅ Improved Onboarding Flow and reduced the rate of participants skipping it from 80% to 0%
✅ Changed Homepage Hierarchy to have the search function more prominent
✅ Improved Search Function to make it easy to find items by just starting to type them
✅ Changed Navigation Menu colors for better accessibility
✅ Added drop-off information for the non-recyclable items
04 / Outcomes
User-centered iterative design
User Flows in action
Conclusion
This project challenged me both technically and personally, but it became a meaningful learning experience. By listening to Chicago residents, I was able to identify real barriers to recycling and design an app that is not only informative but also fun, easy to use with a quick scan, and motivating through points and rewards. While I faced setbacks and moments of doubt, the process reinforced my belief that small, consistent actions can drive larger change. I’m proud of creating a product that reflects my values, taught me essential skills in mobile app design, and demonstrated how thoughtful design can encourage everyday sustainable choices.
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Recycle Chicago
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