GREEN THUMB
An all in one, step-by-step site or app that educates gardeners of all levels and helps them manage their garden based on their climate zone.
Click here to view the figma prototype
Turning Black Thumbs into Green Thumbs
Millennials have turned to an obsession with indoor plants.
With Gardening, it could spark a new joy. Not only with millennials but also users who newly have a backyard to utilize and would like to get out and connect more with nature. Also for users in a metropolitan area (concrete jungle) where people have limited access to a yard or space. But would like to find where or create a space so that pollinators come back to their area and create community.
Benefits of Gardening
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PHYSICAL HEALTH
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MENTAL HEALTH
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
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CONNECTION WITH NATURE
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EDUCATIONAL AND CREATIVE
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COMMUNITY
The Problem .
Users often find themselves searching across multiple websites and resources to figure out which plants or gardening techniques are best for their specific climate zone. The amount of scattered information can make it difficult to get a clear understanding of what will thrive in their environment. Which then leads to frustration and confusion when trying to start or maintain a garden. Trying to piece together different sources makes the process overwhelming, especially for beginners looking for a one and stop shop.
The Research Goal .
To understand the challenges gardeners face when seeking climate-specific planting information, and to identify ways to streamline and centralize relevant resources, making it easier for users—especially beginners—to access personalized gardening advice for their environment.
User Research
I interviewed 4 participants with the age range of 31-40.
2 having already started a garden and 2 newbies who have indoor plants.
Main research
1: What has inspired users to garden?
2: Where websites or apps are they using to learn?
3: Does available outdoor space deter one from gardening?
Key insights:
1: Participants look up information based on the first few links that are presented after google search
2: All participants are in the Texas area and expressed the summer is a difficult time due to heat.
3: Current gardeners expressed information/ fatigue.
4: Beginner gardeners expressed lack of motivation due to space.
5: Sustainability. All participants were motivated and inspired by the fact that they could grow their own crops.
6: All participants have close friends or family who currently garden thus inspiring them to start a garden and can also seek advice from.
Competitive Analysis
GARDEN PRO PLANNER - APP
GARDENING KNOW HOW - SITE
YOUTUBE
No one and all site to help gardeners manage or continue learning about gardening
Key Observation
Define
After reviewing my notes & reviewing the voice recordings of the participants. I created the Affinity map to really zone in on how users are learning to create their garden space. What has inspired them to start? How they prefer to learn and common pin points they were already aware of.
Common Themes Found
Inspiration
○ Participants all expressed their inspiration stems from sustainability. A sense of pride when using your own produce from the garden.
○ All participants already care for Indoor plants. They have some understanding with plant care and are looking to expand into gardening.
○ Participants are inspired by by their community of family and friends
○ Most participants algorithm on instagram/FB bring up plant videos
Pain points
○ All participants expressed the Texas heat were issues for their outdoor plants
○ Most participants expressed their frustrations with pests. (Most were unaware of this challenge they would face.)
○ Participants with no backyard expressed lack of motivation due to space and how to create a space that is not permanent as renters/apartment living.
○ Research fatigue. Some would rather trial and error before looking it up.
Learning Preferences
○ Most expressed watching informational videos like Social media (Instagram, FB & Youtube)
○ Community based apps where they are able to find personal experiences (Reddit, FB forums)
PAIN POINTS- POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Learning methods .
Platform for Youtube/ social media influencers to do step by step videos and articles. Community based forums for regions to discuss, ask questions & Lend/ sell tools.
Profile to track garden .
Dashboard for user to track progress & log plants. With informational pages on how to care for it & basic plant information/problems it typically faces
Extreme weather: Information Based on regions .
Ability to track and notify about Extreme weather. So for the Texas area. Extreme Summers would be taken into consideration and will have tips on what plant and where to plant them
Lack of motivation due to space .
Section dedicated to small space gardening and how to affordably build a non-permanent garden
How might we offer personalized gardening plans and advice based on the user’s specific apartment conditions and goals so that they can achieve the best results?
How might we offer customizable gardening plans that cater to individual user’s specific climate challenges and garden goals so that they can achieve the best results in hot environments?
How might we Develop or integrate a comprehensive database of plants that thrive in hot climates, including details about water requirements, soil preferences, sunlight needs, and temperature tolerance.
How Might We .
Point Of View .
I’d like to explore ways to offer users detailed guides, videos, and articles on best practices for gardening in hot climates so that users can continuously learn and adapt their gardening techniques
Ideas
Integrate APIs for real-time and historical weather data to provide accurate climate information specific to users' locations.
This platform is designed for gardeners in extreme climates who need a convenient, all-in-one solution to track their plant care. It helps them avoid trial and error during harsh summer conditions, saving time and money while educating them about their specific region. The app achieves this by sending morning weather notifications and displaying important, climate-specific information as the first page when they open the app or site, setting them up for success from the start.
Brainstorming
User Persona
Imagine it
I created the Green Thumb site map by organizing key user goals into clear, intuitive sections to support easy navigation and a beginner-friendly gardening experience.
Key Features for site .
Calendar tracking feature for easy garden logs and reminders
“My Garden” feature for easy plant management & descriptions
Live weather feature and alerts for users with extreme weather.
Create it
Low Fidelity Mobile Wireframes
Low Fidelity - Desktop Wireframe
I created the low-fidelity wireframes to map out core user flows, focusing on clarity and ease of use. The goal was to visualize how users would navigate tasks like swapping items or tracking their garden, without getting distracted by visual details.
Mood Board .
Color & Typography
I was looking to keep the colors earthy, warm and welcoming.
I did not add green to my color scheme as it will be a prominent color with imagery and would not want to overwhelm the site with green.
Prototype Testing Ready !
Usability testing
The three task flows evaluated—Onboarding Process, Adding a Plant to the Garden, and Navigating to Lesson One in the Learning Hub—were successful in distinct ways. Each task was completed by participants in under two minutes without any external guidance, demonstrating a intuitive user interface. However, a notable pain point emerged during the "Intro to Gardening" action. Participants were initially confused about how to proceed to the next screen, as the navigation prompt was unclear. After several clicks, users realized that the answer lay in interacting with the subtle bar on the image, which was not immediately obvious. This indicates a potential area for improvement in making visual cues and navigation prompts all cohesive to ensure a smoother user experience.
BOLDER fonts
S P A C E D out site
Cohesive CTA buttons
Revisions made
High Fidelity
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