Stoneground garden Revised

Stoneground garden

Time: 2022
Duration: 2 months
Intro: The Botanical Garden acts as an "open-air museum" dedicated to showcasing, preserving, researching, and educating about plants. This app blends botany education with interactive experiences, aiming to both educate the public on plant and landscape sciences and provide a captivating and enriching environment for all visitors.
My role: This is an independent design project for which I conducted user research, contextual inquiry, quantitative research, qualitative interview, empathy map, service blueprint, lo-to-hi fi prototyping.

Overview

Background: During a site visit for a design project in my undergraduate studies, I found botanical gardens have been focusing more on environmental education and biodiversity conservation. Many of these gardens aim to improve public science communication to raise environmental awareness. Implementing ecological education is crucial in fostering awareness, promoting conservation ethics, and building a community of individuals inspired to contribute to the planet's well-being.
‍
Design goal: Crafting an Engaging Educational Experience through the Integration of Botany Education and Interactive Elements
‍
Problem statements:

How can we seamlessly integrate plant and landscape science education to create an engaging experience for the public?

Solutions:‍
‍

Personalized Notifications: Users receive tailored event notifications based on preferences and past interactions.
‍
Optimized Routes: App suggests routes for efficient exploration, including themed options and picturesque spots.
‍
Digital Herbarium: Allows users to identify, document, and learn about plants encountered during their visit.

Prototype

Followed park event update

The app offers personalized event notifications based on user preferences and past interactions. By analyzing user behavior, it recommends relevant events, helping visitors plan their visits and create customized itineraries aligned with their interests.

Route suggestion

Route suggestions help visitors explore the botanical garden efficiently by recommending a sequence of attractions and points of interest. Visitors can choose from classic, express, or customized routes, including themed options like a tropical rainforest or historical garden. For photography enthusiasts, routes highlight scenic viewpoints and Instagram-worthy spots, enhancing their overall experience and providing opportunities to capture memorable moments.

Plant identification

The app acts as a digital herbarium, letting users virtually collect and document plants they encounter. It enhances exploration by allowing plant identification during visits, offering educational details on each species, including characteristics, origin, and significance.

Plant journal

The plant journal adds a personalized touch by allowing users to document favorite plants, discoveries, and memorable moments. It enhances the photography experience with easy photo organization and identification. Users can also share their journal entries, fostering interaction and community around botanical discoveries.

Seasonal task

The app keeps users engaged year-round by notifying them of seasonal tasks and events, like blooming cycles or bird migrations. It gamifies these tasks, turning them into interactive challenges that encourage exploration and learning, while fostering hands-on participation in plant care and seasonal activities.

Reflection

Designing the Botanical Garden app has been a thought-provoking journey, driven by a deep appreciation for the role of botanical gardens in environmental education and biodiversity conservation.

Awareness of Environmental Education Needs

During my undergraduate studies, a site visit for a design project highlighted the focus of botanical gardens on environmental education and biodiversity. This experience underscored the value of ecological education, guiding the design of the Botanical Garden app to enhance environmental awareness and appreciation.

Crafting an Engaging Educational Experience

The Botanical Garden app aimed to offer an engaging educational experience by integrating botany education with interactive features. Solutions like personalized notifications, optimized routes, and a digital herbarium were developed to boost user engagement, support learning, and encourage exploration of the garden.

Impact and Future Directions

Designing the Botanical Garden app has been fulfilling, fueled by a commitment to environmental education and conservation. As the app evolves, I'm excited to see its role in raising awareness and appreciation for plant biodiversity. I remain dedicated to continuous improvement and collaboration to keep the app a valuable resource for botanical education and public engagement.