Beehave

Summary

Problem

Bees are at risk of going extinct due to environmental changes caused by human activity. If we can solve this problem, it would positively impact the bees, the ecosystem, the wildlife in general, and the food supply for human survival.

Goal

Our main goals for this project are to raise awareness about the importance of protecting wild creatures, with a particular focus on bees, and to inspire people to take action in support of these species.

My role

In this team effort, every member brought valuable contributions to each project phase. My primary focus was on conducting empathetic user research, contributing innovative ideas during brainstorming sessions, and ensuring our design was intuitive during the prototyping phase.

Research & Insight

Analyse & Synthesize

Wireframe
& Prototype

Usability 
Testing

Persona &
User Scenario

Ideation
Workshop

UX Flow & IA

Continuous
Iteration

Challenge

In today's digital age, people are often bombarded with grim news about the environment, including the plight of bees. They want to help but don't know where to start. There was a void in the digital space for an engaging, informative, and action-driven resource about bee conservation. Beehave was born out of the need to transform this latent desire to help into tangible, everyday actions, all made possible through gamification. Our app doesn't just inform; it motivates real-world change, one user at a time.

Process

In the face of a multifaceted issue like bee conservation, a linear development strategy would fall short of grasping the complex human behaviours, emotions, and motivations related to environmental action. We chose the design thinking process for its human-centered core, perfect for tackling problems that don't have a straightforward, one-size-fits-all answer.

Results

Beehave is going beyond being an informational resource; it is becoming a catalyst for environmental stewardship. Users will not just only be learning about bees; they will actively contribute to their conservation. The early stages of this app's success is reflected in the positive feedback from the first usability tests and the actions users are able to take in their communities and day-to-day life. Our hypothesis was confirmed: people were ready to help; they just needed the "how." Beehave provides the bridge from intention to action, empowering users to make real-world impacts.


In order to address the issues found after the analysis of the usability tests and create a better user experience, design iterations are recommended to be implemented. By making small changes to the design and testing those changes with users, the goal is to see if they improve the product’s usability. This process should be repeated several times until the desired level of usability is achieved. By using design iterations, we can continually improve the product and ensure that it meets the needs and expectations of our users.

Lessons learned

Our low-fi app about saving bees has taught us about the vital role of bees in our ecosystem and the threats they face from habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change. We’ve learned about ways to help bees, including planting bee-friendly flowers and supporting local beekeepers.

Beehave includes gamification features such as badges or/and rewards to encourage users to take action, such as sharing information about bee conservation on social media. Additionally, users can scan flowers to learn whether they are bee-friendly and receive information on different types of bees.

The app also includes tools for taking action, such as a donation button and a map of nearby beekeeping associations. In summary, Beehave raises awareness about the importance of bees and empowered individuals to support bee conservation through gamification and tools for taking action.