During the research phase, my primary focus was on sustainable digital products that address issues such as recycling, littering, fly-tipping, and air pollution. I familiarised myself with current platforms that provide a broad spectrum of options for disposing of hard-to-recycle, unwanted items. These platforms guide users to appropriate local recycling centers and assist in identifying difficult-to-recycle materials, along with instructions on handling them. As previously noted, some of these products no longer provide their full range of features due to various reasons. A common issue I’ve observed is the lack of maintenance or updates. Additionally, some were restricted to specific geographical locations.

The applications that captured my interest included Bower, which has an innovative concept of rewarding users for proper recycling; Recycle Coach, which assists users in keeping track of bin collection days; and Trash Out, which combines hiking adventures with cleanup events. Considering all this, I spent a large amount of time brainstorming a future concept. My initial idea was to develop a product that helps combat fly-tipping. This was inspired by my personal experiences during city walks, commutes to work, or school. I noticed the need for public bins and the difficulties people face in finding the nearest bin while walking their pets. However, I found myself fixated on this idea for weeks, which held me back to delve deeper into the issue, simplify it, and advance in my design process.

I attempted user interviews with very general questions about the littering problem, but it was a disaster. I lacked structure and a clear vision of what I wanted to learn. In retrospect, I think I was just “testing the microphone.” I couldn’t find my foot and felt as though I was extensively exploring the problem from various angles. After several attempts at sketching ideas and discussing with peers and tutors, I realized there was something missing, an obstacle preventing me from progressing.

I needed to swiftly evaluate the situation I was in and begin anew. Having completed a competitor analysis, I gained significant insights into existing products, acquiring a clear understanding of what was already out there, what elements I could adopt, modify, and enhance to create something valuable. Additionally, shifting the focus from littering to recycling seemed like a secure yet significant starting point. The next step was to genuinely understand people’s perceptions of recycling and their habits, while I kept my other product ideas on hold. For the user research, I used Google Forms, which enabled me to quickly conduct interviews with 14 participants.