Plants & Spaces
Plant Care with Smart Reminders
Plant Care
with Smart Reminders
Streamlining plant care instructions by creating a reminder feature to simplify daily routines.
Role
User Researcher
Lead Product Designer
Timeline
3 months
Problem
After interviewing Zilah, the owner of Plants & Spaces, it became clear that the business faced two significant challenges:
Problem 1
The majority of clients (80-90%) struggled to follow plant care instructions, often resulting in plant health issues by the time they reached out for help.
Problem 1
The majority of clients (80-90%) struggled to follow plant care instructions, often resulting in plant health issues by the time they reached out for help.
Problem 2
Zilah spent a considerable amount of time sending repetitive care instructions to clients with similar plants, creating inefficiencies and unnecessary back-and-forth communication.
Problem 2
Zilah spent a considerable amount of time sending repetitive care instructions to clients with similar plants, creating inefficiencies and unnecessary back-and-forth communication.
How can we create a system that improves client adherence to plant care instructions while reducing repetitive communication for the business?
How can we create a system that improves client adherence to plant care instructions while reducing repetitive communication for the business?
Solution
Personalized Plant Care Reminders
Personalized Scheduling: The app syncs with personal Google/Apple calendars, providing users with personalized reminders tailored to their routines and the specific care needs of their plants.
Actionable Tips: Each reminder includes clear, concise instructions for watering, pruning, or other necessary care.
Progress Tracking: Users can log completed tasks to track their plant care habits and maintain healthier plants.
Solution
Personalized Plant Care Reminders
Personalized Scheduling: The app syncs with personal Google/Apple calendars, providing users with personalized reminders tailored to their routines and the specific care needs of their plants.
Actionable Tips: Each reminder includes clear, concise instructions for watering, pruning, or other necessary care.
Progress Tracking: Users can log completed tasks to track their plant care habits and maintain healthier plants.
In-depth Plant Health Diagnosis
AI-Powered Analysis: Scans photos taken by users to diagnose plant health, providing instant insights and accurate assessments for both common and exotic species.
Revives Neglected Plants: Identifies issues such as pests, diseases, or improper care, offering tailored solutions to help revive struggling plants.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Delivers clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to treat and maintain plants, ensuring healthier growth and longevity for all plant types.
In-depth Plant Health Diagnosis
AI-Powered Analysis: Scans photos taken by users to diagnose plant health, providing instant insights and accurate assessments for both common and exotic species.
Revives Neglected Plants: Identifies issues such as pests, diseases, or improper care, offering tailored solutions to help revive struggling plants.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Delivers clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to treat and maintain plants, ensuring healthier growth and longevity for all plant types.
Solution
Personalized Plant Care Reminders
Personalized Scheduling: The app syncs with personal Google/Apple calendars, providing users with personalized reminders tailored to their routines and the specific care needs of their plants.
Actionable Tips: Each reminder includes clear, concise instructions for watering, pruning, or other necessary care.
Progress Tracking: Users can log completed tasks to track their plant care habits and maintain healthier plants.
In-depth Plant Health Diagnosis
AI-Powered Analysis: Scans photos taken by users to diagnose plant health, providing instant insights and accurate assessments for both common and exotic species.
Revives Neglected Plants: Identifies issues such as pests, diseases, or improper care, offering tailored solutions to help revive struggling plants.
Step-by-Step Guidance: Delivers clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to treat and maintain plants, ensuring healthier growth and longevity for all plant types.
Final Prototype
Sync to calendar
Get notified to water plants
With smart reminders enabled, Google Assistant analyzes the user's calendar and detects prior events, such as an upcoming trip, to proactively send a notification. With pre-watering, the app also adjusts the watering amount so that all plants are fully taken care while the user is away. Given the scenario that the user forgets even with the reminder, smart reminders can leverage location data and send another reminder once the user is back home from vacation.
Diagnose plant health
The user begins by uploading images of the plant, which the app’s AI analyzes to identify potential issues. While AI is extremely helpful in detecting visual differences, there are additional factors affecting the plant’s health that AI alone cannot detect. To refine the diagnosis, the app prompts the user with a short questionnaire about the plant’s care routine, environment, and symptoms. Combining the visual data and user input, the app provides a tailored diagnosis and actionable steps to revive the plant.
Evaluation
To assess the effectiveness of this prototype, I implemented a remote, unmoderated user testing approach involving the same 8 participants initially interviewed. This approach let users try out the prototype on their own time and in their own environment, which helped us get more of an authentic and realistic feedback. The testing was conducted using Lookback, a platform that facilitated the capture of both screen activity and audio recordings. Participants were instructed to employ the "think aloud" protocol during their interactions, allowing for their thought processes in real-time. This approach provided valuable insights akin to those obtained in an in-person setting, despite the remote nature of the testing.
The results were mostly positive and users were able to complete tasks with ease. Some highlights from the user testing were:
88%
of participants successfully completed the assigned tasks, indicating the prototype's usability and clarity.
87.5%
(7 out of 8) found the interface intuitive and easy to navigate.
75%
of users noted that the app felt practical and applicable to their daily plant care routines.
Final Takeaways
In conclusion, I had such a fun time with this project. From a client myself to designer for the brand, this felt particularly special to me. It was a great learning experience working with Zilah and the real-world challenges that come with building a B2C platform. The implementation of the app has proven to be a significant step forward in enhancing both user satisfaction and business efficiency. User testing revealed that the app is intuitive, effective, and aligns seamlessly with the needs of plant owners, making plant care more manageable. By automating reminders and providing personalized care instructions, the app has reduced the manual workload for Zilah from 80-90% to ~40%, allowing the team to focus on other aspects of the business, proving my hypothesis to be correct.
Additionally, the streamlined communication and calendar integration features have fostered a stronger connection between clients and the business, ultimately boosting client satisfaction and retention. These improvements not only elevate the customer experience but also establish a scalable system that supports long-term growth for Plants & Spaces.
What would you do differently now?
To further enhance the app’s usability and ensure it meets the diverse needs of all users, future testing could focus on simulating real-world distractions to evaluate how the app performs under less-than-ideal conditions. This would provide valuable insights into its reliability and ease of use in everyday scenarios. Additionally, incorporating edge cases—such as managing plants with unique or complex care needs—would help identify potential gaps in functionality. These steps would ensure a more robust and inclusive user experience.
Final Prototype
Sync to calendar
Get notified to water plants
With smart reminders enabled, Google Assistant analyzes the user's calendar and detects prior events, such as an upcoming trip, to proactively send a notification. With pre-watering, the app also adjusts the watering amount so that all plants are fully taken care while the user is away. Given the scenario that the user forgets even with the reminder, smart reminders can leverage location data and send another reminder once the user is back home from vacation.
Diagnose plant health
The user begins by uploading images of the plant, which the app’s AI analyzes to identify potential issues. While AI is extremely helpful in detecting visual differences, there are additional factors affecting the plant’s health that AI alone cannot detect. To refine the diagnosis, the app prompts the user with a short questionnaire about the plant’s care routine, environment, and symptoms. Combining the visual data and user input, the app provides a tailored diagnosis and actionable steps to revive the plant.
Evaluation
To assess the effectiveness of this prototype, I implemented a remote, unmoderated user testing approach involving the same 8 participants initially interviewed. This approach let users try out the prototype on their own time and in their own environment, which helped us get more of an authentic and realistic feedback. The testing was conducted using Lookback, a platform that facilitated the capture of both screen activity and audio recordings. Participants were instructed to employ the "think aloud" protocol during their interactions, allowing for their thought processes in real-time. This approach provided valuable insights akin to those obtained in an in-person setting, despite the remote nature of the testing.
The results were mostly positive and users were able to complete tasks with ease. Some highlights from the user testing were:
88%
of participants successfully completed the assigned tasks, indicating the prototype's usability and clarity.
87.5%
(7 out of 8) found the interface intuitive and easy to navigate.
75%
of users noted that the app felt practical and applicable to their daily plant care routines.
Final Takeaways
In conclusion, I had such a fun time with this project. From a client myself to designer for the brand, this felt particularly special to me. It was a great learning experience working with Zilah and the real-world challenges that come with building a B2C platform. The implementation of the app has proven to be a significant step forward in enhancing both user satisfaction and business efficiency. User testing revealed that the app is intuitive, effective, and aligns seamlessly with the needs of plant owners, making plant care more manageable. By automating reminders and providing personalized care instructions, the app has reduced the manual workload for Zilah from 80-90% to ~40%, allowing the team to focus on other aspects of the business, proving my hypothesis to be correct.
Additionally, the streamlined communication and calendar integration features have fostered a stronger connection between clients and the business, ultimately boosting client satisfaction and retention. These improvements not only elevate the customer experience but also establish a scalable system that supports long-term growth for Plants & Spaces.
What would you do differently now?
To further enhance the app’s usability and ensure it meets the diverse needs of all users, future testing could focus on simulating real-world distractions to evaluate how the app performs under less-than-ideal conditions. This would provide valuable insights into its reliability and ease of use in everyday scenarios. Additionally, incorporating edge cases—such as managing plants with unique or complex care needs—would help identify potential gaps in functionality. These steps would ensure a more robust and inclusive user experience.
Final Prototype
Sync to calendar
Get notified to water plants
With smart reminders enabled, Google Assistant analyzes the user's calendar and detects prior events, such as an upcoming trip, to proactively send a notification. With pre-watering, the app also adjusts the watering amount so that all plants are fully taken care while the user is away. Given the scenario that the user forgets even with the reminder, smart reminders can leverage location data and send another reminder once the user is back home from vacation.
Diagnose plant health
The user begins by uploading images of the plant, which the app’s AI analyzes to identify potential issues. While AI is extremely helpful in detecting visual differences, there are additional factors affecting the plant’s health that AI alone cannot detect. To refine the diagnosis, the app prompts the user with a short questionnaire about the plant’s care routine, environment, and symptoms. Combining the visual data and user input, the app provides a tailored diagnosis and actionable steps to revive the plant.
Evaluation
To assess the effectiveness of this prototype, I implemented a remote, unmoderated user testing approach involving the same 8 participants initially interviewed. This approach let users try out the prototype on their own time and in their own environment, which helped us get more of an authentic and realistic feedback. The testing was conducted using Lookback, a platform that facilitated the capture of both screen activity and audio recordings. Participants were instructed to employ the "think aloud" protocol during their interactions, allowing for their thought processes in real-time. This approach provided valuable insights akin to those obtained in an in-person setting, despite the remote nature of the testing.
The results were mostly positive and users were able to complete tasks with ease. Some highlights from the user testing were:
88%
of participants successfully completed the assigned tasks, indicating the prototype's usability and clarity.
87.5%
(7 out of 8) found the interface intuitive and easy to navigate.
75%
of users noted that the app felt practical and applicable to their daily plant care routines.
Final Takeaways
In conclusion, I had such a fun time with this project. From a client myself to designer for the brand, this felt particularly special to me. It was a great learning experience working with Zilah and the real-world challenges that come with building a B2C platform. The implementation of the app has proven to be a significant step forward in enhancing both user satisfaction and business efficiency. User testing revealed that the app is intuitive, effective, and aligns seamlessly with the needs of plant owners, making plant care more manageable. By automating reminders and providing personalized care instructions, the app has reduced the manual workload for Zilah from 80-90% to ~40%, allowing the team to focus on other aspects of the business, proving my hypothesis to be correct.
Additionally, the streamlined communication and calendar integration features have fostered a stronger connection between clients and the business, ultimately boosting client satisfaction and retention. These improvements not only elevate the customer experience but also establish a scalable system that supports long-term growth for Plants & Spaces.
What would you do differently now?
To further enhance the app’s usability and ensure it meets the diverse needs of all users, future testing could focus on simulating real-world distractions to evaluate how the app performs under less-than-ideal conditions. This would provide valuable insights into its reliability and ease of use in everyday scenarios. Additionally, incorporating edge cases—such as managing plants with unique or complex care needs—would help identify potential gaps in functionality. These steps would ensure a more robust and inclusive user experience.
Research
After talking with Zilah and understanding the business pain points and goals, these were the new business goals she wanted to achieve:
Business Goal 1
Optimize operational efficiency by minimizing the fluctuation between 80%-90% and 30%-40%.
Business Goal 1
Optimize operational efficiency by minimizing the fluctuation between 80%-90% and 30%-40%.
Business Goal 2 (Future Implementation)
Monetize the app or feature through membership plans, premium content, 1-1 consultations, or early access to new plants and planters.
Business Goal 2
(Future Implementation)
Monetize the app or feature through membership plans, premium content, 1-1 consultations, or early access to new plants and planters.
Business Goal 2
(Future Implementation)
Monetize the app or feature through membership plans, premium content, 1-1 consultations, or early access to new plants and planters.
HYPOTHESIS
If a care instruction feature with personalized notifications and reminders is integrated into a Plants&Spaces app, clients will have an easier time following plant care instructions, resulting in healthier plants, fewer client inquiries, and increased customer satisfaction.
HYPOTHESIS
If a care instruction feature with personalized notifications and reminders is integrated into a Plants&Spaces app, clients will have an easier time following plant care instructions, resulting in healthier plants, fewer client inquiries, and increased customer satisfaction.
User Interviews
Conversations with plant moms & dads
Target Audience
• Creative professionals (Designers, artists,
music artists)
• Plant owners
• Female (65%) & male (35%)
• Medium to high income group
• Ages between 25-50 years
Target Audience
• Creative professionals (Designers, artists, music artists)
• Plant owners
• Female (65%) & male (35%)
• Medium to high income group
• Ages between 25-50 years
I interviewed 8 clients, including former Plants & Spaces customers and plant owners who have purchased from other businesses.
I interviewed 8 clients, including former Plants & Spaces customers and plant owners who have purchased from other businesses.
Here are three interview questions I asked along with client responses:
Here are three interview questions I asked along with client responses:
1
Can you walk me through your current plant care routine, and how you keep track of watering and maintenance?
Can you walk me through your current plant care routine, and how you keep track of watering and maintenance?
"I've tried using plant care apps, but some can't identify exotic plants, and the ones that can don't provide detailed instructions… I end up needing two different plant care apps on my phone."
zoe
Interior designer, 34
2
What challenges do you face when it comes to maintaining your plants, and how do you troubleshoot those issues?
"I usually take great care of the plants for my clients initially, but after a while, I lose track of when to water or adjust light settings."
alex
Musician, 29
3
If you could change anything about the way you receive care instructions for your plants, what would it be?
"I've tried using plant care apps, but some can't identify exotic plants, and the ones that can don't provide detailed instructions… I end up needing two different plant care apps on my phone."
zoe
Interior designer, 34
"I usually take great care of the plants for my clients initially, but after a while, I lose track of when to water or adjust light settings."
alex
Musician, 29
Sometimes I end up forgetting to water because I'm away for work. I wish there was a way for me to get notified before I leave or after I come back."
gracie
Architect, 42
Competitive Analysis
The Greenest Thumb
Hover over the chart above to enlarge
In summary, PictureThis is the most popular plant identification app among users, boasting a large plant database. However, users have reported inaccuracies, particularly with exotic plants. PlantSnap also offers an extensive database but provides overly generic plant care instructions. While Greg meets the majority of criteria, it lacks the most crucial feature: the ability to identify exotic and rare plants.
Affinity Map
Finding Patterns in the Greenery
I synthesized the collected data from the interviews with the owner and users into an affinity map to help form insights and brainstorm design ideas to solve higher order problems.
I synthesized the collected data from the interviews with the owner and users into an affinity map to help form insights and brainstorm design ideas to solve higher order problems.
Click over the chart above to enlarge
Insights
Based on the affinity map, I generated the following insights by grouping common themes under similar headings. Here are some insights that I've learned:
Group 1: Plant Care mistakes
Insight 1:
Clients who don't know how to take care of their plants assume it's dehydrated, resulting in overwatering.
Insight 2:
Clients who own common house plants find maintenance to be easier and don't have much issues.
Group 2: Communication with Zilah
Insight 1:
Clients have hesitation for reaching out for guidance on how to take care/revive their plants.
Insight 2:
Most clients reach out for plant care instructions leaving Zilah to send redundant texts.
Group 3: Making users’ lives more convenient
Insight 1:
Clients want helpful reminders and detailed instructions for their plants.
Insight 2:
Clients want all these features in one app.
Group 4: The Value of Plants to Clients
Insight 1:
Clients value their plant purchases and want to nurture their plants as best they can.
The Product Triad
Mapping Information Architecture
Using UXtweak for this part of user research, I utilized card sort exercise to allow users to identify where certain features would make most sense to the app’s navigation. There are many different ways to arrange the navigation, but there’s only one way for Plant's & Spaces' target users to name it the way they want it. The card that I was most unsure of locating was Sync My Calendar. I created a total of 6 cards that covered the areas of My Plants, Home, and Profile.
I sent the card sort link to 10 people, most of who I interviewed with for the user interviews. To my surprise, most users placed Sync My Calendar under Profile rather than My Plants. I later interviewed those users who chose Profile and they selected it because other platforms such as Slack, Uber, and Lyft sync their buttons under Profile so it felt the most intuitive to them. I also decided to combine Home and My Plants instead of having it as separate tabs. Keeping Home seemed like a filler tab and most categories that the users located like Book a Consultation were under My Plants. All the other results were clear and aligned with what felt most intuitive to me as well.
Using UXtweak for this part of user research, I utilized card sort exercise to allow users to identify where certain features would make most sense to the app’s navigation. There are many different ways to arrange the navigation, but there’s only one way for Plant's&Spaces' target users to name it the way they want it. I wanted to test to see where users would place Sync Calendar and Set Reminders. I created a total of 6 cards that covers the area of My Plants, Home, Plant Consultation, and Profile.
I sent the card sort link to 10 people, most of who I interviewed with for the user interviews. To my surprise, where clients placed Syncing Calendar and Booking Plant Consultation were split down the middle. With this information, I decided to place the Sync Calendar in Profile since the action of syncing the calendar will be a one time action.
Design
Ideating initial concepts
With all the supporting data presented, I started to create iterations and iterations of hand-drawn sketches before diving into wire-framing and prototyping. I conducted user reviews for the hand-drawn sketches for a stamp of approval before digitization. They felt like the sketches were intuitive based on the data that I collected and had no issues going through the user flow.
Drop me a line
© 2024 Jennifer Hu. All Rights Reserved.
Made with love and Jasmine green milk tea (75% sugar, less ice).
Drop me a line
© 2024 Jennifer Hu. All Rights Reserved.
Made with love and Jasmine green milk tea (75% sugar, less ice).
Drop me a line
© 2024 Jennifer Hu. All Rights Reserved.
Made with love and Jasmine green milk tea (75% sugar, less ice).
Drop me a line
© 2024 Jennifer Hu. All Rights Reserved.
Made with love and Jasmine green milk tea (75% sugar, less ice).
Drop me a line
© 2024 Jennifer Hu. All Rights Reserved.
Made with love and Jasmine green milk tea (75% sugar, less ice).