Research Questions 1
What if we could change the future of environmental issues?
How might we raise awareness about environmental issues in a way that inspires people to take sustainable actions?
Research Questions 2
What if actionable guidance and immediate feedback could motivate people to adopt sustainable behaviors?
How might we communicate the impact of environmental problems in ways that resonate with people's personal well-being and responsibilities?
"If people are made aware of the ‘how’ specific, actionable steps to address environmental issues, they will transition from awareness to adopting sustainable practices."
"If people are shown how environmental issues directly impact their daily lives and are provided with engaging, relatable experiences, then they will be more likely to take sustainable actions."
A disconnection of nature
What inspires me to take on this project is the realization that many people are unaware of the infinite loop they are part of
Their actions harm the environment.
These environmental issues circle back and negatively impact their own lives.
Data from online survey
45.9% strongly agree that individuals have a meaningful impact on solving environmental problems.
Combined with 32.4% moderately agreeing, this shows that 78.3% of respondents recognize their potential influence.
Insight: People believe they can make a difference, but they need guidance on how to take action.
Belief in Individual Impact
Barriers to Addressing Environmental Issues
The top barriers include: Lack of government policies (75.7%) ,Lack of individual motivation (64.9%), Limited public awareness (62.2%)
Insight: There is a need for education and policy-driven initiatives to create clear pathways for sustainable action. Motivating individuals through relatable content can overcome inertia.
Data from online survey
67.5% (40.5% + 27%) feel that disconnection from nature is a significant factor in environmental issues.
This highlights that many people feel removed from nature, which reduces their sense of responsibility or urgency to act.
Insight: Bridging this emotional and physical gap between people and nature could inspire greater action.
Disconnection from Nature
Actions People Are Willing to Take
Top sustainable actions include;Reduce, reuse, and recycle (91.7%),
Use eco-friendly products (75%),Educate others on environmental issues (72.2%)Insight: People are open to taking tangible, straightforward actions like recycling and adopting eco-friendly products. However, providing accessible knowledge and tools to help them educate others could amplify the overall impact.
Most concern Environmental issues
1.Focus on pollution : related content, emphasizing its direct impact on people’s lives (e.g., clean air initiatives, water safety).
2.Link climate change topics to tangible examples (e.g., heatwaves, natural disasters) to make it feel more immediate.
3.Highlight deforestation as an entry point to discuss larger environmental challenges, showcasing solutions like reforestation and sustainable land use.
Reconnection Experience
Everyday Nature Integration
Advocate for urban development projects ,Provide workshops and resources to help individuals create small green spaces at home or work.
Zero-Waste Membership
48.1% interest, this option highlights participants' desire for structured incentives to adopt sustainable habits.
Eco-Tourism Platform (Nature Tour Booking)
44.4% interest, Create an affordable and localized eco-tourism platform that emphasizes community-based activities. Include educational components to foster awareness during the tours
Affinity Map
I organized the notes from the 5 interviews, then categorized all the information to identify themes.
I combined both quantitative and qualitative data to derive actionable insights.
Overall insights
Findings
Stakeholders
Personas
Sophia Lee
The Conscious Young Adult
Goal
Learn and apply sustainable practices in her daily life.
Engage in projects and initiatives that align with her values, like reducing waste and supporting eco-friendly businesses.
Frustrations
Feels overwhelmed by the scale of environmental issues and unsure where to start.
Finds it challenging to influence friends and family who prioritize convenience over sustainability.
Mike Adams
The Disconnected Individual
Goal
Focus on personal and family priorities over environmental issues.
Minimize expenses on non-essential items.
Frustrations
Does not see a direct connection between his actions and environmental impact.
Feels overwhelmed by the effort required to adopt sustainable habits.
User Journey
Solutions : Offer Sustainable actions
Site Map
Daily Nature
Zero waste
Eco-Travel
Reflection
Combining Data
I learned how to integrate qualitative and quantitative data to create a holistic understanding of the problem. This helped me identify meaningful patterns and connections.
Insight Extraction
I developed skills in extracting actionable insights and findings from research data, ensuring they address the core questions and hypotheses effectively.
Next steps
Build the Awareness Phase
I will work on the first stage of the user journey, emphasizing awareness and interest. This includes designing content and interactions that engage users and motivate them to take action.
Enhance User Engagement
I plan to prototype and refine features for the interest and engagement stages, like Interactive Visual storytelling, ensuring they align with the insights and findings from my research.