CLIENT
The Royal Society of the Arts, University of Waterloo
DATE
2020
SERVICES
Product Design, UX, UI, Visual Design, Business Analysis
TEAM
Ariane Compton, Ha Won Kim, Jeremy Lai
Reef
ABOUT
Reef is an app that supplies an education hub, accepts textile and clothing donations, and provides a retail service that aims to create a more circular pathway for discarded clothing items.
LINKS
—— 01 THE CHALLENGE
How might we apply biomimicry to create textiles, processes, or systems that enhance nature?
For our term project we were given the opportunity to participate in RSA’s 2020 Student Design Awards competition. The The Royal Society of the Arts is an inclusive global community of over 30,000 influential and innovative problem solvers seeking ideas and solutions to resolve the challenges of our time.
Of the different briefs to choose from, our team decided to explore The Material World: How might we apply biomimicry to create textiles, processes or systems that enhance nature?
—— RSA JUDGING CRITERIA
1. Social & environmental impact: How does your proposal make a positive difference? How does it empower people? How does it employ resources?
2. Rigorous research & compelling insights: Have you combined your own research with existing research? Can you show a path between your insights & your proposal?
3. Systems thinking: How does your project impact the root causes of the challenge you’re exploring? What are the unintended consequences of your proposal?
4. Viability: Can your proposal work in the real world? How could it be sustained financially? What are the barriers? How do you measure success?
5. Creativity & innovation: How does your idea differ from existing options? What is unexpected or surprising in your proposal?
—— 01 DESIGN PROCESS
The Material World
Following the Design Sprint method, our team researched and developed ideas through surveys and interviews, created wireframes, conducted usability tests, and designed a prototype. The final project was presented and provided with a business proposal. Enjoy viewing the process, followed by the final deliverables and prototype of Reef.
—— 02 HERO IMAGE + BIG IDEA SUMMARY
Reimagining reduce, reuse, recycled.
The ‘Hero Image’ conveys the essence of our project, plus a tagline. The ‘Big Idea’ explains what our proposed solution is, the specific area of needs it addresses, and how we arrived at the idea.
—— 03 PROPOSAL BOARDS
Understanding the product.
Proposal boards which explain our product and demonstrates that we have met the RSA’s 6 judging criteria of social & environmental impact, research & insights, systems & design thinking, viability, and creativity & innovation.
—— 04 BUSINESS ANALYSIS
Business Model Canvas
Getting into the logistical side of things. Answering the viability questions of the app with a concise, high-level analysis of the business.
—— 05 CAMPAIGNS
Getting the word out.
Campaign banners to promote Reef and inspire people to donate their unwanted clothing items.
—— 06 FINAL PRESENTATION
Introducing Reef
View our journey, creative process, and walk through of the app.
—— 07 PROTOTYPE
Interact with Reef
Using Figma, we created the prototype for Reef. Click around to interact with the app.
—— 08 THE PRODUCT
Reef
Reef is an educational hub, donation collection and retail service that aims to create circular pathway for discarded clothing items. We make the donation and thrift process easier for you.
Reef picks up your unwanted pieces no matter the condition, and redistributes or discards them in the most appropriate manner. We partner with local shelters, non-profits, designers, and recycling facilities. You can thrift items we've kept for sale easily on the app.
The app is designed to be personalized for each user, allowing them to select their preferences and interests. Reef can provide informative content, and selective fashion styles and sizes for the customer.
—— WELCOME
Users are welcomed with the option to make an account through their email, followed by a brief introduction to the app.
—— HOME
The home page is a central location for little bits of education and shopping. Here, the user can have a personalized experience with customized preferences.
—— SHOP
On the donation side we will accept wearable and non-wearable clothing from users. Our hope here is that all unwanted fabrics will be able to be reused and redistributed properly to avoid landfills and air polluting incineration.
—— DONATE
On the donation side we will accept wearable and non-wearable clothing from users. Our hope here is that all unwanted fabrics will be able to be reused and redistributed properly to avoid landfills and air polluting incineration.
—— LEARN
Reef will provide an education hub by connecting users to content of various topics in the environmentally conscious field, so they are able to make more informed choices about their fashion and how they engage with the environment.
—— CART
Secure and easy payment.
“There is no such thing as ‘away’. When we throw anything away it must go somewhere.”
Annie Leonard