Connecting circular businesses with city initiatives

A tool that assists circular businesses to find city initiatives and provide their service. Team project I was a part of for 6 moths, for the social enterprise Circle Economy.
User Research
Wireframing
Hi-Fi Prototype
Data-base Generation
Usability Test
Client
Circle Economy
Date
March 2020
Role
Designer, Researcher
Prototype
www.relume.io

The Circular Platform
Circle Lab For Cities

This platform helps municipalities to implement circular strategies in their cities, easier.

Every platform has two sides -  demand (Municipalities) and supply (circular businesses). I worked together with the social enterprise Circle Economy on their platform to create the onboarding and user interface for the business owners (supply), that we call Solution Providers (SP).

The platform was only focusing on the customer side, but not on the business side. In order to complete the circle I investigate who are the right businesses to bring and how can the platform serve them.

Circle Economy Platform UX/UI development - Ivaylo Design.
How I did it

The process

I took the following steps in order to drive this project to success. I was working as part of team. With my team we split focus. My collogues focused on the urban planners and municipality use cases, while I focused on other side - the Solution Providers.

Step 1

User Research

To identify our key Solution Providers (SPs), I conducted desk research focused on the construction sector to explore organizations, products, and services utilizing circular economy solutions.

This research led to a list of potential user companies. I then developed a directory of SPs and conducted semi-structured interviews to better understand their challenges and needs, helping determine the best-fit companies for our offerings.

This process helped determine which types of companies would be most compatible with our offerings.

Step 2

Personas. Uncovering Needs

I expanded my user research by conducting surveys at a circular business fair, which quickly provided valuable information and facilitated connections with potential future users.

The graph below illustrates the diverse needs of the Solution Providers (SPs). I chose to represent my personas focusing on businesses rather than individuals. After analyzing my users, I found that based on their needs and opportunities, CL4C is optimally suited for startups, scale-ups, and SMEs.

Step 3

Competitor Analysis

The sustainability consulting market has grown rapidly since 2010, but is highly fragmented with many small, specialized firms employing 15-50 people.

Large firms, although prominent, often neglect cutting-edge topics like the circular economy, focusing more on supply chain management and strategic consulting.

Positive Aspects

Recent years have seen the emergence of various digital tools, including data visualizers and platforms, with some tailored specifically to the circular economy.

Negative Aspects

Many of these tools are narrowly focused, lack versatility and compatibility, and suffer from poor interface design and user-friendliness. They are also hard to find online, which limits user growth. Additionally, most tools are static, non-interactive, scattered across different databases, and offer little value beyond a traditional Google search. The revenue-generating business models for many tools remain unclear.

Going into design phase

Concept Structure

Armed with marketing insights and a thorough analysis of my users' needs, I was ready to begin designing. To develop a proper solution, I needed to create two key components:

User Interface: This would be the accessible front end for users to interact with.

Solution Provider Directory: A comprehensive listing to connect each business to its corresponding role within the CL4C framework.

Wireframes.

After establishing the conceptial structure, it was time to start wireframing. This was an iterative process and I designed several versions of the wireframes. After gathering feedback on them I created the final versions which are shown below.

Profile Page

A personal page.

Other users or potential customers can learn about them SP can list their interests and preferred projects.

DashBoard

The main page that a SP will be using.

Shows currently on going activities.

Directs the SP to other parts of the platform such as: Circular opportunities.

Knowledge hub SP directory

Landing Page 1

This will serve as the onboarding page.

Explains how the platform works and what it can provide for SPs.

Landing Page 2

Explain the ecosystem of the SP

Illustrates the connection between the SP and the customers Shows all the potential SP types.

Platform/Site Map

Below I’ve shown the main paths of the user, secondary and tertiary, as well as some optional.  

A new user would arrive on the landing page, which can take them either to sign up or to explore the tool. After signing up the user arrives at the dashboard where they can explore all the different options.

The directory is a functionality that takes them out of the tool, to a database table, where they can explore all the different information

Prototypes

Hi-fidelity Designs

A showcase of the final stage designs.

DAta

Data Base Generation

To establish a comprehensive repository of solution providers collaborating with Circle Lab, I developed a database. This database organizes all solution providers into specific archetypes and links them to corresponding circular economy opportunities.

This structure enables customers to easily locate the solution providers they need. Conversely, solution providers can identify potential customers initiating projects relevant to their services. This database is publicly accessible, allowing open access to all users.

User Testing

I formulated a set of success criteria based on user research, which I tested by presenting a prototype tool to Solution Providers (SPs). If the first six assumptions were validated, the design would be considered successful, with the last two criteria being optional enhancements for later stages.

During a 40-minute Zoom call with previously interviewed organizations, they interacted with the prototype while I took notes.

Opportunities:

‍Most tests were successful; SPs easily accessed information, created profiles, listed their companies on CL4C, and connected with other SPs.

Challenges:

‍However, the process for forming strategic partnerships and recognizing their role as a circular choice in the supply chain was unclear, leading to unvalidated assumptions 5 and 6. Assumptions 7 and 8 also lacked full certainty.

Finial Steps

Further recommendations

I gather some insights that I collected through user testing and based my further recommendations on that.

Recommendation 1

Strategic Partnerships

During my test I found that this tool can be very helpful for start ups and scale ups. However my 5th and 6th assumption were not well validated.

Finding a strategic partnership can be difficult which is why the tool could give SP recommendations.

The tool could do that based on previous projects. When the end user is creating his implementation plan they usually add all the different stakeholders. 



This could be an opportunity for CL4C, to see who would the best strategic partner be for our solution provider.

Recommendation 2

Include Premium Tier to the tool

Furthermore I learned that there is space for development. Some more developed and established SPs companies could benefit more from the tool.

For example the tool can be further developed to offer premium services. Looking at the CE organization as a whole and considering its resources, knowledge and network it can offer several things to create a more stable and bigger community.

The offering will be a mix of all other tools that CE has created before and a use of its network, knowledge and exposure. The membership could be divided into 3 levels, from cheapest to premium.

Portfolio

Next Project

Curious to know what else I've work one? See my next project below.

Voice Note App - Redesign

UX/UI Design
HI-Fi Prototype
I was challenged with improving the UX design of the voice note app VoNo, as well as giving it a complete new brand redesign.
View all
View all