CarbonIsBad: Building the First On-Chain Carbon Emissions Calculator
CarbonIsBad is the world's first on-chain carbon emissions calculator where users can calculate their emissions and offset their carbon footprint.
The Process
Research
Survey and Desk Research
From a local survey and desk research, we found:
60% of Gen Z & Millennials are most concerned about carbon impact.
High Income, Higher Education: More likely to offset carbon.
Research
Competitve Analysis: Wren
From a local survey and desk research, we found:
60% of Gen Z & Millennials are most concerned about carbon impact.
High Income, Higher Education: More likely to offset carbon.
Research
Inspiration from Similar Products
Drawing from survey inspiration:
Vibrant Visuals: Engaging visuals enhance brand alignment.
Clear Progress: An animated progress bar guides users.
Creative Questions: Fun and creative queries boost engagement.
SYTHESIZE
Understanding the User
We used empathy maps based on interview data to understand user needs deeply, ensuring their wants and needs were prioritized throughout the design process.
SYTHESIZE
User Persona: Meet Sabari
Sabari, a 40-year-old software engineer in Los Angeles, represents our target user:
Highly aware of climate issues but confused about offsets.
Has a high disposable income and is willing to invest in solutions.
Needs a simple, engaging way to understand and reduce her carbon emissions.
Ideate
User Flow Chart
While designing all the proper screens for HI-Fidelity we consulted with our engineers on the order of questions from both a user and technical standpoint.
DESIGN
Lo-Fi
We decided to make some Lo-Fi Designs
Testing
Check in with Sabari
"I love how detailed this calculator is; it helps me see how to reduce my carbon footprint."
"I'm still unclear about what an offset is and how it fits with the calculator."
"I see my CO2 emissions, but I’m not sure what they mean for the environment."
Design
Color & Typography
The color pallet is inspired by the earth while still keeping things modern.
Design
Branding and Graphic Design
I designed graphics in Figma that embodied the brand's eco-friendly palette and modern identity, ensuring a cohesive and polished user experience throughout the product.
Design
Design System
Implementing a design system streamlined my workflow, ensuring consistency and making it easier for engineers to develop the product.
Design
Learn about Offsets
We created an emotional, educational scroll experience to help users like Sabari understand carbon offsets.
Design
Calculate Emissions
We built a calculation system with a progress bar that guided users, showing their progress and making the emissions calculator more engaging and user-friendly.
Design
Underestand Offsets
We added a click-through experience that made carbon emissions more relatable, helping users visualize their impact.
Testing
Final Feedback: Sabari's Insights
“Using this now is really straightforward, I really like the narrative in the beginning! “
"I actually like how I know how much I emit with context I understand now"
conclusion
Success & Impact
Since its launch, CarbonIsBad successfully offset over 100+ tons of CO2, driving a strong movement for environmental change. Despite the company's recent disbandment, the product made a significant impact in raising awareness and action around carbon emissions.
conclusion
Final Reflection
The MVP effectively addressed user needs, creating an engaging platform to calculate and offset carbon emissions. If I were still part of the team, I would have continued to conduct user research and iterate on the design, ensuring an even more impactful and user-friendly experience. Improved collaboration with engineers and more thorough research during the lo-fi stage could have further elevated the product’s success.
"Working with Arjo at CarbonLink was a great experience. He quickly adapted to challenges, showed impressive discipline, and consistently delivered innovative, out-of-the-box solutions. I can't recommend him enough."
Adil Khadri
UX Designer at EPIC
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