Problem
People want to live sustainably, but cost, effort, low trust and impact they can't see stop them from acting on it. This is the value-action gap.
← All work
2025Jan to Jun 2025
Case study 03 · Mobile app
ReLoop: making sustainability worth it.
Most people say they care about the planet. Far fewer recycle or repair things regularly. ReLoop closes that gap with rewards people can feel right away, and options that take almost no effort.
The 60-second version
At a glance
What I did
- Defined the problem and wrote 2 personas based on real barriers
- Designed a service with 4 recycling channels, from doorstep pickup to AI photo scan
- Designed the full mobile UI: onboarding, map, kiosk, scan, rewards, impact
Outcome
- A complete high-fidelity app across 30+ screens
- Two kinds of reward: cash and visible eco-impact
- Shows I can design a product and the service around it
01 · The challenge
Caring isn't the problem. Doing is.
Many people care about the environment, but their daily habits rarely show it. Eco-friendly options cost more, are hard to find, and the impact is invisible, so the effort never feels worth it.
I didn't want to add another app that guilt-trips people. I wanted to make the sustainable choice the easier and more rewarding one.
How might we
…get everyday people to recycle and repair through meaningful rewards and convenience, without pressure?
02 · Who I designed for
Two busy people who care, but don't have time.
Jason, 27
Busy grad student
Classes, a part-time job and a tight budget. He throws away recyclables because he doesn't have time to sort them or find out where they go.
Frustrations: doesn't know where to recycle some items. Finds sustainability apps slow or preachy. Has no space to compost.
→ ShapedSmart Scan (photograph an item and earn points right away), and Green Truck pickups he can schedule between classes.
Lena, 34
Working mom of two
She works full-time and wants to set a good example for her kids, but sustainable habits don't fit into her week.
Frustrations: no time to research recycling rules or drive to drop-off centers. Most apps feel like extra work.
→ ShapedDoorstep pickup, and impact tracking simple enough that her kids join in, so it becomes a family habit.
03 · The solution
Four ways to recycle, each needing less effort.
The main insight was that distance is the biggest barrier. So I designed a service, not just screens, with options that range from "I'll go there" to "it comes to me."
Green Truck
A real pickup truck comes to your address. Scan its QR code at handover and earn points based on what you return.
Smart Kiosks
Plan a drop-off: choose materials and amounts, see the CO₂ saved and expected earnings, then book a time slot.
AI Evaluator
Take a photo of your items. ReLoop estimates the points, cash and CO₂ impact in seconds, before you go anywhere.
Repair map
Repairing is greener than recycling. A map switches between repair shops and kiosks and gives directions.
Two kinds of reward: money in your pocket, and impact you can see.
Points convert to gift cards, cash-outs or local coupons. A CO₂ tracker and eco-rank make the environmental impact concrete. A leaderboard and "Refer & Earn" make it social.
Try it
Scan it: what is your trash worth?
This is the idea behind the AI Evaluator: point your camera at something and see what it is worth before you go anywhere. Tap the items.
04 · The interface
A tour of the app.
01 · Onboarding
Quick, secure sign-up.
A splash screen, then phone number, a one-time code, personal details and a 4-digit PIN. Cash is involved, so security has to be visible, but it can't slow people down.
02 · Home
"How do you want to recycle today?"
Large icon shortcuts for every channel (truck, kiosk, scan, drop-offs, map, repair) with deals at the top. The home screen is a menu of actions, not a feed.
03 · Map
Find the nearest repair shop or kiosk.
Switch between repair shops and smart kiosks. Tap a pin to see the address, photos and ratings, then follow the built-in route.
04 · Smart Kiosk
See what you'll earn before you leave the house.
Choose the material, weight and number of bags, and see the CO₂ saved and expected earnings. Then book a slot and get a confirmation.
05 · AI Evaluator
Take a photo and see what it's worth.
One photo, and the AI estimates the rewards, points and CO₂ impact. It answers the question "is this worth recycling?" in seconds.
06 · Green Truck
Pickup at your door.
Schedule a pickup, prepare your items, and scan the truck's QR code when it arrives. This connects physical recycling to digital rewards.
07 · Rewards
Cash out however you like.
Points and cash balance up front, redeemable as gift cards, cash or local coupons. A leaderboard and referrals add some friendly competition.
08 · Impact
Make the impact visible.
Progress by material (paper, aluminum, steel) turns abstract good into something you can see grow.
05 · Reflection
What I learned, and what I'd test next.
What I learned
- Behavior change comes from removing friction, not adding persuasion. The truck does more than any motivational copy could.
- Designing the service is part of designing the product. The kiosks and trucks shaped the screens as much as the screens shaped them.
What I'd test next
- Usability tests of the kiosk and truck flows with people like Jason and Lena.
- Reward economics: what payout per pound changes behavior without becoming unsustainable?
- Whether impact tracking keeps people engaged after the novelty of cash wears off.