Make Space

A tool that lets humans in the greater Boston area
connect with nearby plants, birds, and greenspaces.

A tool that lets humans in the greater
Boston area connect with nearby plants,
birds, and greenspaces.

A tool that lets humans in the greater Boston
area connect with nearby plants, birds,
and greenspaces.

SCOPE
Branding
UI/UX

“I’m trying to imagine what it would be like going through life not knowing the names of the plants and animals around you...I think it would be a little scary and disorienting—like being lost in a foreign city where you can’t read the street signs.”

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer

“I’m trying to imagine what it would be like going through life not knowing the names of the plants and animals around you...I think it would be a little scary and disorienting—like being lost in a foreign city where you can’t read the street signs.”

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer

“I’m trying to imagine what it would be like going through life not knowing the names of the plants and animals around you...I think it would be a little scary and disorienting—like being lost in a foreign city where you can’t read the street signs.”

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer

“I’m trying to imagine what it would be like going through life not knowing the names of the plants and animals around you...I think it would be a little scary and disorienting—like being lost in a foreign city where you can’t read the street signs.”

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer

“I’m trying to imagine what it would be like going through life not knowing the names of the plants and animals around you...I think it would be a little scary and disorienting—like being lost in a foreign city where you can’t read the street signs.”

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Robin Wall Kimmerer

CHALLENGE

For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.

CHALLENGE

For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.

CHALLENGE

For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.

CHALLENGE

For those looking to connect with the environment,
it can be difficult to know where to begin.

It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.

CHALLENGE

For those looking to connect with the environment, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

It’s no secret that getting outside can relieve anxiety and stress. Outdoor activities like birdwatching or plant identification can help you feel more grounded to the environment, something I’ve experienced firsthand. But, it can be hard to break into these activities.

SOLUTION

A product that makes it easier for environmentally-curious individuals to become deeply connected to the world around them.

Make Space allows users to explore three key aspects of the natural world: plants, animals, and greenspaces. It encourages natural exploration and enriches the experience of being outside. There are three main features:

1. View nearby plants, animals, and greenspaces
2. Learn more about these items
3. Save items to collections & add sightings

SOLUTION

A product that makes it easier for environmentally-curious individuals to become deeply connected to the world
around them.

Make Space allows users to explore three key aspects of the natural world: plants, animals, and greenspaces. It encourages natural exploration and enriches the experience of being outside. There are three main features:

1. View nearby plants, animals, and greenspaces
2. Learn more about these items
3. Save items to collections & add sightings

SOLUTION

A product that makes it easier
for environmentally-curious individuals to become deeply connected to the world
around them.

Make Space allows users to explore three key aspects of the natural world: plants, animals, and greenspaces. It encourages natural exploration and enriches the experience of being outside. There are three main features:

1. View nearby plants, animals,
and greenspaces
2. Learn more about these items
3. Save items to collections & add sightings

UNDERSTANDING MY AUDIENCE

Interviews helped me understand when potential users felt most connected to the environment. I discovered people saw the natural world as a home, where they could express childlike exploration and curiosity and feel comfortable.

UNDERSTANDING MY AUDIENCE

Interviews helped me understand when potential users felt most connected to the environment. I discovered people saw the natural world as a home, where they could express childlike exploration and curiosity and feel comfortable.

I then identified two user personas: the local amateur environmentalist, and the explorative college student. I created and prioritized user stories based around these types of users.

I picked two high priority user stories and started to flesh out their workflows.

BENCHMARKS

I researched similar websites and performed my workflows on their platforms, noting bright and pain points. I tweaked Make Space's functionality according to my experiences on other sites.

BENCHMARKS

I researched similar websites and performed my workflows
on their platforms, noting bright and pain points. I tweaked Make Space's functionality according to my experiences on other sites.

With a deep understanding of my audience and how they might use Make Space, I developed an elevator pitch:

With a deep understanding of my audience and how
they might use Make Space, I developed an elevator pitch:

For Boston-based amateur environmentalists and explorative college students who want to strengthen their connection with the environment, Make Space is an educational resource that allows users to engage with their local environment through an interactive map and filtering system.

SITEMAPPING & WIREFRAMING

First, I created a sitemap on Fig Jam, envisioning the actions and pages needed to move through my two user flows.

SITEMAPPING & WIREFRAMING

First, I created a sitemap on Fig Jam, envisioning the actions and pages needed to move through my two
user flows.

SITEMAPPING & WIREFRAMING

First, I created a sitemap on Fig Jam, envisioning the actions
and pages needed to move through my two user flows.

With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback and refined my user flows.

With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback
and refined my user flows.

With my site structure defined, I began wireframing. I increased the level of fidelity as I received more feedback and refined my user flows.

BRANDING

My branding process consisted of moodboarding, logo and wordmark design, and type and color palettes.

The final brand identity is inspired by a moodboard rooted in natural elements. The material I collected centered around the awe-inspiring colors, patterns, and geometry of the environment.

BRANDING

My branding process consisted of moodboarding, logo and wordmark design, and type and color palettes.

The final brand identity is inspired by a moodboard rooted
in natural elements. The material I collected centered
around the awe-inspiring colors, patterns, and geometry of
the environment.

BRANDING

My branding process consisted of moodboarding, logo and wordmark design, and type and color palettes.

The final brand identity is inspired by a moodboard rooted in natural elements. The material I collected centered around the awe-inspiring colors, patterns, and geometry of the environment.

BRANDING

My branding process consisted of moodboarding, logo and wordmark design, and type and color palettes.

The final brand identity is inspired by a moodboard rooted in natural elements. The material I collected centered around the awe-inspiring colors, patterns, and geometry of the environment.

BRANDING

My branding process consisted of moodboarding, logo and wordmark design, and type and
color palettes.

The final brand identity is inspired by a moodboard rooted in natural elements. The material I collected centered around the awe-inspiring colors, patterns, and geometry of the environment.

Make Space’s logo centers around the idea of
placemaking and feeling at home in the natural world.

Make Space’s logo centers around the idea
of placemaking and feeling at home in the
natural world.

I used Ivy Presto Display, a typeface with an approachable elegance. for the wordmark and all headings. I found its formal quality appropriate for the educational nature of Make Space. The typeface pairs beautifully with the nature photos used throughout the platform.

I used Halyard Display & Text for all other text. Halyard's legibility and cleanness complement Ivy Presto’s more dramatic qualities.

When testing my hi-fi wireframes with my peers, I received feedback about streamlining the onboarding process and filtering system. I also implemented a badge system to motivate users to add sightings.