PlantIn
Cultivating Community and Green Living in Gujarat.
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PlantIn is a platform designed to cater to plant enthusiasts in Gujarat, India. It serves as a bridge between plant lovers and local businesses, offering a convenient way to order plants and related supplies from nearby stores.
In the years 2019-2020, the absence of a dedicated platform for plant enthusiasts to conveniently order plants and related supplies became evident. Traditional courier services often couldn't handle the delicate nature of plants, leaving a gap in the market.
Recognizing the potential to support local plant businesses and create job opportunities, PlantIn was conceptualized. This innovative platform, inspired by services like Uber and Doordash, aimed to connect users with nearby nurseries and stores, providing efficient plant delivery or pickup options while nurturing local communities and businesses. PlantIn was born not just as a project but as a commitment to greener living and community support.
User Research
For the PlantIn project, comprehensive user research was conducted to gain insights into the behaviours and motivations of plant enthusiasts in Gujarat, India. The user research included user interviews, and online surveys.
Key Findings ​
There is a strong interest in plant cultivation and gardening among people in Gujarat.
Many individuals expressed a desire to support local businesses and nurseries.
Users mentioned a need for guidance on plant care and maintenance, especially for beginners.
There is enthusiasm for participating in plant-related workshops and events. ​
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Based on the user research, I got to know that several valuable insights were gained that may not have been in the initial project description for PlantIn:
1. User Preferences for Visual Content: User research indicates that users highly value visual content such as images and videos demonstrating plant care techniques.
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2. Usability and Navigation Insights: The feedback on the ease of navigation and the need for a more prominent search bar in the project's initial scope.
3. Data Privacy and Security Concerns: User research revealed that users prioritize data privacy and secure payment processing. While data privacy is often a standard concern.
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These additional insights from user research can significantly impact the app's design, features, and user experience, ensuring that it aligns more closely with user preferences and needs.
Persona Building
Target Audience
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PlantIn's target audience comprises plant enthusiasts, local plant nurseries and shops (which we are gonna focus on in the second iteration), workshop enthusiasts, and environmentally conscious consumers. This diverse group shares a passion for plants, gardening, and sustainable practices. PlantIn serves as a bridge between these enthusiasts and local businesses, offering a platform for plant-related interactions, knowledge sharing, and environmentally friendly endeavors.
Personas
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Based on the user interviews, I developed three personas representing distinct user profiles within the target audience of PlantIn. These personas help us understand the diverse needs and preferences of potential users, enabling us to tailor the PlantIn platform to cater to their specific requirements. They serve as user-centric guides throughout the design and development process.
Competitor's Analysis
In 2019-2020, as I embarked on the PlantIn project, there was a noticeable gap in the market. No existing platforms in Gujarat, India, offered the unique combination of plant delivery services from local businesses and comprehensive plant-related information. However there were other platforms which provided delivery services and by doing their analysis maybe I can learn what functions or info I should have, what can I improve, and much more!
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Based on the analysis of few plantation based platforms I made a list of strengths and weaknesses.
Weaknesses
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Limited Localization: Both platforms might not be optimised for specific local needs and preferences, missing opportunities for community building and localised content.
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User Experience: User feedback suggests areas for improvement in navigation and usability.
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Delivery Times: Some users have reported delays in plant deliveries, impacting the overall user experience.
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Competitive Pricing: The pricing of products might not always be the most competitive in the market.
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Combining these strengths and weaknesses offered me insights that helped to shape PlantIn's strategy and offerings to better meet the needs of local plant enthusiasts in Gujarat, India.
Strengths
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Product Range: Both Ugaoo and MyBageecha offer a diverse range of plants and gardening supplies, providing users with a wide selection.
Established Platforms: These platforms have an established online presence and customer base, contributing to their credibility.
Plant Care Information: Ugaoo and MyBageecha provide valuable information on plant care and maintenance, aiding users in successful gardening.
Online Communities: They foster online communities and forums, allowing users to share experiences and seek advice.
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Final Design
In the final design phase, a comprehensive understanding of the project's functionalities emerged through user research and analysis. This knowledge informed the creation process, guiding the development from moodboards and low-fidelity design to user feedback incorporation, wireframing, and ultimately, the final design.
Here I have presented some of the user flows:
Signing Up
Other Screens
