Better Place Forests
A Green Solution for the Afterlife
Please note that due to confidentiality agreements, this case study is limited in the visual content it can present. Nonetheless, every effort has been made to provide a comprehensive understanding of the project and its outcomes.
A Cemetery Alternative with a Twist
When Better Place Forests approached me for a six-month contract as their interaction designer, I knew it was going to be an interesting ride. The design team was facing some tough challenges with development as they were preparing to release a new product called Wishes.
The company’s mission was to provide a greener and more sustainable alternative to traditional cemeteries by allowing people to cremate themselves and be planted under a tree.
Wishes: Revolutionizing the Way We Plan for the Future
But here’s the catch: people aren’t exactly jumping at the chance to plan for their own death. And to top it off, the target audience was older folks or those with compromised immune systems, so accessibility was of utmost importance.
The pandemic also put a damper on in-person sales, but the team didn’t give up! They came up with a digital solution — a user-friendly afterlife planning tool to take care of all the nitty-gritty details, from planning a will to taking care of remaining assets.
Auditing the Website: Overcoming Legacy Development Challenges
As the resident UX designer, I was tasked with making sure the user journey was a smooth one, even if the subject matter was a bit heavy. We did user testing to perfect the language and add some personal touches with motion design.
While all that was going on, I was also working on the company’s front-facing website to attract customers to their “forest sales.” The website was in dire need of a redesign and accessibility upgrade, so I took on the role of design systems designer and acted as a liaison between the PMs and developers to ensure smooth sailing (and fewer head-scratching moments).
Designing for Success: The Birth of the Spruce 2.0 System
The end result? The Spruce 2.0 design system was born, complete with thorough component documentation and accessibility considerations.
The launch of Wishes was a success and the revamped website was able to attract users while still looking chic and elegant. And who said death and taxes couldn’t be a little more enjoyable?
Making an Impact
In conclusion, the Better Place Forests project was a unique and challenging experience, but I’m proud of the end result. By combining a user-centered design approach with attention to accessibility and design systems, we were able to create a product that not only looked good but felt good for the users. And who knows, maybe planning for the afterlife won’t seem so daunting after all!
