Prototype development and feedback loop
(general introduction text here)
For the development of our prototype, the first thing we did was check for examples of nudging on the internet. There were some clear examples of nudging that were very similar to what we wanted to do. Here are some of the examples that inspired us for our first prototype:
The idea that we had in mind was to create characters that could function as ambassadors for throwing away your trash. Since we wanted to focus on cleaning beaches, in our opinion the best option was to use animals that can be found around the beach/in the see for this. With this in mind, this is what our first prototype looked like:
After going to the beach to show the potential users of our “product” the first prototype, it soon became clear that there was one big problem with our design. At the beaches in Athens, there are no trashcans that are suitable for this design. Although people told us they liked the idea of having trashcans around that grabs their attention like these, we had to come up with something else. Our new challenge was to make a design that fits with the type of trashcans that we can find on the beach, which are the big containers like this one:
We came up with some sketches for stickers we could put on the containers. Also, we added some extra elements, the nets and the holes where people can throw their trash in, to it to make it more fun.
Because it became too cold for people to go to the beach, it was not very profitable to go there to get feedback on our designs. The next best thing we could do to get feedback, was to just go to a place where a lot of people come and tell them that the idea is to put these stickers on the containers on the beach. For this reason, we went to the supermarket to get feedback on the designs. From the feedback we got we could conclude that people are really into the idea of making the containers stand out more by putting something relatively simple on it. Of course, we did get some comments on the designs. In general people would like to see them a little bit more well developed. They missed color and a certain appearance to attract people. Also, people where concerned about the holes. They where wondering if it was possible and also practical to make holes in the containers. With all of this, they made very good points. That’s why we decided to ask a graphical designer to make the designs more outstanding, and to focus on the nets as a playful element while leaving the holes on hold for potential later developments. This is what the graphical designer came up with. This will be our final prototype for now, because the reactions we got on them from people where very positive:
