Visual Identity & UX/UI Design

Visual Identity & UX/UI Design

Island Sustainability Learning Experience App

Island Sustainability Learning Experience App

Preservation of culture and land through respectful ʻāina-friendly choices.

Preservation of culture and land through respectful ʻāina-friendly choices.

(1) 2023 Pele Gold College Division–Mobile App

(1) 2023 Pele Gold College Division–Mobile App

Visual Identity & UX/UI Design

Island Sustainability Learning Experience App

Preservation of culture and land through respectful ʻāina-friendly choices.

(1) 2023 Pele Gold College Division–Mobile App

This project involved the creation of a mobile app focused on island sustainability, aiming to educate users on making eco-friendly choices that respect and preserve island culture. The app’s design needed to be visually appealing while effectively conveying core values of sustainability, respect for the land (ʻāina), and cultural preservation.

Objectives and Goals

Problem Addressed

With increasing environmental challenges, there is a need for a tool that encourages both Native Hawaiians and non-Native users to make conscious, sustainable choices that support the preservation of island culture and the natural environment.

With increasing environmental challenges, there is a need for a tool that encourages both Native Hawaiians and non-Native users to make conscious, sustainable choices that support the preservation of island culture and the natural environment.

Primary Goals

(1) To develop a mobile app that educates users on sustainability in a way that respects and incorporates Hawaiian cultural values. (2) To create a bilingual interface, incorporating ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) while maintaining accessibility for both Native and non-Native users. (3) To design a system that visually embodies the app’s mission of cultural and environmental preservation.

(1) To develop a mobile app that educates users on sustainability in a way that respects and incorporates Hawaiian cultural values. (2) To create a bilingual interface, incorporating ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) while maintaining accessibility for both Native and non-Native users. (3) To design a system that visually embodies the app’s mission of cultural and environmental preservation.

Unique Objective

Find a way to blend Native Hawaiian and non-Native cultural visuals and representations in a single app design, promoting coexistence and mutual respect.

Find a way to blend Native Hawaiian and non-Native cultural visuals and representations in a single app design, promoting coexistence and mutual respect.

Research & Insights

Target Audience

Both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users interested in learning about sustainable practices specific to island life, as well as those seeking to make eco-conscious decisions aligned with cultural respect.

Both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users interested in learning about sustainable practices specific to island life, as well as those seeking to make eco-conscious decisions aligned with cultural respect.

Research Approach

Research included an exploration of traditional Hawaiian cultural values related to sustainability, as well as user experience studies on bilingual app design and cultural inclusivity. Insights were also gathered on visual elements that resonate with both Native and non-Native audiences.

Research included an exploration of traditional Hawaiian cultural values related to sustainability, as well as user experience studies on bilingual app design and cultural inclusivity. Insights were also gathered on visual elements that resonate with both Native and non-Native audiences.

Key Insights

(1) Users expressed a preference for visually intuitive design elements that help them navigate the app in either language. (2) Feedback indicated that clear iconography and culturally resonant colors would be key to creating a welcoming and educational experience for all users.

(1) Users expressed a preference for visually intuitive design elements that help them navigate the app in either language. (2) Feedback indicated that clear iconography and culturally resonant colors would be key to creating a welcoming and educational experience for all users.

Design Process

Ideation

Early brainstorming focused on how to visually integrate the values of cultural respect, sustainability, and learning. Mood boards and color palettes were selected to reflect the natural beauty of the islands, with organic shapes and textures symbolizing the connection to ʻāina.

Early brainstorming focused on how to visually integrate the values of cultural respect, sustainability, and learning. Mood boards and color palettes were selected to reflect the natural beauty of the islands, with organic shapes and textures symbolizing the connection to ʻāina.

Initial Sketches & Wireframes

Wireframes included a bilingual interface design, with emphasis on clear, intuitive navigation for users across cultures. Visual identity elements, such as color schemes and iconography, were tailored to reinforce cultural values and the concept of sustainability.

Wireframes included a bilingual interface design, with emphasis on clear, intuitive navigation for users across cultures. Visual identity elements, such as color schemes and iconography, were tailored to reinforce cultural values and the concept of sustainability.

Iterative Design

Prototypes were tested with a diverse user group, including both Native Hawaiian and non-Native individuals. Feedback led to adjustments in the color contrast for accessibility, refinements in iconography to better symbolize cultural elements, and optimization of language-switching functionality.

Prototypes were tested with a diverse user group, including both Native Hawaiian and non-Native individuals. Feedback led to adjustments in the color contrast for accessibility, refinements in iconography to better symbolize cultural elements, and optimization of language-switching functionality.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge

Balancing cultural representation to ensure that both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users felt included, while maintaining the app’s integrity and mission to promote Native Hawaiian culture.

Balancing cultural representation to ensure that both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users felt included, while maintaining the app’s integrity and mission to promote Native Hawaiian culture.

Solution

A bilingual design approach was implemented, along with culturally resonant visuals that respected both audiences. Iconography was selected to symbolize both natural elements and cultural significance, creating an inclusive, visually appealing interface that educates users about sustainability in an accessible way.

A bilingual design approach was implemented, along with culturally resonant visuals that respected both audiences. Iconography was selected to symbolize both natural elements and cultural significance, creating an inclusive, visually appealing interface that educates users about sustainability in an accessible way.

Final Design & Outcomes

Final Product

ISLE was developed as a mobile app with a bilingual, visually engaging interface that promotes sustainability while respecting cultural differences. The app successfully integrates elements of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with English, providing users with seamless language-switching and intuitive navigation. Its visual identity embodies the values of sustainability, cultural respect, and the preservation of the natural environment.

ISLE was developed as a mobile app with a bilingual, visually engaging interface that promotes sustainability while respecting cultural differences. The app successfully integrates elements of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with English, providing users with seamless language-switching and intuitive navigation. Its visual identity embodies the values of sustainability, cultural respect, and the preservation of the natural environment.

Reflection

This project demonstrated the value of inclusive design and the impact of balancing cultural representation. It reinforced the importance of visual identity in communicating values, and highlighted how design can foster cultural respect and education around sustainability.

This project demonstrated the value of inclusive design and the impact of balancing cultural representation. It reinforced the importance of visual identity in communicating values, and highlighted how design can foster cultural respect and education around sustainability.

Impact & Success Metrics

Early user feedback highlighted the app’s approachable design and cultural inclusivity, with users noting the ease of navigation and visual appeal. Success metrics will include app downloads, user retention rates, and engagement in eco-conscious activities encouraged by the app.

Early user feedback highlighted the app’s approachable design and cultural inclusivity, with users noting the ease of navigation and visual appeal. Success metrics will include app downloads, user retention rates, and engagement in eco-conscious activities encouraged by the app.

This project involved the creation of a mobile app focused on island sustainability, aiming to educate users on making eco-friendly choices that respect and preserve island culture. The app’s design needed to be visually appealing while effectively conveying core values of sustainability, respect for the land (ʻāina), and cultural preservation.

Objectives and Goals

Problem Addressed

With increasing environmental challenges, there is a need for a tool that encourages both Native Hawaiians and non-Native users to make conscious, sustainable choices that support the preservation of island culture and the natural environment.

Primary Goals

(1) To develop a mobile app that educates users on sustainability in a way that respects and incorporates Hawaiian cultural values. (2) To create a bilingual interface, incorporating ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) while maintaining accessibility for both Native and non-Native users. (3) To design a system that visually embodies the app’s mission of cultural and environmental preservation.

Unique Objective

Find a way to blend Native Hawaiian and non-Native cultural visuals and representations in a single app design, promoting coexistence and mutual respect.

Research & Insights

Target Audience

Both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users interested in learning about sustainable practices specific to island life, as well as those seeking to make eco-conscious decisions aligned with cultural respect.

Research Approach

Research included an exploration of traditional Hawaiian cultural values related to sustainability, as well as user experience studies on bilingual app design and cultural inclusivity. Insights were also gathered on visual elements that resonate with both Native and non-Native audiences.

Key Insights

(1) Users expressed a preference for visually intuitive design elements that help them navigate the app in either language. (2) Feedback indicated that clear iconography and culturally resonant colors would be key to creating a welcoming and educational experience for all users.

Design Process

Ideation

Early brainstorming focused on how to visually integrate the values of cultural respect, sustainability, and learning. Mood boards and color palettes were selected to reflect the natural beauty of the islands, with organic shapes and textures symbolizing the connection to ʻāina.

Initial Sketches & Wireframes

Wireframes included a bilingual interface design, with emphasis on clear, intuitive navigation for users across cultures. Visual identity elements, such as color schemes and iconography, were tailored to reinforce cultural values and the concept of sustainability.

Iterative Design

Prototypes were tested with a diverse user group, including both Native Hawaiian and non-Native individuals. Feedback led to adjustments in the color contrast for accessibility, refinements in iconography to better symbolize cultural elements, and optimization of language-switching functionality.

Challenges & Solutions

Challenge

Balancing cultural representation to ensure that both Native Hawaiian and non-Native users felt included, while maintaining the app’s integrity and mission to promote Native Hawaiian culture.

Solution

A bilingual design approach was implemented, along with culturally resonant visuals that respected both audiences. Iconography was selected to symbolize both natural elements and cultural significance, creating an inclusive, visually appealing interface that educates users about sustainability in an accessible way.

Final Design & Outcomes

Final Product

ISLE was developed as a mobile app with a bilingual, visually engaging interface that promotes sustainability while respecting cultural differences. The app successfully integrates elements of ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with English, providing users with seamless language-switching and intuitive navigation. Its visual identity embodies the values of sustainability, cultural respect, and the preservation of the natural environment.

Reflection

This project demonstrated the value of inclusive design and the impact of balancing cultural representation. It reinforced the importance of visual identity in communicating values, and highlighted how design can foster cultural respect and education around sustainability.

Impact & Success Metrics

Early user feedback highlighted the app’s approachable design and cultural inclusivity, with users noting the ease of navigation and visual appeal. Success metrics will include app downloads, user retention rates, and engagement in eco-conscious activities encouraged by the app.