A Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) is an automatic device that allows consumers to feed in used beverage containers (e.g., plastic beverage containers) for an instant rebate. It is usually equipped with a scanning function to verify the barcodes on containers to ensure that only designated containers are accepted.
The Environmental Protection Department has already rolled out a pilot scheme in the first quarter of 2021 to test the application of RVMs in Hong Kong for collecting plastic beverage containers. Stage 2 of the pilot scheme will launch in the second quarter of 2022; it will increase more number of RVMs and enhance the user experience with the operation of RVMs and participate in recycling plastic beverage containers.
They start opening a construction bidding program to find a company to help them to build and develop the RVM's stage 2 of the pilot scheme. An SME company has employed me to participate in the bidding program. At last, we successfully strive with the final round of the bidding progress.
This project took place between June 2021. I worked on this project as a User Experience Designer and User Interface Designer at Linkage Retail Solutions Limited.
As the sole designer for this project, my tasks involved conducting user & market research, mapping out the user journey, identity design, UX design, and prototyping for the first version of a Recycle Vending Machine platform. For about four weeks, I worked on this project to build and ship this research, with the objective being to come up with an idea to solve user pain points.
This project aimed to identify any usability issues with the current RVM product. Then enhance the user's problem while using RVM.
I will be based on the Design Thinking process and aim to incorporate the key phases of Discovery, Definition, Ideation, and Implementation.
We are looking for ways to incentivize people to reduce used beverage containers around the city. We thought people would be incentivized to reduce waste by recycling the inorganic waste in exchange for point credits as extrinsic motivation.
Numerous case studies from the UK, China, & Singapore have recycling vending machines that incentivize people to recycle waste and redeem credits with money or gift.
Since there have existed, RVM has launched to the market. I can easily find out how the existing users use the RVM and the current paint point.
Besides that, I also interviewed some users who decided or did not decide to use RMV. To figure out what makes them enhance the usage rate of RVM.
All the respondents recycle, and some try their best to recycle because they want to save the environment as well. 8 of 10 users complain that the RVM only supporting special bottles is inconvenient.
Four users think the introduction of RVM is not clear. When the RVM is complete, it usually doesn't show the status that the user can't use the machine. This frustrates them when they spend their time doing the whole process and find out it can not be used.
I created the persona based on the data collected from the Public observation and interview to illustrate the user’s needs and frustrations.
A product-based journey map helped to understand better the Reverse Vending Machine and the user and their experience with them.
Based on the insights gained from the site observation, interviews, and personal and user journey map, I have evaluated problems with the potential user.
A quick wireframe to outline the structure and the information to be included in the different pages that make up the whole recycling process.
The visual design focused on being environmentally friendly and made its simple and welcoming brand identity more appealing to Environmental Protection Department.
By applying the usability test, I iterated a high-fidelity prototype. The interactive prototype can be viewed on adobe XD.
In this project, doing usability test without an RVM is challenging for the participant to imagine what is going on.
So I work with the developer term very close, which let me have usability testing during an early stage of development. I invite six participants for the test. Five out of six can complete the task quickly and without confusion. They also think the reward system is a good incentive for recycle.
Although we did a lot of work for this project, the Environmental Protection Department didn't plan to accept our bidding proposal.
But they thought our visual and the reward system were doing a great job, so they invited us to do another part of the project which focused on redeem system.
