Carbon Footprint Calculator

02
DURATION

4 days

TOOLS

Team research, wireframing, UX/UI design

GOAL

Create an inviting app experience that motivates users to explore their carbon footprint and environmental impact

INTRO

Go greener is a mobile app concept designed to make personal carbon footprint calculation more engaging, informative, and visually appealing than existing browser-based tools.

Startanimation der App zur Berechnung des CO2-Fußabdrucks
PROBLEM & DESIGN CHALLENGE

Existing carbon footprint tools are typically browser-based and often present information in a dry, text-heavy format that feels discouraging rather than motivating. They calculate a result, but provide little context or ongoing engagement beyond the number itself.

The challenge was to reimagine carbon footprint calculation as a playful, informative mobile experience that encourages users to reflect and take small action steps.

USER Needs & Motivation

Our design intent was to reach a broad age range of users and help them explore environmental impact without judgment or a “preachy” tone.

KEY INSIGHTS

Be visually welcoming and intuitive

Be visually welcoming and intuitive

Present carbon footprint results in a relatable way

Present carbon footprint results in a relatable way

Offer actionable tips for behavior change

Offer actionable tips for behavior change

Provide ongoing value beyond the final score (e.g., educational content and suggestions)

Provide ongoing value beyond the final score (e.g., educational content and suggestions)

Design Process & Key Decisions

To avoid overwhelming users, the questionnaire was divided into thematic categories (e.g., travel, household, nutrition) with progress indicators. Users could pause at any time, reducing friction compared to long, single-session surveys.

9 Wireframes zum Fragebogen der App

We developed low-fidelity wireframes showing:

The intake questions

The intake questions

Feedback screens comparing personal footprint to national and global averages

Feedback screens comparing personal footprint to national and global averages

Educational content placements

Educational content placements

These wireframes helped us iterate quickly and refine core interactions before visual design.

We aimed for a friendly and inviting visual language that supports exploration rather than judgment. Screens were designed to balance clarity (numeric results and comparisons) with inspiration (tips and contextual content).

Animation zur BEantwortung des Fragenkatalogs und beenden einer Kategorie
Beispielscreen mit dem Blog, der relevante Themen zum Umweltschutz behandelt
Solution Highlights

Go greener offers:

A categorized questionnaire that feels approachable and manageable

A categorized questionnaire that feels approachable and manageable

Result screens with comparisons to German and global averages

Result screens with comparisons to German and global averages

Contextual tips showing actionable ways to reduce personal CO₂ emissions

Contextual tips showing actionable ways to reduce personal CO₂ emissions

A content section / blog integrated into the app to motivate deeper learning and longer engagement

A content section / blog integrated into the app to motivate deeper learning and longer engagement

These structured elements serve both immediate user needs and encourage continued exploration.

Ergebnisscreen nach dem beantworten aller Fragen
Ein beispielhafter Tipp, was man mit kleinen Veränderungen bewirken kann
Anmeldescreen für den Newsletter mit Eingabe der E-Mail-Adresse
OUTCOME & VALUE

Although this was a concept project without live user testing, the design demonstrates a strong user-centered approach. The user context was translated into clear, manageable flows that help reduce cognitive effort and make the experience easier to navigate.

At the same time, the concept focuses on visual engagement, presenting a typically dry topic in a more approachable way through an inviting interface and motivational content, addressing a common weakness found in many existing carbon footprint tools.

LEARNINGS & NEXT STEPS

From this project, I learned that splitting the questionnaire into short, focused sections keeps users engaged, and adding educational content makes the experience feel more meaningful than just showing a number.

Moving forward, I would test the app with real users to fine-tune the questions and flow, add features to track personal progress over time, and explore ways for users to share goals or compare with others to stay motivated.