Mobile app
5 weeks project
Eco Room
Re-use cardboard boxes and contribute to saving the environment!
BACKGROUND
The Problem.
The idea for this project is driven by a pressing issue exacerbated by the increased popularity of e-commerce, particularly during the pandemic. As online shopping became more prevalent, people began ordering a significant amount of products from the internet, resulting in a substantial influx of cardboard boxes that often end up as waste.
This surge in e-commerce-generated cardboard waste presents a twofold problem. Firstly, it contributes to environmental concerns, as cardboard takes up valuable space in landfills and requires energy-intensive recycling processes. Secondly, it represents a missed opportunity for creative repurposing and sustainable DIY projects.
While many individuals are interested in adopting sustainable practices and engaging in DIY projects, there is a lack of accessible resources and guidance specifically tailored to repurposing cardboard boxes from e-commerce. Existing platforms generally overlook this niche, leaving people frustrated and unsure of how to creatively utilize the surplus of cardboard boxes they receive.
BACKGROUND
Solution.
Eco Room is a mobile app that offers tutorials on creating furniture and small home accessories using cardboard. In addition, Eco Room offers a user-friendly interface that allows users to navigate through different categories and easily access the tutorials they are interested in. The tutorials are designed to be comprehensive and beginner-friendly, providing clear instructions and visual aids to ensure a successful DIY experience.
Eco Room promotes sustainability and eco-consciousness by highlighting the benefits of using cardboard as a versatile and environmentally friendly material for furniture and home decor. The app includes information on sourcing recycled cardboard and encourages users to repurpose materials they already have, reducing waste and promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.
Furthermore, the app provides a social aspect where users can interact with each other through comments, likes, and sharing their completed projects. This encourages collaboration, feedback, and a sense of accomplishment as users can showcase their finished pieces and receive recognition from the community.
The Process.
1
2
3
4
5
Research
Identifying Problems
Secondary Research
Inspiration
Product Opportunity
Synthesis
Competitive Analysis
Target Audience
User Persona
User Journey
Design
Vision Video
Visual Design
Final Design
Final Wireframes
Final Prototype
Reflection
Learnings
Next Steps
RESEARCH
Identifying Problems.
The main problem I aim to address is the overwhelming waste generated by discarded cardboard boxes, particularly due to the surge in online shopping. With the e-commerce boom, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, global package deliveries have skyrocketed, leading to an estimated 92 million tons of packaging waste annually, a significant portion of which is cardboard.
While cardboard is recyclable, studies show that only about 65-70% of it actually gets recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or incinerators, contributing to deforestation, carbon emissions, and resource depletion. Additionally, the convenience of single-use packaging has led to inefficiencies in reuse, as most boxes are discarded after just one delivery.
Current recycling systems struggle to keep up with the volume, and many consumers lack easy access to proper disposal methods, further exacerbating the issue. Without a more sustainable approach—such as reusable shipping boxes, biodegradable alternatives, or circular economy solutions—the environmental footprint of cardboard waste will continue to grow, making online shopping increasingly unsustainable.
Vs.
RESEARCH
Secondary Research Findings.
To conduct my secondary research, I gathered information from various credible sources, including academic papers, industry reports, and sustainability studies on cardboard. I explored articles discussing its material properties, focusing on aspects like durability, customizability, and structural strength.
Durability
Cardboard is highly durable due to its multi-layered structure, which provides strength, resilience, and resistance to compression while remaining lightweight. Its layered composition and ability to distribute weight evenly make cardboard a sturdy material capable of withstanding pressure and repeated use.
Customization
Cardboard is highly customizable, allowing for easy cutting, folding, and shaping into various designs without the need for complex tools. Its surface can also be printed, coated, or layered to enhance aesthetics, functionality, and durability for different applications.
Shock Absorption
Cardboard has excellent shock absorption properties due to its layered and corrugated structure, which helps distribute impact forces evenly. This makes it ideal for protecting fragile items, reducing damage, and enhancing stability in applications like packaging and furniture.
RESEARCH
How might we?
How might we repurpose discarded cardboard to extend its lifecycle and reduce packaging waste?
How might we make it easier for people to repurpose cardboard without requiring special skills or tools?
How might we empower consumers to transform waste into useful products with minimal effort and resources?
RESEARCH
Inspiration.
When I visited the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, I came across Frank Gehry’s Wiggle Chair, and it completely shifted the way I saw cardboard. I had never thought of it as a material capable of being shaped into something so sturdy and artistic. Seeing how Gehry transformed what is usually considered waste into a functional, well-designed object made me wonder—how else could cardboard be repurposed in creative and practical ways? It got me thinking about its potential beyond just packaging and recycling.
Frank Gehry
Wiggle Side Chair
RESEARCH
Product Opportunity.
💡
Mobile App
And then it hit me! A user-friendly platform that provides a wide range of cardboard furniture designs, step-by-step instructions, and customization options.
SYNTHESIS
Competitive Analysis.
I conducted a competitive analysis to explore existing solutions in the market, examining apps and brands like DIY Cardboard Furniture Gallery and Charigami. This helped me identify gaps in usability, functionality, and sustainability, shaping my approach to a more interactive and user-driven platform.
DIY Cardboard Instructions
DIY Cardboard Furniture Gallery is a simple, inspiration-focused app that showcases a collection of creative and innovative cardboard furniture designs. Users can browse through a visually curated gallery of finished pieces, exploring different styles and possibilities. Without instructions or context, the app serves as a creative spark, encouraging users to rethink cardboard as a functional and aesthetic material.
+
-
Pros
Cons
-
Downloadable app
-
Nice examples of furnitures
-
Bad interface
-
Hard to navigate
-
There are no tutorials, just a showcase of already made furniture
Charigami
Charigami is an innovative design brand that creates foldable, eco-friendly cardboard furniture inspired by origami. Their products are designed to be lightweight, durable, and easy to assemble without the need for tools or adhesives. By blending functionality with sustainability, Charigami offers a creative solution for those looking for stylish, recyclable, and space-saving furniture.
+
Pros
-
Real working business
-
Wide variety of furnitures available
-
Great and visually appealing website
-
Cons
-
Not really a DYI business model, because user can only buy pre-cut furniture to assemble
-
High prices
SYNTHESIS
Target Audience.
To better understand the users of Eco Room, I developed a graph mapping two key user traits that influence engagement with the app. These traits helped me visualize where potential users fall in relation to one another, allowing me to create distinct user personas that represent different needs, motivations, and behaviors.
Rebecca
Eco-conscious enthusiast
John
Creative hobbyist
Design-savvy
Non-Sustainability concoius
Sustainability concoius
Design-averse
Creative Hobbyist
Eco-conscious enthusiast
SYNTHESIS
User Personas.
Rebecca
Eco-conscious enthusiast
Los Angeles, CA
Bachelors Degree
UX Copywriter
Curious
Planned
Goals
- Reduce environmental impact
- Find eco-friendly alternatives
- Engage in sustainable lifestyle practices
- Connect with like-minded individuals
- Inspire others to adopt sustainable lifestyle
Needs
- A structured, easy-to-follow guide for DIY cardboard furniture projects
- A community or platform to share her creations and learn from others
- Inspiration and new ideas to keep her projects fresh and innovative
- Access to eco-friendly materials and tools that complement cardboard construction
Frustrations
- People around her not taking sustainability as seriously as she does
- Difficulty finding like-minded people who share her passion for upcycling
- Lack of clear instructions or step-by-step guidance in existing DIY resources
- Concerns about durability—worried that cardboard furniture might not last long
John
Creative hobbyist
San Francisco, CA
Masters Degree
Marketing
Open minded
Expressive
Goals
- Find cost-effective and stylish furniture solutions for his apartment
- Engage in hands-on, creative DIY projects as a weekend hobby
- Learn new skills that don’t require professional tools or expertise
- Balance sustainability with aesthetics and functionality
Needs
- Simple, easy-to-follow instructions that fit into his busy schedule
- Furniture designs that are both practical and visually appealing
- A platform that provides pre-made templates or modular design ideas for quick and efficient building
Frustrations
- Doesn’t have time to experiment with complicated DIY projects
- Struggles to find reliable sources that prove cardboard furniture is durable
- Prefers a modern, polished look—worried that upcycled furniture might look too “cheap” or “crafty”
- Needs guidance on which tools and materials (beyond cardboard) can improve durability
Although Rebecca and John have different motivations, they share key traits that connect them as potential users of Eco Room. Both actively seek new ideas to enhance their DIY projects and value a sense of community, where they can exchange knowledge, get inspired, and showcase their creations.
Rebecca
Eco-conscious enthusiast
John
Creative hobbyist
Seeking new ideas
Sense of community
SYNTHESIS
User Journey.
To better illustrate how Eco Room fits into a user’s daily life, I created a user journey featuring Rebecca, she enjoys DIY projects but often struggles with finding practical, eco-friendly solutions for furnishing her small apartment.
In this journey, we follow Rebecca as she discovers Eco Room, explores its features, and successfully builds her first piece of cardboard furniture. Her experience highlights the app’s ability to provide inspiration, guidance, and a sense of community, making sustainable DIY furniture accessible and enjoyable.
Rebecca
Eco-conscious enthusiast
While working from home, Rebecca realized her laptop was taking up too much desk space.
She discovered Eco Room and decided to use it to create a vertical laptop stand from cardboard.
Prepare
Finds a comfortable place and prepares all the necessary equipment.
"Why is my room always so messy?"
Make
Follows the tutorial and assembles the final design.
"Didn't expect the instructions were going to be that easy, it is going great!"
Test
Tests if it works and takes pictures to share it with the others.
"I need to share this with my friends! "
Choose
Opens her app on her smartphone and chooses the desired category and final design - laptop stand.
"I wonder if my laptop could take less space?"
DESIGN
Vision Video.
This vision video showcases how Eco Room empowers users to transform discarded cardboard into functional, stylish furniture. Through a seamless app experience, users can explore step-by-step guides, innovative designs, and a supportive community to bring their DIY ideas to life.
The video illustrates the app’s impact—making sustainability accessible, inspiring creativity, and encouraging a waste-free, design-driven lifestyle. Whether you're an eco-conscious maker or a practical DIYer, Eco Room helps you create with purpose.
DESIGN
Visual Design.
Logo
Icons and typography
Color pallete
#DBAB5F
#945524
#E58337
#FBBC8A
FINAL DESIGN
Final Wireframes.
On Boarding Screens
Introduction to the app where the user can set up an account and then set their preferences.
Category and Add
In the home tab user can choose the category of room space and also can add their own design in the add tab.
Build Screens
After the user chooses the space he can choose the actual furniture and find out what is needed for assembly.
Build Screens
After the user chooses the space he can choose the actual furniture and find out what is needed for assembly.
FINAL DESIGN
Final Prototype.
Clickable Prototype
Click around the app here
REFLECTION
Learnings.
Developing Eco Room provided valuable insights into user behavior, sustainability challenges, and the importance of intuitive design. I learned that users are motivated not only by environmental consciousness but also by practicality and aesthetics, requiring a balance between sustainability and usability. The research highlighted the need for clear guidance, accessible materials, and a strong sense of community to keep users engaged.
Additionally, testing and feedback reinforced the importance of durability concerns, pushing me to explore ways to enhance cardboard’s strength. This process deepened my understanding of user-centered design and how technology can drive eco-friendly innovation.
REFLECTION
Next Steps.
Moving forward, the focus will be on refining Eco Room based on user feedback and expanding its features to enhance usability. Key next steps include:
-
Improving Instructional Content – Enhancing step-by-step guides with clearer visuals and video tutorials.
-
Testing Durability Solutions – Exploring ways to reinforce cardboard structures for longer-lasting furniture.
-
Building Community Features – Introducing a space for users to share their creations, exchange ideas, and get support.
-
Expanding Material Integration – Incorporating additional eco-friendly materials to complement cardboard designs.
-
User Testing & Iteration – Continuously testing with users to refine the app’s functionality and improve the experience.
These steps will help ensure Eco Room evolves into a more engaging, practical, and impactful tool for sustainable DIY enthusiasts.