Overview
designed a user-safe, 'set it and forget it' weed control solution for effortless lawn care.
Our project focused on designing a reliable weed control solution that combines effectiveness, user safety, and adaptability, enabling homeowners to maintain healthy, beautiful lawns with confidence and ease. Over the quarter, our team explored a “set it and forget it” concept through user interviews, testing, and prototyping, culminating in a final proposal delivered to Procter & Gamble.
Our team included members from diverse backgrounds, including mechanical engineering, new media, computer science, industrial design, and psychology. This experience strengthened my communication and collaboration skills as we divided responsibilities across user research, data synthesis, and design ideation. I also focus on design sketches, prototyping, and creating presentation slides while contributing to other areas. Working with real users, I turned feedback into actionable ideas, quickly prototyping and testing solutions. We ensured our designs aligned with business strategies and presented our work to P&G in Cincinnati, gaining valuable experience pitching to industry professionals.
User Research
Conducted in-home and on-site visits to gather insights, test ideas, and translate findings into actionable designs.
Our user research included in-home visits and on-site consumer visits to explore user needs and test early ideas. My role in the user research process involved coordinating and conducting in-home visits and on-site consumer visits to gather insights and test early design ideas. I was responsible for preparing discussion guides, observing user behaviors, and synthesizing the feedback into actionable findings, which helped shape the direction of our design.
In-Home Visit
To better understand user needs and test early ideas, my team conducted 8 in-home visits at the start of the process. We observed consumers’ outdoor setups, how they tackled the job, and gathered insights on their product needs. To prepare, we created discussion guides, and afterward, we synthesized the feedback into tools like interview maps, user journeys, personas, and 2x2 frameworks to guide our design phase.
On-site Visit
After the in-home visits, we conducted two rounds of on-site consumer visits, totaling 16 interviews, to identify key features for a low-effort, time-saving lawn solution. We tested ideas using prototypes, storyboards, ranking exercises, sorting activities, and Bluey’s scales to understand user trade-offs and preferences. Through this process, I learned how to gather deeper user insights, effectively synthesize feedback, and translate those insights into refined design ideas that address real user needs.
Product design
Building the design through trial and error.
A unique aspect of this project was the openness of the prompt. We were given the freedom to explore outdoor solutions with very few constraints, allowing us to experiment and learn through trial and error.
After a key design review, we pivoted our approach—shifting from trying to solve everything to focusing on a specific problem space. Using insights from our research, our team brainstormed ideas and developed design requirements. We sketched, built prototypes, and tested them iteratively to refine our solution.
I took the lead on final sketches and prototype development, ensuring our ideas were effectively brought to life. We are now in the final stages, collaboratively building prototypes and preparing a solution that meets the project goals while making the task easier for users.
Presentation
Finalized prototypes and a product pitch to present our design solutions to P&G.
We’re now in the final stages, working collaboratively to develop prototypes and finalize a solution that meets the project goals while making the task easier for users. In preparation for the final presentation, we are refining our prototypes to clearly demonstrate key features and user benefits, aligning them with business strategies and user needs. Our team is also crafting a compelling product pitch that highlights our research process, design decisions, and the value our solution brings. We’ll present our prototypes and pitch to industry professionals at P&G headquarters in Cincinnati this December, showcasing our work and gaining valuable feedback from experts.
Reflection
Transformed user insights into actionable design solutions through collaboration and iteration.
Reflecting on the research and design process, this project was a hands-on learning experience where I combined user research, design thinking, and iteration. My role involved conducting in-home and on-site visits to gather user insights, synthesizing findings into clear design directions, and taking the lead on final sketches, prototypes, and presentation materials.
Working with a team from diverse backgrounds taught me how to communicate effectively and balance different perspectives to keep us aligned. Through rounds of prototyping, testing, and refining, I learned the value of trial and error in creating user-centered solutions. This project also pushed me to connect design decisions with business goals, ensuring our ideas were both practical and impactful. Overall, I grew as a designer, learning how to turn real user needs into thoughtful, actionable solutions.
