Volvo
MOBILE APP | CANNES FUTURE LION SHORTLIST
︎An app that encourages users to be more cognizant of their digital footprint and the impact it has on the planet.
︎Timeline: Feb 2023 – May 2023
︎Tools: Figma, Photoshop
︎Team: Me, Product Designer, Miles Hanson CW, Berwyn Hung, Professor at VCU Brandcenter
PROBLEM:
Scrolling on social media leaves an environmental footprintOPPORTUNITY:
How can Volvo pioneer the use of technology to protect people and make them feel safe?SOLUTION:
Create a tool that translates a user’s digital scrolling into a measurable distance
UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
When we think about our carbon footprint, we tend to pinpoint our electricity usage or the mileage of our daily commute; when in fact, our social media habits are also a big polluter. Like every technology, scrolling on social media has an environmental footprint: which is a lot higher than people might think.
Globally, the carbon footprint of our gadgets accounts for 3.7% of total greenhouse emissions, a percentage higher than the amount produced by the aviation industry. This percentage is set to at least double by 2025.
Globally, the carbon footprint of our gadgets accounts for 3.7% of total greenhouse emissions, a percentage higher than the amount produced by the aviation industry. This percentage is set to at least double by 2025.
WHY SOCIAL MEDIA?
More than half of the population today uses social media, a total of 4.48 billion people.
99% of users access their social media accounts through a mobile device.
The average social media user engages with approximately 7 various social media platforms.
THE SOLUTION
Introducing “Span” an app sponsored by Volvo that encourages people to be more cognizant of their social media usage and the impact it has on the planet. Span displays the average “pixel distance” per day a user has scrolled on their social media apps and then provides the carbon emission equivalent of traveling the same distance via car.
By translating their scrolling to a measurable distance, people can experience their social media usage more tangibly while minimizing their digital carbon footprint.
By translating their scrolling to a measurable distance, people can experience their social media usage more tangibly while minimizing their digital carbon footprint.
WIREFRAMES
SPAN X VOLVO
The UI of the app incorporates Volvo’s branding and color palette. By keeping it simple and minimal, the data and information stands out.
HOW IT WORKS
Span displays the “distance” per day a user has scrolled on their social media apps. By translating their scrolling to a measurable distance, people can experience their social media usage more tangibly.
SCREEN OVERVIEW
SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMARY
Users have the option to view each social media app individually to see their distance scrolled & grams of carbon emitted.
GOOGLE MAPS PARTNERSHIP
The app seamlessly integrates with Google Maps to translate your total monthly distance scrolled to the distance between well known geographical locations.
IN CAR EXPERIENCE
Experience the app in your Volvo to compare your miles physically traveled in your vehicle with your scrolled “miles” on your smartphone.
RESULT + IMPACT
This project addresses the brief from the Future Lions 2023 prompt in collaboration with Volvo. My entry was shortlisted for AKQA's Future Lions, the only accolade for emerging talent at Cannes Lions.
REFLECTION + LEARNING
This brief required me to think outside of the box and consider how a traditional brand like Volvo might expand into different ecosystems outside of the car. While the distance one scrolls might not feel like a measurable stat, I quickly learned that it is and it adds up quickly. This project taught me the importance of thinking outside of the box no matter what the brief might be. While I landed on this solution due to the perameters of the assignment, I learned the importance of carrying that method of thinking over into all of my design work and process.