VingeByen is tailored for everyone who feels at home in Vinge and wishes to live more sustainably while building relationships in the neighborhood.

Introduction

ByenVinge is more than an app; it is the heart of community and sustainability in the residential area. The application’s purpose is to create an innovative digital platform that brings together local community, daily sustainability, and neighborhood activities. The result is a new platform that strengthens the network and fosters a sense of security in the local area.

ROLE

Lead Designer

PROJECT DURATION

December 2021  – 1 week

PROJECT TYPE

Exam project

DESIGN TOOLS

Case summary

During this exam assignment, we were challenged to develop a hyperlocal digital network using the design thinking process as a digital concept developer. The task had no specific requirements, but the purpose was to develop a concept for the city of Vinge in just one week.

The provided task description stated:
“VINGE has a vision for their ‘green heart,’ aiming to create various activities that support communities and an active outdoor life. The ‘green heart’ is a structure designed to connect VINGE with recreational surroundings, support biodiversity, and enhance city life.”

In this assignment, I focused on Vinge’s visions, and with the help of my target audience analysis and various studies, I developed an app for the residents of Vinge. Together, they can participate in their own community, using the platform to write, debate, engage in communal activities, and keep track of collective savings such as energy consumption, water usage, waste reduction, etc.

The five Visions

Citylife

Nature

Sustainability

Community

Closeness

Login page
Create account with activation code
Create account with email

Login

As the classic way to join a digital network, users are presented with the login page.

On the login page, they can choose between logging in and creating a user using an activation code assigned by the property owner or signing up with an email if they haven’t received an activation code.

  • Intuitive design
  • Quick process
  • Security as a priority
  • Simple and clear guidance
Home section

Home

On the main page is the entire overview where residents can get an overview of the “City’s green status”, where residents can see the collective savings that they have collectively influenced.

In addition to this, you can see the various popular activities currently taking place. In the overview, you can also find the latest posts from residents as well as messages from the property office.

  • Simple navigation
  • Simple and clear overview
  • Focused on relevant information
  • Enhances individual commitment to green living

The area

A map of the Vinge city area will be available to users, allowing them to see a map of the city with walking routes, local shops, trails, etc.
This accessibility can create a sense of closeness among residents and provide an overview of the entire area.

  • Informative Route
  • Focused on nature
  • Clear map overview
  • Ratings and clear description of route
Map of Vinge City
A route the city of Vinge
Community section

Community

The community includes various posts by residents, where they can share updates with each other.
The purpose of having a community section is to foster closeness among residents, maintain the community, and create a sense of security in the Vinge city.

  • Clear interface
  • Easy navigation
  • Share, comment and react to posts
  • Focused on community and closeness

Activities

To create a better network within the neighborhood, it is also relevant to engage in activities together in the surroundings of the Vinge city.

The activities section will, therefore, be an advantage for the neighbors, where they can build a bond together.
Activities may include New Year’s parties, Christmas evenings for individuals alone during the holiday season and sustainable events. Furthermore, the various activities can also cater to families with children, allowing them to socialize with other families.

  • Social Connectivity
  • Quick Event Discovery
  • Accessible Information
  • Neighborhood Bonding
Activities section
Plantday with children and families event
Profile section

Profile

As it is a community platform where each user has their own profile, it is relevant to include a profile section for each user. This allows users to identify themselves on the platform, and by having a personal profile, users become more engaged as they feel a connection to the platform and other users.

Under the profile section, residents can also create tasks for the property office, such as a broken window, issues with the sink, etc. This feature facilitates a closer and more efficient connection to the property office.

  • Post, event and area overview
  • Support help and settings
  • Lasts activites and saved posts
  • Tasks for the property office

Usability test

Throughout the process, I conducted usability tests and implemented a dark mode version in response to participants struggling with prolonged screen exposure in light mode.
Dark mode not only enhances eye comfort, especially in low-light conditions but also conserves battery life on devices with OLED or AMOLED screens.

This mode provides improved contrast and readability along with an aesthetically pleasing appearance, contributing to an enhanced user experience.

Changes

During the process, several changes have been made to enhance the user-friendliness of the application. In addition to introducing the dark mode feature, I modified the menu to make it easier for users to navigate to different sections.
The think-aloud test revealed that the previous version of the menu was cumbersome for users to locate the various sections. As more text has been added, test results indicate that it is now more user-friendly.

OLD VERSION
NEW VERSION

Visual Identity

There are several factors contributing to the success of a concept. As the visual aspect is crucial, I have created a logo and developed the visual identity for the ByenVinge concept.

  • Recognition: Ensures easy identification and recall.
  • Branding: Integral for brand establishment and reinforcement.
  • Attraction: Draws and leaves a positive first impression.

Colors

The chosen colors for the visual identity include the blue color, symbolizing trustworthiness and loyalty. The green color signifies nature and sustainability.

HEX #A0E226 │ rgb(160, 226, 38)

HEX #358594 │ rgb(53, 133, 148)

HEX #ffffff │ rgb(255, 255, 255)

Typography

The typography used to build the logo is a geometric sans-serif typeface.
This font style often conveys a sense of simplicity, purity, and modernity, being clear and distinct.