Case Study
senior project
Year
Deliverables
2021–2022
app, website, & merchandise
eco-hood is an app directed at college students to educate and offer guidance for those who want to adapt a sustainable lifestyle but don't know where to start. The goal of eco-hood is to bring awareness to sustainability practices and help college students understand there are inexpensive ways they can take a step toward sustainability with the help of their friends.
eco-hood was a part of Judson University's senior graphic design showing in 2022 and was designed and displayed in the Draewell Gallery.
What is eco-hood?
Eco-hood is a neighborhood of eco-conscious people. This app offers students a way to learn, track, and share in their communities on campus. Features I included on the app were all based on feedback I received from my on-site audience about what they would be interested in. The features on this app include: blog posts, tracking habits, and lending items.
The brand
The name eco-hood was derived from a combination of "eco" which captures the sense of sustainability and environmentally-conscious practices. "hood" is a shortened version of neighborhood which echoes the brand's push towards building a community.
The logo's modern serif style typeface features elegant curves to create a sophisticated, organic, and elegant feel.
There are 9 total colors used in the palette. The primary color which is most heavily used is Midnight Green Eagle Green.
The app
Being sustainable can be confusing and challenging for college students who are cost-conscious but want to make a difference. Eco-hood offers users a way to learn, track, and share in a community.
The process of designing the app included research from books, articles, surveys, and interviews with real people in the target audience of eco-hood on Judson University's campus.
The app prototype was also tested among users and can be previewed by clicking below!
The big picture
Through this project, I was able to embrace my passions for design. I was pushed to discover, learn, and fuel my curiosity along with my peers and take critical feedback that would help me further this idea. I was able to learn that the design process is long and the ideas you have at the start are not always the outcome but there was a purpose for every step along the way.
eco-hood has enabled me to work with a wide variety of parts of the design process including: branding, web and app design, and product design.
With more revisions and research, I hope this project could be turned a real product that can spark change in how we all think about sustainability and what each of our roles are in doing better for the environment.
The designer, Kaylie Malenius, and the eco-hood gallery exhibit for the 2022 Judson University Senior Graphic Design showcase.
The designer, Kaylie Malenius, presenting her project at the final critique (2022 Judson University Senior Graphic Design showcase)
The designer, Kaylie Malenius, presenting her project at the final critique (2022 Judson University Senior Graphic Design showcase)
The designer, Kaylie Malenius, and the eco-hood gallery exhibit for the 2022 Judson University Senior Graphic Design showcase.