Role
Role
Role
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Use Case
Use Case
Use Case
UMSI Capstone Project
UMSI Capstone Project
1 Product Manager & 1 Engineer
Skills
Skills
Skills
Interaction Design, Visual Design, Prototyping
Interaction Design, Visual Design, Prototyping
Strategy, Interaction Design, Prototyping
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
Aug 2024 - Dec 2024
Context
Lasso’s recycling appliance needs its first companion app
Lasso’s recycling appliance needs its first companion app
Lasso Loop is an in-home recycling appliance that identifies, cleans, and sorts materials automatically. In 2024, they partnered with the University of Michigan School of Information to design its first companion app. I worked on a team of four, taking this 0-1 project from open brief to final prototype.
Lasso Loop is an in-home recycling appliance that identifies, cleans, and sorts materials automatically. In 2024, they partnered with the University of Michigan School of Information to design its first companion app. I worked on a team of four, taking this 0-1 project from open brief to final prototype.
Research
Phase 01: Definition - Stakeholder Interview
Phase 01: Definition - Stakeholder Interview
What does the app actually do?
What does the app actually do?
We began by interviewing stakeholders to understand how the appliance works and what they envisioned for the app. These conversations defined four non-negotiable capabilities.
We began by interviewing stakeholders to understand how the appliance works and what they envisioned for the app. These conversations defined four non-negotiable capabilities.
Phase 02: Discovery - User interview
Phase 02: Discovery - User interview
What did users say?
What did users say?
Design Requirements
Design Requirements
Where the design journey begins ↓
Where the design journey begins ↓
Iteration 01
Displaying 7 containers without overwhelming
Displaying 7 containers without overwhelming
Iteration 02
When business needs and user needs conflict
When business needs and user needs conflict
Iteration 03
Making impact data digestible
Making impact data digestible
Final Design
Four tabs, one seamless experience
Four tabs, one seamless experience
The final app is organized into four tabs, each serving a distinct user need.
The final app is organized into four tabs, each serving a distinct user need.
01
01
My Lasso
My Lasso
Home screen showing real-time processing status. Users see each stage (sensing, cleaning, shredding, sorting) and get immediate feedback on whether items are accepted, rejected, or need attention.
02
02
Storage
Storage
Container status organized by material type. Three-layer hierarchy (category → container → detail) lets users monitor capacity and access recycling guides
Container status organized by material type. Three-layer hierarchy (category → container → detail) lets users monitor capacity and access recycling guides
03
03
Scan
Scan
Camera-based recyclability checker. Users photograph any item to see if it's recyclable and whether Lasso supports it — directly addressing the recycling confusion we heard in research.
04
04
Impact
Impact
Environmental and financial tracking with segmented views. Overview provides headline metrics with relatable translations; individual tabs offer detailed breakdowns over time.
Reflection
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Explore before committing
Explore before committing
Almost every solution I started with didn't work. The flat container list seemed logical until users couldn't make sense of it. The all-in-one Impact screen felt comprehensive until testers called it overwhelming. I used to see these as failures. Now I see them as part of the process. First attempts are just hypotheses.
Almost every solution I started with didn't work. The flat container list seemed logical until users couldn't make sense of it. The all-in-one Impact screen felt comprehensive until testers called it overwhelming. I used to see these as failures. Now I see them as part of the process. First attempts are just hypotheses.
Conflict is part of the job
Conflict is part of the job
Business goals and user needs often seem like opposites. But choosing a side isn't the answer. The real question is: what solves both? Sometimes that means reframing the problem entirely. Finding that balance is the job.
Business goals and user needs often seem like opposites. But choosing a side isn't the answer. The real question is: what solves both? Sometimes that means reframing the problem entirely. Finding that balance is the job.
