My Kelp App
A mobile app to help ocean farmers track their kelp crops through out the growing season
Introduction
Client GreenWave
My Role Product Design Director
Product Launch Fall 2022
GreenWave’s Kelp Climate Fund is a subsidy program that rewards ocean farmers for the climate-positive impacts of their farms, including carbon and nitrogen removal and habitat restoration. In return, farmers provide critical monitoring data on outplanting, growth rates, and harvest yields.
GreenWave approached my agency to design a simple, intuitive app for farmers enrolled in the Kelp Climate Fund to report farming data throughout the season. In addition to streamlining required data submissions, we sought to include features that would support farmers in their daily operations.
With a tight deadline before launch, we worked efficiently to deliver a functional and impactful MVP.
Research & Discovery
Given the condensed timeline, we streamlined each phase for the initial release. Our research and discovery process benefited greatly from stakeholders who were also active farmers, offering dual perspectives through user interviews and feedback sessions.
To inform our design approach for this niche product, we expanded our competitive analysis to include plant care, agricultural, and productivity apps. These insights provided valuable context for crafting a tool tailored to ocean farmers’ unique needs.
Defining the Product
To prepare for the fast-approaching MVP launch, I led workshops with the product manager and key stakeholders to define the product’s scope and priorities. Together, we reviewed user flows that included both required features and additional concepts. This collaborative effort helped us determine the MVP’s core functionality while identifying features for future releases.
MVP Launch
For the MVP launch, we focused on delivering key features that addressed farmers’ immediate needs:
Data Entry
Inputting kelp species, outplanting, growth measurements, and harvest amounts.
Step-by-Step Guide
Detailed instructions for taking kelp growth measurements.
Dashboard
Displaying relevant infographics throughout the season.
Farm Log
A consolidated view of entries by date, with options to edit or delete.
MVP Launch
UX Design
During the UX design phase, we created low-fidelity prototypes to refine key features and gather feedback before moving into UI design.
MVP Launch
The Design System
We built on the design system established for the launch of GreenWave’s hub, adapting it to suit a utility app while maintaining brand consistency. This included adjusting the UI and incorporating custom kelp illustrations for each species featured in the app.
MVP Launch
UI Design
Here’s a sampling of the final UI at MVP launch:
First Sign-in &
Outplanting Entry
First Growth Sample Entry
with Step-by-Step Guide
Farm Log
The Second Release
Following the successful MVP launch and enthusiastic feedback from farmers, GreenWave returned with a request to enhance the app for the next farming season.
A key priority for the second release was simplifying data submission requirements for the Kelp Climate Fund program, which significantly streamlined the overall app experience. This focus on improving usability also led to refinements in the app’s features and user flows. As part of these updates, we enhanced the UI design to better support the improved functionality and ensure a cohesive, user-friendly experience.
Data Entries
Simplified entry flows, added four new entry types, and enabled notes and photo uploads for logs.
Dashboard
Enhanced with additional, useful graphs to provide seasonal insights.
Farm Log
Expanded to include new entry types, filters and, an enhanced the editing function.
Reports
A new tab for farmers to view past season graphs, with flexibility for more comprehensive analytics in future updates.
Final Thoughts
The My Kelp app demonstrates how thoughtful design and collaboration can solve complex challenges in niche industries. By engaging deeply with users, prioritizing essential features, and iterating based on feedback, we created a tool that not only met immediate needs but also laid a foundation for ongoing improvements.
This project underscored the value of aligning user and stakeholder perspectives and showed how design can drive meaningful change, even within tight timelines. The app’s success has had a tangible impact on farmers’ workflows and the broader goals of the Kelp Climate Fund, and I’m proud to have played a role in its creation and growth.