Overview

Summary of project

Designing a mobile app that connects users with local farmers and allows them to purchase fresh produce directly from the source. The app aims to create a more sustainable and ethical food system by supporting local farmers and reducing the environmental impact of transporting food long distances. The app will offer a convenient and user-friendly platform for users to browse available produce, place orders, and arrange pickup or delivery.

What I learned

Throughout the process of creating the local harvest, I gained valuable insights, particularly regarding colour management. A key takeaway from this project was the challenge of achieving accurate colour representation on a website. Selecting hues, shades, and tones to reflect local produce required meticulous attention and consideration, navigating complexities such as consistency across devices and colour psychology. Despite the challenges, this journey emphasized the importance of precision and harmony in colour selection for an engaging user experience.

To determine the type of product I needed to create and identify what users would want from it, I conducted a competitor analysis, focused on pain points that the user may have with the product, and created user personas to gather a better understanding of who this product was for.

Research methods:

• Competitors

• AnalysisPain

• PointsPersona

1. How often do you shop for groceries, and where do you typically buy them?

2. Have you ever shopped at a farm shop before? If so, what was your experience like?

3. What factors are most important to you when choosing where to shop for groceries?

4. How do you typically find information about local farm shops or farmers' markets in your area?

5. What information do you look for when deciding whether to visit a farm shop, such as pricing, product availability, or location?

6. Do you have any concerns about shopping at farm shops, such as limited product selection or unfamiliarity with the products?

7. How do you prefer to receive information about promotions, discounts, or special events at farm shops?

8. Have you ever had trouble finding a specific product or item at a farm shop? If so, what was the issue?

9. Would you be interested in receiving personalized recommendations for farm shops or products based on your preferences or past purchases?

10. How important is it to you to support local farmers and businesses when shopping for groceries?

The answers from this survey were used in the next section to discover the pain points. needs for the user.

• Difficulty finding local farmers and their available produce: Many people who prioritize locally sourced and fresh food may struggle to find local farmers and their available produce. This app aims to solve this problem by providing a directory of local farmers and their available produce, making it easier for users to find and support local agriculture.

• The inconvenience of purchasing fresh produce from local farmers: Purchasing fresh produce directly from local farmers can often involve coordinating pick-up times and locations, which can be inconvenient for some people. This app aims to solve this problem by allowing users to easily place orders through the app and choose either pick-up or delivery options, providing a more convenient way to access fresh produce.

• Lack of transparency and trust in the food system: Some people may have concerns about the transparency and trustworthiness of the food system, particularly when it comes to large-scale agriculture and distribution. This app aims to solve this problem by providing a platform for users to directly connect with local farmers, learn about their growing practices and the origin of their produce, and leave reviews and ratings for the farmers and products. This can help build trust and transparency in the food system, and provide users with more confidence in the quality and sustainability of their food.

Our target audience for this app is health-conscious individuals who prioritize fresh and locally sourced food, as well as people who want to support small-scale farmers and reduce their carbon footprint. The app will be designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups, from young adults to seniors.

1. Emily: Emily is a busy mother of two who values the quality of the food she serves her family. She works full-time and doesn't have much spare time to go grocery shopping, so she often relies on online shopping. She prefers to buy organic and locally sourced produce and is willing to pay a little extra for it. Emily would use the farm shop app to browse and order fresh produce from local farmers, as well as other products like artisan breads and cheeses.

2. Tom: Tom is a health-conscious athlete who likes to eat a balanced diet and train hard. He shops frequently for fresh produce and high-protein foods, but he often finds that the produce at his local grocery store is not up to his standards. He wants to support local farmers and get the freshest produce possible, but he doesn't have the time to visit farmers' markets. Tom would use the farm shop app to find and order high-quality, locally sourced produce and other healthy foods that meet his dietary needs.

3. Sarah: Sarah is a chef who runs a small restaurant that specializes in farm-to-table cuisine. She needs to source the freshest, most flavourful ingredients for her dishes, and she prefers to work with local farmers and suppliers. However, she finds it difficult to keep track of what's available at different farms and markets. Sarah would use the farm shop app to search for and order the ingredients she needs for her menu and to stay updated on the availability of seasonal produce from local farms.

The app will include the following key features:

• Farmers Directory/map: Users can browse a directory of local farmers and learn about their farms, growing practices, and available produce.

• Product Listings: Farmers can list their available produce, including prices, quantities, and any special instructions or details. Users can browse the listings and add items to their carts.

• Checkout and Payment: Users can complete the checkout process and securely pay for their orders through the app.

• Pickup and Delivery: Users can choose to either pick up their orders directly from the farm or have them delivered to a specified location. They can also track the status of their order and receive notifications about pickup or delivery.

• User Profiles: Users can create and manage their profiles, which will save their order history and allow them to leave reviews and ratings for farmers and products.