Lasso Loop Recycling APP
Product Designer + Researcher • Co-op Project • 3 Months
Team: 1 Founder, 1 Software Engineer, 2 designer (🙋♀️ me), 2 Researcher(🙋♀️ me)
The Lasso Machine is a home recycling appliance that lets households recycle and sell materials while boosting efficiency and recovery rates. To maximize its value, users needed a simple way to monitor and control the machine. The Lasso App was created to bridge that gap, making recycling easier, smarter, and more rewarding.
The Lasso Machine is a home recycling appliance that lets households recycle and sell materials while boosting efficiency and recovery rates. To maximize its value, users needed a simple way to monitor and control the machine. The Lasso App was created to bridge that gap, making recycling easier, smarter, and more rewarding.
The Challenge
What to design to bridge the gaps
Research
Competitor Analysis + Interviews + Survey
1.How can we encourage/motivate users in their recycling journey?
2.How can we make the Lasso App to better support users' experiences using the Lasso Appliance?
1.How can we encourage/motivate users in their recycling journey?
2.How can we make the Lasso App to better support users' experiences using the Lasso Appliance?
Competitor Analysis
To explore and prioritize features, I did a competitor analysis. The spotted design patterns and contradictory features were tested in interviews and surveys to see what users prefer.
To explore and prioritize features, I did a competitor analysis. The spotted design patterns and contradictory features were tested in interviews and surveys to see what users prefer.
Direct Competitors
Direct Competitors
myTomra, bottle recycle machine w/ an app
myTomra, bottle recycle machine w/ an app
Indirect Competitor
Indirect Competitor
Recycling apps may/may not include a device
Recycling apps may/may not include a device
Indirect Competitor
Indirect Competitor
Device-control apps, like Bose, Xfinity, Google Home
Device-control apps, like Bose, Xfinity, Google Home
Interview
Interviewed 2 stakeholders to understand appliance capabilities and 17 future users to identify needs, motivations, scenarios, and expectations for an ideal app experience
Interviewed 2 stakeholders to understand appliance capabilities and 17 future users to identify needs, motivations, scenarios, and expectations for an ideal app experience
2 interview with Lasso Loop engineers to understand the appliance's capability
2 interview with Lasso Loop engineers to understand the appliance's capability
2 interview with Lasso Loop engineers to understand the appliance's capability
6 interview with Pre-sale users who signed up with Lasso.
6 interview with Pre-sale users who signed up with Lasso.
6 interview with Pre-sale users who signed up with Lasso.
11 interviews with Potential buyers who has interests in recycling can share opinion (recruited using social media)
11 interviews with Potential buyers who has interests in recycling can share opinion (recruited using social media)
11 interviews with Potential buyers who has interests in recycling can share opinion (recruited using social media)
Surveys
Gathered 22 survey responses from Lasso pre-sale users to explore feature and visual preferences
Gathered 22 survey responses from Lasso pre-sale users to explore feature and visual preferences
67%
67%
67%
prioritize efficiency over entertainment
prioritize efficiency over entertainment
78%
78%
78%
expressed little interest in gamified features
expressed little interest in gamified features
90%
90%
90%
expect the app has product scanning for recyclability
expect the app has product scanning for recyclability
85%
85%
85%
live in multi-person households
live in multi-person households
Insights and Design
Surveys showed most pre-sale users wanted a simple app. Interviews confirmed why — our target audience, high-income families, don’t have time to play around with features. They need the app to be straightforward
Surveys showed most pre-sale users wanted a simple app. Interviews confirmed why — our target audience, high-income families, don’t have time to play around with features. They need the app to be straightforward
"I want the app to be easy to navigate, clean, and functional. I want to get to necessary features quickly and avoid multiple button presses."
"I want the app to be easy to navigate, clean, and functional. I want to get to necessary features quickly and avoid multiple button presses."
"I don't want anything fun/gamification, I don't have much time for that. I just want to be able to finish my tasks as quickly as possible."
"I don't want anything fun/gamification, I don't have much time for that. I just want to be able to finish my tasks as quickly as possible."
70%
70%
70%
Pre-sale users want a efficient and simple app that serve the basic functionalities and regular updates.
Pre-sale users want a efficient and simple app that serve the basic functionalities and regular updates.
Appliance Control
The home screen shows the appliance status at first glance, informing users it’s connected and ready to load.
Swipe up to see current recycle history.
The home screen shows the appliance status at first glance, informing users it’s connected and ready to load.
Swipe up to see current recycle history.
✅ When the bottle loaded success
⏳ The animation will start automatically.
❌ When the loaded bottle is problematic, for example not drained
⏳ The animation will start automatically.
Container & Pick-up Scheduling
How much much did users collect presents in the second tab. Users won't need more interaction to see how full their container is.
We made pickup scheduling less prominent to avoid unnecessary trips. Our Client, Lasso Loop, wants to pick up those full containers to cut costs and keep the supply chain efficient.
When a container is full, users get an easy notification to schedule pickup. If needed earlier, pickup is always available in settings.
We made pickup scheduling less prominent to avoid unnecessary trips. Our Client, Lasso Loop, wants to pick up those full containers to cut costs and keep the supply chain efficient.
When a container is full, users get an easy notification to schedule pickup. If needed earlier, pickup is always available in settings.
Maintenance & Live Chat
More supportive features can be found in setting bar.
Rather than having dedicated education page like other competitors, we let users learn naturally while doing their work, and provide guidance and tips without disrupting the key tasks.
Rather than having dedicated education page like other competitors, we let users learn naturally while doing their work, and provide guidance and tips without disrupting the key tasks.
"I know that it creates an impact to the environmental footprint, but it would be nice to see things like, oh, you shouldn't be buying this, or these are recyclable material"
"Scanning could be helpful in terms of deciding what to buy in the stores. It could induce behavioral change"
90%
expect the app has product scanning for recyclability
Container & Pick-up Scheduling
We added a scanning feature to help users tell recyclables from landfill. It supports the appliance and educates users to do the right thing.
We added a scanning feature to help users tell recyclables from landfill. It supports the appliance and educates users to do the right thing.
Lasso engineers told us AI object recognition is tricky, but it can improve with more training images.
So we added a feedback system: users get instant correction when recognition is wrong, and engineers get real-world data to improve the model.
Lasso engineers told us AI object recognition is tricky, but it can improve with more training images.
So we added a feedback system: users get instant correction when recognition is wrong, and engineers get real-world data to improve the model.
Since our users are eco-advocates who dislike gamification or extra steps, we skipped milestone-style motivation used by most competitors and simply showed their impact.
"I'm interested in my environmental impact. Stats is important But it doesn't need to be thorough. Simpler the better."
"Prefer positive environmental feedback to encourage continued use. But nothing crazy like games or planting trees."
78%
expressed little interest in gamified features
Container & Pick-up Scheduling
Lasso app present their key milestones with notification without extra interactions
Lasso app present their key milestones with notification without extra interactions
Users will be able to find their impacts and earning in one tab to see a clear summary.
Users will be able to find their impacts and earning in one tab to see a clear summary.
Design Process
Phase 1. Rapid Ideation
Initiating the design process, we established user flow and roughly sketched ideas. We rapidly tested these ideas by asking peers to complete simple tasks and asking their first impressions and explorative thoughts.
Individual Brainstorming
Group Discussion
Crafted User Flow
Phase 2. Variants and Preference Testing
We created two variations of low-fidelity prototypes, then conducted 4 preference testing sessions.
Variant 1: Tab-less approach
Recycling Process on the landing page, other features nested under the hamburger menu.
❌ This variant created a navigation challenge, requiring users extra effort to learn the flow.
Variant 2: Four Tabs Approach
Bottom navigation with four distinct tabs: Home, Schedule, Scan, and Profile.
✅ Conventional navigation and modern interface was favored, makes it easier to use.
Phase 3. Usability Testing and Repeated Iterations
Optimized navigation system
Balanced Business Goals & Usability
Phase 4. Increasing Fidelity and Heuristic Evaluation
Increased Fidelity
Standardizing the color system
Covered Edge Use Cases
About Me
Graduation Date: December 2025
Location: Free to relocation in U.S.
Looking for: in-house UX designer/UX researcher/ PM
Contact
About Me
Graduation Date: December 2025
Location: Free to relocation in U.S.
Looking for: in-house UX designer/UX researcher/ PM
Contact
About Me
Graduation Date: December 2025
Location: Free to relocation in U.S.
Looking for: in-house UX designer/UX researcher/ PM
Contact