Grow On
Duration
Aug- Dec 2025
Problem
Urban communities, especially marginalized ones, often face limited access to fresh produce, lack of knowledge or support for gardening, and minimal opportunities to engage with neighbors around sustainable food practices. This makes it difficult to grow their own food, contribute to local food systems, and track the environmental impact of their actions.
Role: Co-Creator alongside Dixie Thomas
Contributions:
Research & Discovery
Strategy
Wireframing & Layout
Visual Design (UI)
Prototyping
User Testing
Iteration
Visual Storytelling
Solution
Grow On is a gamified app that helps marginalized urban communities access fresh produce, contribute to a shared pantry, and stay connected through a community feed. It includes AI tools like a recipe generator, plant health scanner, and seedling tracker to support gardening and predict germination. Users can track the CO₂ and water saved by using garden produce, and engage with personal and community-wide point system graphs. By combining community resources, sustainability tracking, and intelligent tools, GrowOn empowers users to grow, learn, and actively participate in their local food system.
Figma file
Challenges
Designing an app that balances complex AI features (recipe generator, plant health scanner, seedling tracker) with simplicity and usability for a diverse user base.
Integrating sustainability tracking (CO₂ and water savings) and gamified point systems in a way that motivates without overwhelming users.
Creating a community-driven experience that encourages contribution and engagement while maintaining accessibility for marginalized populations.
Coordinating design decisions with technical feasibility and real-world garden logistics.
Takeaways
Simplifying complex features is key to usability, especially when serving diverse communities.
Gamification and sustainability metrics can meaningfully drive engagement when integrated thoughtfully.
Community feedback and iterative testing are essential for designing features that truly resonate with users.
Collaborative design requires balancing creative vision, technical constraints, and user needs.