Watersmart case
In this project, we partnered with Laholmsbukten VA (LVBA) to develop a service concept and interface visualization. The project was completed within a five-week timeframe and was arranged through Halmstad University. As a state-owned company, LVBA is responsible for the water and sewage supply in Halmstad and Laholm, and works closely with VIVAB, which manages water and sewage supply in Falkenberg and Varberg. Together, they operate the website Vattensmart.se, where individuals can learn about ways to conserve water.
Background
In 2017, Sweden faced a water shortage due to a prolonged drought and low rain levels in the preceding years. This crisis served as a catalyst for LVBA to increase awareness about sustainable water usage and conservation. Prior to this event, LVBA had an ongoing project for companies to input and easily visualize their water usage data using Excel. Our project was to help advance this initiative and raise awareness about the importance of sustainable water usage.
Group members
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Visual designer
As the visual designer i was leading the sketch sessions and had the control over the visuals of the application.
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Projectleader
As the project My pushed the project forward and oversaw the project.
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Analyst
Admir’s responsibilities was to see over for the analysis in the different phases.
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Evaluation officer
Natalie Karlsen and Henrik Bengtsson shared this role. Their job was to conduct the evaluations and to find fitting evaluations methods for this project.
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Documentation manager
Sebastian focus is to ensure that everything is documented in this projecet.
Problem area
LVBA handed us a breif for the project were they described what they needed help with and described todays problem with water usage. These are the four main points from the breif:
Change the view on water
How do we create an understanding?
How is water looked at as a resource?
How do we take care of water resources and protect them?
Solution
Our solution was service design-oriented and consisted of an interface prototype made on Figma and a plan to implement the service in the future.
Interface
This is the Figma prototype we created where companies can easily view their water usage. The home page is divided into four columns to create a useful overview that is not too crowded. The charts display water usage, industry comparison, and Area of use. In the box on the bottom right, measurement panels are displayed, but also a button for counseling. This is because we wanted to give it incentive.
Web based
This is the counseling page where businesses can book counseling. We wanted to emphasize the importance of counseling services in this project, as our goal was not only to inform businesses about their water usage but also to assist them in finding water-smart solutions.
Application
Web based
This is the mobile version that includes all the essential features. We chose not to include everything in the mobile version to keep it simple and provide an overview.
Implemintation
Here is how the solution can be implemented in LVBA's existing system, as well as integrated into the customer journey within the service. This was a crucial aspect of the solution as the implementation process is complex and affects multiple stages of the customer journey, not just a single point.
Customer journey map
This is a preferred future state customer journey map where customers' needs and pain points are shown through a customer journey. The map aims to show LBVA and VIVAB, in a pedagogical way, what a future service may look like from a company's perspective.
Preferred future state customer journey.
Service roadmap
This service roadmap shows how LBVA and VIVAB could implement the services over a period of eight years. It includes a timeline with milestones that must be achieved related to digital infrastructure, physical infrastructure, and marketing. On the right of the road map is service specifications, which function as a brief or explanation for external parties of what needs to be developed and implemented.
Service road map.
Service specifications.
Design process
Now, parts of the design process will be presented. It was an agile process where we utilized Asana to plan tasks. Asana allowed us to organize tasks chronologically and allocate responsibilities among team members.
Here are some of our early sketches in the process. We drew inspiration from other water measurement services, utilizing their ideas to generate our own concepts.
Desktop research was conducted to gain a deeper understanding of water smartness and to develop a better understanding of the topic. An environmental analysis was also conducted to compare how other countries perceive water and how they manage their drinking water in comparison to Halland County.
The desktop research yielded several insights into the field of water smartness. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are inclined to become more water-smart, but often lack knowledge on how to achieve this. A significant level of unawareness or deliberate ignorance was identified within corporate cultures regarding water smartness. The available information on this topic was often found scattered in various agendas or scientific articles.
Interviews
During the research process, three different categories of companies were identified: tourism/hospitality, agriculture/food production, and health innovation. These were the types of companies we interviewed for this project. There were higher chances that companies like these could be influenced and they had a significant water usage that could be reduced. We also had data from previous projects that LVBA had with other companies, which helped us to compare and draw inspiration from the data.
My role
During this project, I experimented with taking on the role of a visual designer. It was an enjoyable experience as it provided me with significant creative freedom. However, I realized that it may not be a career path that I am particularly interested in pursuing in the long term. While I am not exceptionally skilled in graphic design, I prefer expressing my creativity through other means. I am more inclined towards identifying problems and addressing them through digital solutions. I find satisfaction in leveraging technology to solve challenges and create innovative solutions.