Plant For Pollinators and We All Flourish
Introduction
Many people are unaware of how essential pollinators are to our food chain and ecosystems; even those who do want to help lack clear, accessible guidance on how to create pollinator-friendly spaces. With information that is not tailored to specific regions or skill levels, people feel uncertain about which plants or practices make a real difference. This gap in awareness and practical support limits broader community participation to protect pollinators.
The Pollinator Project will make starting and mainaining gardens for pollinators easy and accessible. Everything from what plants will thrive in the user’s region to what will grow in specific areas of their gardens will be right at their fingertips. Complete instructions will be provided to help them create a successful pollinator garden, thereby contributing to the restoration of pollinator habitat. The user would be a part of something bigger than themselves by contributing to the greater good.
Project Details: How the Work Came Together
Project Duration: 11 weeks
Role: I was the end-to-end UX/UI designer on The Pollinator Project.
Tools Used: Figma, Canva, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop
Approaches Taken: I used a combination of linear and iterative approaches. During the early stages of research, synthesis, and defining the problem, I followed a mostly linear structure to build a solid foundation.
Once I began designing and prototyping, my process became iterative. I tested early concepts, gathered user feedback, and refined the design to improve clarity and usability.
Research: Understanding the Gardeners’ Dilemma
App: WILD BEE GARDENS
Main Strength:
Educational focus on native bees
Main Weakness:
Narrow scope, not for casual gardeners
Opportunity for The Pollinator Project:
Broaden appeal to all pollinators
App: BEE SMART POLLINATOR GARDENER
Main Strength:
Robust plant filters and data
Main Weakness:
Static tool with little engagement
Opportunity for The Pollinator Project:
Add interactive, user-friendly features
App: SEED TO SPOON
Main Strength:
Personalized plant suggestions
Main Weakness:
Overly broad; not pollinator-specific
Opportunity for The Pollinator Project:
Provide pollinator-centered guidance
App: INSIGHT CITIZEN APP
Main Strength:
Encourages citizen science
Main Weakness:
Lacks local or educational content
Opportunity for The Pollinator Project:
Blend educational content with observation tools
Other nature-focused apps such as PlantSnap and Audubon provided inspiration for visual style and educational tone, even though their missions differ from The Pollinator Project’s goal of making pollinator gardening approachable for everyone.
Personas:
Participants shared that finding reliable, region-specific guidance for growing native pollinator plants is a challenge. Much of the information online is generalized, leaving them uncertain about how to create thriving, pollinator-friendly gardens.
I conducted all of the interviews and I asked participants questions centered on their habits, challenges, and motivations.
Each question was designed to uncover a mix of emotional, behavioral, and practical insights.
What challenges do you face when trying to choose or maintain pollinator plants?
Can you share a time when your efforts to help pollinators were successful or especially rewarding?
Have you ever tried to help pollinators, but felt it didn’t work?
Are there plants or practices you have avoided because of maintenance, cost, or uncertainty?
What kinds of tools or resources would be most helpful in a pollinator gardening app?
Most interviews were remote via Google Meet, the remainder were in-person
User Interviews
Synthesis
Problem Statement:
Many people are unaware of how essential pollinators are to our food chain and ecosystems; even those who do want to help lack clear, accessible guidance on how to create pollinator-friendly spaces. With information that is not tailored to specific regions or skill levels, people feel uncertain about which plants or practices make a real difference. This gap in awareness and practical support limits broader community participation to protect pollinators.
Awareness:
POV: Many people are unaware about the vital role that pollinators have on the food chain and that by planting the right plants, they can take simple steps that create meaningful change.
HMW: How might we raise awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our food systems and ecosystems?
Action:
POV: A gardener who wants to attract pollinators needs clear, region-specific guidance on which plants will be most useful because information overwhelm leaves them uncertain about what will truly help.
HMW: How might we make it easy for people to choose the right plants and practices for their space and region?
Impact:
POV: People who care about the environment need to see how planting a pollinator garden can strengthen local ecosystems because small, individual efforts can add up to meaningful collective impact.
HMW: How might we show users the tangible results of their efforts, so they feel encouraged to continue supporting pollinators?
Prioritization: Setting Up a Clear Path
The sitemap helped me understand how users would move through the app. It clarified which features needed to come first and how to keep the experience easy to follow.
Branding: Rooted in Nature, Designed for Growth
Logos
Brand Values
Educating
Empowering
Awareness
Collaborating
Accessible
Purpose driven
These values guided my design decisions, from the app’s tone and visual identity to the interactions that makes gardening for pollinators approachable and rewarding.
The logo was designed to instantly express what The Pollinator Project stands for. The butterfly and flower capture a moment of interaction which is a reminder of how small actions create balance in nature. The gentle, natural palette reflects the app’s calm and encouraging tone, inviting anyone to take part in helping pollinators thrive.
Wireframes: Bringing the Vision to Life
Lo Fidelity Wireframes
First-time visitors are introduced to pollinators, the plants that support them, and their vital role in our food system.
The user can then enter their zip code to see the best plants for their area and have the option to create an account.
The Pollinator Profile section lets users enter information about their garden space(s) to receive pollinator plant suggestions tailored to their area, along with tips to help their gardens succeed. In order to see the results, the user has to sign up.
The Field Notes section gives users a place to record their gardening journey from notes and observations to photos with captions and tags. Each entry is automatically organized into the right garden gallery for easy reference.
Hi Fidelity Wireframes
First Time Visitor Flow
Pollinator Profile and Planting Guide
Field Notes
Visual Branding: A Modern Field Guide
The Pollinator Project’s UI kit blends natural tones, approachable typography, and clean components to create a consistent, field-guide aesthetic that feels educational yet inviting.
Testing and Iterations: Growing Through Feedback
Usability Test Results
Number of participants: 5
Method of testing: In-person and via Google Meet
Flows tested: First Time Visitor, Pollinator Profile, and Field Notes
User insights: Participants found the overall flow intuitive, though the Pollinator Profile caused friction once questions were completed. All users wanted to tap the “What should I plant?” button instead of “Sign up to see your results.” They mentioned that the sign-up option felt hidden between the button and the navigation.
Users agreed that the app would be especially helpful for people interested in starting a pollinator garden. The First-Time Visitor flow was praised for providing clear educational content and allowing users to see recommended plants for their area without signing up.
Several participants mentioned that they liked the payoff screen at the end of the Pollinator Profile flow, noting that the encouraging message would motivate them to return.
Testers also saw value in the Field Notes feature, appreciating the ability to keep photos and observations organized in one place rather than having to search through their phone galleries.
Revisions
To reduce confusion after completing the Pollinator Profile, I simplified the sign-up process. Originally, users needed to sign up to view their results. The sign-up prompt sat between the “See Results” button and the bottom navigation, which caused it to be overlooked. I removed the separate sign-up text and relied on a single button. If users were not yet signed up, a sign-up prompt appeared after tapping the button, making the flow clearer and more intuitive.
I also reordered the navigation icons to match the logical flow of the app: Pollinator Profile, Planting Guide, Field Notes, and Get Planting.
The “Skip” link originally drew too much attention, leading some users to delay signing up. I reduced its font size and changed the weight to regular to minimize distraction while keeping the option visible.
Finally, I added a thank-you message at the end of the Planting Guide flow to recognize users for helping pollinators by planting pollinator-friendly gardens. This message was originally on its own screen but was moved to the bottom of the guide to ensure users would see it before exiting the flow.
Final Results
I was inspired to create this project because it stemmed from something that really matters to me. Talking with others who shared an interest in supporting pollinators was motivating, and I learned how willing people are to make a difference when they have reliable guidance. It also became clear how few accessible resources exist for creating thriving pollinator habitats, reinforcing the need for a tool like The Pollinator Project.
Moving forward, I plan to continue developing The Pollinator Project by refining its features and collaborating with others who share the same mission. There’s so much more to explore, and I’m excited to see where this project goes next.
Each project teaches me more about the UX design process, and I can see how much I’ve grown as a designer. Still, nothing compares to the lessons learned through real-world experience.
© 2025 Susan Herman. All work on this site is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.