THE
AQUALITY APP
THE
AQUALITY APP
THE AQUALITY APP
Empowering farmers worldwide with accessible tools to measure and monitor water quality for a sustainable future.
Empowering farmers worldwide with accessible tools to measure and monitor water quality for a sustainable future.
Empowering farmers worldwide with accessible tools to measure and monitor water quality for a sustainable future.
[Role]
LEAD UI DESIGNER
LEAD UI DESIGNER
[Client]
DELTARES
DELTARES
[Studio]
IBM iX
IBM iX
[Area]
UX/UI DESIGN
UX/UI DESIGN
THE CHALLENGE
Farmers need reliable, simple ways to measure water quality in order to make better decisions for their crops and the environment. Traditional methods were time-consuming, inaccessible, and often required technical knowledge or expensive equipment.
Deltares set out to create a mobile tool that could empower farmers with accurate, easy-to-use functionality — enabling sustainable decision-making at scale.
Through IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program, we’re collaborating with Deltares to enhance the app’s user experience & functionality and boost its adoption by making it even more valuable and accessible to farmers.
Farmers need reliable, simple ways to measure water quality in order to make better decisions for their crops and the environment. Traditional methods were time-consuming, inaccessible, and often required technical knowledge or expensive equipment.
Deltares set out to create a mobile tool that could empower farmers with accurate, easy-to-use functionality — enabling sustainable decision-making at scale.
Through IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program, we’re collaborating with Deltares to enhance the app’s user experience & functionality and boost its adoption by making it even more valuable and accessible to farmers.
THE CHALLENGE
Farmers need reliable, simple ways to measure water quality in order to make better decisions for their crops and the environment. Traditional methods were time-consuming, inaccessible, and often required technical knowledge or expensive equipment.
Deltares set out to create a mobile tool that could empower farmers with accurate, easy-to-use functionality — enabling sustainable decision-making at scale.
Through IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program, we’re collaborating with Deltares to enhance the app’s user experience & functionality and boost its adoption by making it even more valuable and accessible to farmers.
PROCESS
PROCESS
[RESEARCH & INSIGHTS]
[RESEARCH & INSIGHTS]
[RESEARCH & INSIGHTS]
Conducted initial research to understand farmers’ needs, pain points, and existing practices, through interviews and surveys.
Analysed what Deltares had already built and identified opportunities for improvement through usability and heuristic evaluations.
Worked with a pilot group of farmers, testing early versions of the app and collecting feedback.
Key barriers we uncovered:
Farmers asked “What do I do with the data I’ve collected?”
Farmers struggled to interpret what results meant for their crops and decisions.
Conducted initial research to understand farmers’ needs, pain points, and existing practices, through interviews and surveys.
Analysed what Deltares had already built and identified opportunities for improvement through usability and heuristic evaluations.
Worked with a pilot group of farmers, testing early versions of the app and collecting feedback.
Key barriers we uncovered:
Farmers asked “What do I do with the data I’ve collected?”
Farmers struggled to interpret what results meant for their crops and decisions.
Conducted initial research to understand farmers’ needs, pain points, and existing practices, through interviews and surveys.
Analysed what Deltares had already built and identified opportunities for improvement through usability and heuristic evaluations.
Worked with a pilot group of farmers, testing early versions of the app and collecting feedback.
Key barriers we uncovered:
Farmers asked “What do I do with the data I’ve collected?”
Farmers struggled to interpret what results meant for their crops and decisions.
[IDEATION & CO-CREATION]
[IDEATION & CO-CREATION]
[IDEATION & CO-CREATION]
Mocked up interaction flows for creating, personalising, and storing measurement data.
Facilitated co-creation workshops with farmers and stakeholders to validate ideas and gather input.
Ideated new features based on research and workshops to add value, including:
Onboarding
Group measurements
Saved locations
Mocked up interaction flows for creating, personalising, and storing measurement data.
Facilitated co-creation workshops with farmers and stakeholders to validate ideas and gather input.
Ideated new features based on research and workshops to add value, including:
Onboarding
Group measurements
Saved locations
Mocked up interaction flows for creating, personalising, and storing measurement data.
Facilitated co-creation workshops with farmers and stakeholders to validate ideas and gather input.
Ideated new features based on research and workshops to add value, including:
Onboarding
Group measurements
Saved locations
[DESIGN & TESTING]
[DESIGN & TESTING]
[DESIGN & TESTING]
Designed prototypes of new features (e.g., group measurements, saved locations, webshop).
Iterated prototypes in Figma and refined navigation flows based on feedback.
Created design system and style guide for future design of the Aquality App.
Worked on graphics of reference cards, posters and exhibition materials.
Designed prototypes of new features (e.g., group measurements, saved locations, webshop).
Iterated prototypes in Figma and refined navigation flows based on feedback.
Created design system and style guide for future design of the Aquality App.
Worked on graphics of reference cards, posters and exhibition materials.
Designed prototypes of new features (e.g., group measurements, saved locations, webshop).
Iterated prototypes in Figma and refined navigation flows based on feedback.
Created design system and style guide for future design of the Aquality App.
Worked on graphics of reference cards, posters and exhibition materials.
[DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS]
[DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS]
[DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS]
All screens designed to smallest iPhone screen due to farmers mainly having smaller phones.
App is mostly used outside, therefore contrast of colours must be high due to sun.
As few buttons as possible due to water on screen
All screens designed to smallest iPhone screen due to farmers mainly having smaller phones.
App is mostly used outside, therefore contrast of colours must be high due to sun.
As few buttons as possible due to water on screen
All screens designed to smallest iPhone screen due to farmers mainly having smaller phones.
App is mostly used outside, therefore contrast of colours must be high due to sun.
As few buttons as possible due to water on screen
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
The Aquality App provides farmers with:
Quick and simple data input for nitrate, phosphate, salinity and ammonium measurements.
Clear app onboarding for getting started with taking measurements quickly and seamlessly.
Saved locations & group measurements to track trends over time.
Integrated webshop for easy access to necessary supplies.
The Aquality App provides farmers with:
Quick and simple data input for nitrate, phosphate, salinity and ammonium measurements.
Clear app onboarding for getting started with taking measurements quickly and seamlessly.
Saved locations & group measurements to track trends over time.
Integrated webshop for easy access to necessary supplies.
The Aquality App provides farmers with:
Quick and simple data input for nitrate, phosphate, salinity and ammonium measurements.
Clear app onboarding for getting started with taking measurements quickly and seamlessly.
Saved locations & group measurements to track trends over time.
Integrated webshop for easy access to necessary supplies.
IMPACT
IMPACT
Released on the App store and used by farmers in 20+ countries. 1000's measurements made each week.
Showcased the project to members of the UN and Climate conferences in United States.
Improved farmers’ ability to interpret and act on water quality data at home, rather than just collect it.
Recognised internally as a successful example of combining scientific expertise with user-centred design.
Released on the App store and used by farmers in 20+ countries. 1000's measurements made each week.
Showcased the project to members of the UN and Climate conferences in United States.
Improved farmers’ ability to interpret and act on water quality data at home, rather than just collect it.
Recognised internally as a successful example of combining scientific expertise with user-centred design.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
This project taught me how to:
Translate complex farming processes into meaningful user insights and interfaces.
Use continuous testing with a pilot group to keep design grounded in real-world use.
Lead the design of feature development while collaborating closely with developers and stakeholders.
If I were to continue this work, I’d explore automation and integrated use of GenAI to make data capture even more seamless and understandable for farmers. This could include data visualisation of measurements over time, in depth advice and advisory measures.
This project taught me how to:
Translate complex farming processes into meaningful user insights and interfaces.
Use continuous testing with a pilot group to keep design grounded in real-world use.
Lead the design of feature development while collaborating closely with developers and stakeholders.
If I were to continue this work, I’d explore automation and integrated use of GenAI to make data capture even more seamless and understandable for farmers. This could include data visualisation of measurements over time, in depth advice and advisory measures.
This project taught me how to:
Translate complex farming processes into meaningful user insights and interfaces.
Use continuous testing with a pilot group to keep design grounded in real-world use.
Lead the design of feature development while collaborating closely with developers and stakeholders.
If I were to continue this work, I’d explore automation and integrated use of GenAI to make data capture even more seamless and understandable for farmers. This could include data visualisation of measurements over time, in depth advice and advisory measures.
BLOG
BLOG
To learn more about the project, you can read the IBM blog post published internally and externally—or feel free to contact me for further information!
To learn more about the project, you can read the IBM blog post published internally and externally—or feel free to contact me for further information!
To learn more about the project, you can read the IBM blog post published internally and externally—or feel free to contact me for further information!