UX DESIGN
PLANT DEX
2025
PlantDex was a UX design project centred around creating a geolocated mobile experience that encourages users to explore Melbourne’s urban flora in an interactive and playful way. The concept reimagines biodiversity engagement through storytelling, augmented reality, and gamified discovery. The brief challenged me to design an app that educates users while turning exploration into a rewarding journey, connecting city dwellers to the plants that surround them.
KEY OBJECTIVE
The main objective was to create an engaging user experience that blends education, exploration, and interactivity. PlantDex aimed to make learning about native plants feel accessible and enjoyable, particularly for younger audiences and urban explorers. Key goals included designing a clear information hierarchy, integrating location-based functionality, and encouraging repeat engagement through features like streaks, XP, and leaderboards. The focus was on merging environmental awareness with digital play, creating something both meaningful and fun.
THE DESIGN
The final app design presented a bright and welcoming interface with AR-enhanced interactions and a Pokémon-style “collecting” system for plants found across Melbourne’s CBD. Each location featured its own narrative and visual identity, allowing users to uncover stories tied to the city’s natural history. The visual direction combined soft greens, organic shapes, and clean iconography to reflect calmness and discovery. The final prototype successfully captured the intent of PlantDex, transforming everyday walks into immersive, educational adventures that reconnect people with the living world around them.
