Plant Parenthood
Lauren Banks
The product:
A responsive high-fidelity prototype that allows plant owners to take a test to diagnose issues with their plants.
Project overview
Project duration:
3 Months
The problem:
There are a lot things that can go wrong in the world of plant ownership and with the internet being so vast, it can be hard to pinpoint the issue.
Project overview
The goal:
This application is meant to be a one-stop and streamlined experience to figuring out what is wrong with your plant. Users should be able to take a brief quiz that will generate a diagnosis and solution options.
My role:
I was the lead UX designer and UX researcher
Project overview
Responsibilities:
User research, wireframing, prototyping, etc.
User research: summary
I conducted moderated user research through one-on-one video interviews to better understand how people currently care for their plants and where they experience challenges. Going into the research, I assumed that lack of time would be the primary barrier to effective plant care.
However, after analyzing responses, I discovered that most users struggle more with maintaining structured watering schedules and understanding what their plants specifically need. This shift in understanding helped reframe the problem from time management to clarity, guidance, and confidence in plant care decisions.
Understanding
the user
User research: pain points
Watering Schedules
Users often forget when or how much to water their plants, leading to uncertainty and inconsistent care. This insight guided the design toward clearer guidance and simplified steps that reduce the mental effort required to stay on track.
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Uncertainty About What a Plant Needs
Many users expressed confusion around identifying the specific needs of their plants, such as light, water, or soil requirements. This reinforced the importance of providing clear, plant-specific information rather than generic advice.
Overwhelmed
Users struggle to understand what is wrong when a plant begins to decline, often feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start. This pain point directly informed the decision to design a guided diagnosis flow that breaks the problem into manageable steps.
Information Overload
Several users rely on online searches or social media for plant care advice, but find conflicting or excessive information frustrating. This insight emphasized the need for a focused, structured experience that delivers only relevant information at the right time.
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“I am not sure what to do when the issue it’s not due to lack of water or basic necessities.”
Persona: Flora
Problem statement:
Flora is a 35 year old woman who has a busy household with 2 kids and has a part-time job. She needs a quick way to find plant symptom solutions because her plants are wilting.
User journey map
Image of user journey map
My thoughts when creating this user journey map was to figure out what issues the user might run into when browsing online regarding an issue with their plant.
I determined most of the pain-point are related to scheduling, time and narrowing down potential issues.
Starting
the design
Paper wireframes
In early designs, I wanted to put emphasis on creating a simple but effective process that could get the users answers in under 6 questions!
Digital wireframes
The home screen is meant to highlight that this app is about plant care and the intention behind having the button front and center is to draw user’s attention to the app’s main function, diagnosing plant issues.
Hero image with plant care tips to capture user attention
Large, bold call to action button to let users know what is most important
Digital wireframes
It’s important that the test be engaging and simple. I learned that most plant parents feel overwhelmed by plant care and this aims to make it a quick and seamless process.
A variety of input options to keep the diagnosis process engaging
Consistent call to action buttons
Low-fidelity prototype
The user starts on the home page and can navigate directly to a short test and quickly see the results.
Refining
the design
Mockups
Main mockup screen for display
Main mockup screen for display
Main mockup screen for display
High-fidelity�prototype
Accessibility considerations
High color contrast was used throughout the interface to ensure text, buttons, and icons are easily readable for users with low vision or color blindness. This improves overall legibility and helps key actions stand out clearly across different lighting conditions.
All icons are paired with clear text labels to reduce ambiguity and ensure users understand each action without relying on visual cues alone. This supports users with cognitive disabilities and improves accessibility for screen reader users.
A clear visual and structural hierarchy was applied using headings, consistent spacing, and logical content grouping. This helps screen readers navigate the interface more effectively and allows users to understand content priority at a glance.
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Going forward
Takeaways
Impact:
This project demonstrates how a simple, guided experience can reduce confusion and stress for plant owners by turning plant care into an approachable and supportive process. The design prioritizes clarity, accessibility, and user confidence, showing how thoughtful UX can make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable.
What I learned:
Through this project, I learned that building a strong product has very little to do with personal preferences and everything to do with improving people’s lives. I found fulfillment in using my skills to design for others and gained a deeper appreciation for how feedback from diverse perspectives is essential for meaningful growth and better solutions.
Next steps
A large piece of user feedback was that they want assistance with watering schedules. I wanted to get the user test designed first, but I intend to add a way for users to create watering schedules and get reminders on their phones
Design a dedicated flow that shows users relevant products based on their plant’s diagnosis. This would help users move seamlessly from identifying a problem to taking action, reducing the need for external research.
Finalizing the desktop view design. The Mobile-First Design method was used and the desktop display is in the low-fidelity phase. I am working on the final designs for the high-fidelity prototype so the product will be fully responsive.
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Let’s connect!
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If you’d like to learn more about this project or explore additional work, feel free to get in touch:
Email: laurenb7733@gmail.com
Phone: 724-503-0033
Portfolio: lauren-banks.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-banks-/