Sustainable Journey

Designed a platform that helps event organizers and participants reduce travel-related carbon emissions through clear, actionable insights.

View Final Prototype

Project Overview

This was a client-based team project in collaboration with Petit Duc, where we redesigned an existing platform to improve how event organizers measure and reduce travel-related carbon emissions.

Many existing tools collect travel data, but the experience is often complex and difficult to interpret, making it hard for users to take meaningful action. Our goal was to simplify how users submit, understand, and act on carbon emissions data across multiple touchpoints.
Project Type
Web (Desktop & Mobile)
Duration
5 weeks (2026)
Scope
User Research, Interaction Design, Usability Testing, Prototyping
Tools
Figma, FigJam
My Role & Contributions
  • Led end-to-end user flow design across key touchpoints
  • Created user flows and shaped overall experience direction
  • Drove key design decisions and feature development
  • Collaborated with clients to iterate and refine solutions

The Problem

Unclear Metrics
Users struggle to understand carbon emissions data
Low Engagement
Limited clarity reduces motivation to act
Lack of Insight
Data is collected but not translated into decisions
Fragmented Experience
Disconnected touchpoints break the user journey
There is an opportunity to create a more intuitive, engaging, and end-to-end experience that helps users understand their impact and take meaningful action.

User Research & Key Insights

Research Approach

To gain deeper insights into how users interact with carbon emissions data, we conducted competitive analysis alongside qualitative user interviews.

We designed over 20 interview questions and conducted 9 interviews across the team. Using affinity mapping, we synthesized findings and integrated them with existing user stories to identify recurring patterns, key pain points, and opportunity areas.

Key Findings
  • Users struggle to understand carbon emissions data
  • Feedback after submission is unclear
  • Low motivation to complete the experience
  • Information is fragmented across tools and steps
Key Insights
  • Users need clearer and more meaningful ways to understand their impact
  • Lack of clarity reduces engagement and action
  • A fragmented experience creates confusion
  • There is an opportunity for a more intuitive end-to-end journey

Project Goals

These goals were defined based on key research insights to guide a more clear and engaging user experience.

User flows

To map the end-to-end experience across key touchpoints, I created separate user flows for both participants and event organizers.
#1 Event Organizer Flow: Event Setup & QR Code Generation
#2 User Flow: Submitting Travel Data & Viewing Impact

Design Strategy

These goals were defined based on key research insights to guide a more clear and engaging user experience.

  • Simplify complex information

    Present carbon emissions data in a clear and easy-to-understand way.
  • Reduce friction in user input

    Streamline the form experience to encourage higher completion rates.
  • Increase engagement through visual feedback

    Use interactive and visual elements to make the experience more engaging and motivating.
  • Create a cohesive end-to-end experience

    Ensure consistency across all touchpoints, from setup to post-submission insights.
  • Support meaningful user action

    Guide users toward understanding their impact and taking action on carbon offsetting.

End-to-End Experience Design

The platform was designed across four key experiences, each addressing different user needs throughout the journey.
Organizer Event Setup Page
User Form
Image Experience
Statistical Experience
Organizer Event Setup Page
User Form Experience
Image Experience
Statistical Experience
Organizer Event Setup Page
Overview
The Organizer Setup experience was designed from the ground up based on client needs. In the original product, there was no dedicated setup flow, only a few disconnected pages with QR codes. This created an opportunity to introduce a structured and intuitive entry point for event organizers.

This experience enables organizers to create and customize events, including setting event details, applying branding, and generating QR codes for participant access. The goal was to keep the process simple and flexible, allowing organizers to quickly set up events with minimal friction.
The Challenge
Event setup required organizers to manage multiple types of information, including event details, branding, and participant access. Without a clear structure, the experience felt fragmented and difficult to navigate. Presenting all information at once increased cognitive load and made it harder for organizers to understand where to start or what to do next.

The challenge was to create a more structured and guided setup experience while maintaining flexibility for different event needs.
Design Process
I began by exploring a single long-page layout that included all setup information in one place. While this approach made all content visible, it quickly felt overwhelming and difficult to scan.

To improve clarity and usability, I restructured the experience into two main steps, allowing organizers to focus on one section at a time. This significantly reduced cognitive load and improved the overall flow.

As the project progressed, additional requirements emerged through client feedback, such as tracking participant count. This led to multiple rounds of iteration, refining both the structure and content hierarchy.
Key Design Decisions
Breaking the flow into focused steps
Instead of presenting all setup content in one long page, the experience was divided into shorter, more manageable steps. This helped organizers focus on one task at a time and reduced overwhelm.
Improving content hierarchy
Event details, branding, and participant access were organized into clearer sections. This made the structure more intuitive and helped users understand what information was required at each stage.
Adapting to evolving requirements
Through ongoing collaboration with the client, new needs such as participant tracking were incorporated into the design. The structure was continuously refined to accommodate these requirements while maintaining clarity.
Visual Design Decisions
For the visual design, I chose a lighter green background to create a clean and approachable interface. While a darker green was initially considered to align with the Petit Duc brand, it felt visually heavy and reduced readability.The lighter tone improved clarity, enhanced visual hierarchy, and contributed to a more user-friendly experience.
Final Organizer Setup experience with improved structure, clarity, and visual hierarchy
User Form Experience
Overview
The User Form experience was designed to guide users through calculating their carbon footprint and encourage action toward offsetting their emissions. It supports the full journey from entering travel details to understanding impact and completing payment.
The Challenge
Users needed to provide detailed travel information while understanding how their choices affect carbon emissions. Without a clear structure, the process could feel complex, time-consuming, and difficult to complete.

The challenge was to simplify data input while maintaining accuracy, and to help users clearly understand their impact without overwhelming them.
Design Contribution
I led the low- to mid-fidelity design of the form experience, defining the end-to-end flow from data input to user action. This included:
  • Capturing travel details from origin to event destination
  • Supporting multiple travel scenarios (one-way, round-trip, multi-segment)
  • Designing the flow for emissions calculation, offset options, and payment
As the project progressed, my designs were further refined into high-fidelity by a team member. A desktop version was also initiated to support a more complete cross-platform experience.
Key Design Decisions
Supporting flexible travel scenarios
The form was designed to accommodate different travel types, allowing users to input one-way, round-trip, or multi-segment journeys in a structured and intuitive way.
Structuring the flow from input to action
The experience was organized into a clear progression from entering travel details, to viewing emissions, to selecting offset options helping users move forward without confusion.
Reducing friction in data entry
I focused on simplifying inputs and minimizing unnecessary steps, making the form easier to complete while maintaining essential information.
Early exploration of the user form flow, focusing on structure and interaction.
Image Experience
Overview
The Image Experience was designed to increase engagement by visually representing users’ collective impact. As participants complete the form, the experience evolves through dynamic visuals, making carbon emissions more tangible and easier to understand.
The Challenge
Carbon emissions data is often abstract and difficult for users to relate to. Without meaningful feedback, participants may lose interest or fail to understand the impact of their actions.

The challenge was to transform complex data into a more engaging and emotionally meaningful experience.
Design Process
I redesigned the image experience by enhancing the existing concept of visual progression, where images evolve based on user participation. I introduced more refined AI-generated visuals and added contextual explanations to create a more dynamic and interactive experience.

Through multiple iterations, I developed a more structured, narrative-driven flow that highlights key moments, such as explaining carbon emissions, guiding users toward offsetting, and visualizing their impact.
Key Design Decisions
Using progressive visuals to drive engagement
The experience was designed to evolve as users complete actions, reinforcing a sense of contribution and encouraging continued participation.
Adding contextual explanations
Short explanations were integrated alongside visuals to help users understand what the imagery represents and why it matters.
Creating a narrative-driven flow
Instead of showing isolated visuals, the experience was structured as a sequence, guiding users from awareness to understanding and action.
Statistical Experience
Overview
The Statistical Experience was designed to present carbon emissions data in a clear and actionable way. It helps users understand both individual and collective impact while guiding them toward meaningful actions such as offsetting.
The Challenge
The original data page contained a large amount of information with limited structure, making it difficult for users to interpret key insights. As a result, users struggled to understand their impact and were less likely to take action.The challenge was to simplify complex data and make it both understandable and actionable.
Design Process
I redesigned the statistical experience by restructuring the page into three focused sections:
  • Key metrics (total and individual emissions)
  • Offset options
  • Action-oriented guidance
To reduce friction and accommodate different user intents, I introduced two QR code entry points, one for the full calculation flow and another for quick offsetting based on client feedback.
Key Design Decisions
Structuring data into clear sections
Information was grouped into focused sections to improve readability and help users quickly identify what matters most.
Highlighting key metrics
Important data points, such as total and individual emissions, were prioritized to provide immediate clarity.
Supporting flexible user actions
Two QR entry points were introduced to accommodate different behaviors, allowing users to either complete the full process or quickly offset.
Final Prototype
Organizer Setup Prototype
User Form Prototype
Image Experience Prototype
Statistical Experience Prototype
Organizer Event Setup Page Final Prototype
The user form is presented in mid-fidelity to focus on validating the flow and interaction logic.
Image Experience Final Prototype
Statistical Experience Final Prototype

Outcome & What I Learned

The final design created a more cohesive and intuitive end-to-end experience by simplifying structure, reducing friction, and enhancing clarity across key flows. Through progressive visuals and contextual guidance, complex carbon data became more engaging and easier to understand, supporting informed user action and a smoother journey from event setup to participation.

This project strengthened my ability to design for clarity and real-world usability. I learned the importance of simplifying complex flows, aligning design decisions with user needs, and iterating based on feedback. I also became more confident in proactively driving design decisions within a collaborative team environment.

Reflection & Next Steps

This experience deepened my understanding of designing multi-step systems and translating abstract environmental data into clear, meaningful interactions. It also reinforced the importance of collaboration, adaptability, and continuous iteration when working on real-world products with evolving requirements.

If continuing the project, the next step would focus on validating the redesigned experience through usability testing and real-world implementation. I would further evaluate whether the new flow improves user understanding of carbon impact, encourages participation, and increases engagement with offset actions.

I would also continue refining entry points such as QR-based interactions, while improving accessibility, onboarding clarity, and cross-platform consistency to create a more seamless experience across the full event journey.
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© 2026 Zheng (Joanna) Tang · UX/UI designer