The Big Idea

This project was part of CTGC’s Senior Tech Education Initiative, funded by a grant to help older adults in Connecticut connect with nature and technology.

The ask: Build a mobile experience that lets seniors easily find public gardens near them, navigate to them, and learn about points of interest through a series of QR codes on-site. The app also needed to support broader learning goals, including GPS navigation, search literacy, and internet safety.

Success Meant More Than Just “Usability”

This wasn’t just about a pretty interface. The app had to:

• Reinforce key digital literacy concepts taught during the in-person education event
• Encourage real-world garden exploration through easy navigation and QR interactivity
• Be forgiving and welcoming to folks new to smartphones
• Log user interaction through web-tracked QR scans (for program success tracking)

Design for Access, Design for Joy

CTGC was clear: they wanted the design to feel optimistic, airy, and outdoorsy—like a gentle invitation to reconnect with nature and community. Here’s how I helped make that happen:

UX Work

• Conducted stakeholder interviews to clarify both product and pedagogical goals
• Adapted existing personas and mapped key user stories and flows
• Completed a competitive/market analysis focusing on wayfinding, wellness, and elder tech design
• Developed clear flows for the three core user types: guided event participants, return visitors planning from home, and spontaneous users on-the-go

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UI + Branding

• Contributed name and branding suggestions that aligned with CTGC’s mission and tone
• Designed a friendly interface with large touch targets, clean type hierarchy, and intentional spacing
• Chose typography and color themes that conveyed lightness and readability
• Delivered full graphic/UI design assets using Figma

QA and Collaboration

• Partnered with one developer (who built the app using Flutter/FlutterFlow)
• Conducted end-to-end QA testing to ensure smooth navigation, map function, QR interaction, and GPS integration
• Created documentation for CTGC staff to maintain garden data long-term

Key Features We Delivered

💐 Nearby Gardens Preview — auto-populated list within 5 miles of current GPS location

🔍 Smart Search by Tags — like “covered seating” or “paved pathways”

📍 Garden Details Page — with photos, tags, directions, and hours

🗺️ Map View — integrated custom Google Map centered on the user

📸 Point-of-Interest Cards — unlocked by scanning QR codes at each garden station

🚶 “Take Me There” Button — opens phone’s default GPS app for navigation

🛠️ Admin CMS Editing — allowing CTGC to add or update new garden information

Outcome

The app launched in time for CTGC’s summer education events. It’s now available via their site and on app stores, and has been used by dozens of participants as part of their digital education and social wellness programs.

Behind the scenes, each QR scan logs visit data, allowing CTGC to track participation metrics for grant reporting and future program growth.

What I Loved About This One

Designing for inexperienced smartphone users requires deep empathy and restraint. This project taught me to slow down and really consider what clarity feels like. There’s power in making someone feel capable. This app wasn’t just a map to the nearest gardens-it was a confidence boost for people learning how to navigate the digital world.

You can check it out via CTGC’s program page‍

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