Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Mobile Product Design · Concept Project UX Research · Product Strategy · Behavior Design · Mobile UI
My Role
UX Researcher · Product Designer
User interviews · Persona development · Secondary research
Methods
Timeline
3 months
Focus
Behavior change · Sustainability
· Gamification
Organization
San Diego County,
Public Health Services
Scope
·5 trainings
· 8 PHS branches
· 812 total staff
Focus
· Racial equity
· Workforce development
· Community health
Background
Encouraging Sustainable Shopping Through Visible Impact
Buffalo Exchange has built its brand around resale fashion and sustainability. Every secondhand purchase helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and extend the life of existing clothing.
Yet despite growing awareness of environmental issues, many consumers continue to choose fast fashion over resale alternatives.
This project explored a simple question: How might we help shoppers see the impact of their choices and motivate them to continue choosing resale over fast fashion?
The result was a mobile app concept designed to encourage sustainable shopping habits by making environmental impact visible, measurable, and rewarding.
At its core, the project explored how product design can bridge the gap between what people value and how they actually behave.
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
The Challenge
Sustainability without feedback doesn't stick
Resale shopping is objectively better for the environment. However, the benefits often feel distant and difficult to measure.
Many shoppers care deeply about sustainability, yet they rarely receive feedback showing how their individual choices contribute to larger environmental outcomes.
For younger consumers especially, the immediate rewards of fast fashion (lower prices, convenience, and trend accessibility) often outweigh abstract environmental benefits.
Without visible progress, sustainable shopping can feel insignificant.
The challenge wasn't simply educating users about sustainability. Most shoppers already understood the issue.
The real challenge was encouraging long-term behavior change in a way that felt motivating rather than guilt-driven.
How might we make sustainability feel personal, rewarding, and worth returning to?
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Mobile Product Design · Concept Project UX Research · Product Strategy · Behavior Design · Mobile UI
My Role
UX Researcher · Product Designer
User interviews · Persona development · Secondary research
Methods
Timeline
3 months
Focus
Behavior change · Sustainability
· Gamification
Organization
San Diego County,
Public Health Services
Scope
·5 trainings
· 8 PHS branches
· 812 total staff
Focus
· Racial equity
· Workforce development
· Community health
Background
Encouraging Sustainable Shopping Through Visible Impact
Buffalo Exchange has built its brand around resale fashion and sustainability. Every secondhand purchase helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and extend the life of existing clothing.
Yet despite growing awareness of environmental issues, many consumers continue to choose fast fashion over resale alternatives.
This project explored a simple question: How might we help shoppers see the impact of their choices and motivate them to continue choosing resale over fast fashion?
The result was a mobile app concept designed to encourage sustainable shopping habits by making environmental impact visible, measurable, and rewarding.
At its core, the project explored how product design can bridge the gap between what people value and how they actually behave.
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
The Challenge
Sustainability without feedback doesn't stick
Resale shopping is objectively better for the environment. However, the benefits often feel distant and difficult to measure.
Many shoppers care deeply about sustainability, yet they rarely receive feedback showing how their individual choices contribute to larger environmental outcomes.
For younger consumers especially, the immediate rewards of fast fashion (lower prices, convenience, and trend accessibility) often outweigh abstract environmental benefits.
Without visible progress, sustainable shopping can feel insignificant.
The challenge wasn't simply educating users about sustainability. Most shoppers already understood the issue.
The real challenge was encouraging long-term behavior change in a way that felt motivating rather than guilt-driven.
How might we make sustainability feel personal, rewarding, and worth returning to?
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Mobile Product Design · Concept Project UX Research · Product Strategy · Behavior Design · Mobile UI
My Role
UX Researcher · Product Designer
User interviews · Persona development · Secondary research
Methods
Timeline
3 months
Focus
Behavior change · Sustainability
· Gamification
Organization
San Diego County,
Public Health Services
Scope
·5 trainings
· 8 PHS branches
· 812 total staff
Focus
· Racial equity
· Workforce development
· Community health
Background
Encouraging Sustainable Shopping Through Visible Impact
Buffalo Exchange has built its brand around resale fashion and sustainability. Every secondhand purchase helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and extend the life of existing clothing.
Yet despite growing awareness of environmental issues, many consumers continue to choose fast fashion over resale alternatives.
This project explored a simple question: How might we help shoppers see the impact of their choices and motivate them to continue choosing resale over fast fashion?
The result was a mobile app concept designed to encourage sustainable shopping habits by making environmental impact visible, measurable, and rewarding.
At its core, the project explored how product design can bridge the gap between what people value and how they actually behave.
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
The Challenge
Sustainability without feedback doesn't stick
Resale shopping is objectively better for the environment. However, the benefits often feel distant and difficult to measure.
Many shoppers care deeply about sustainability, yet they rarely receive feedback showing how their individual choices contribute to larger environmental outcomes.
For younger consumers especially, the immediate rewards of fast fashion (lower prices, convenience, and trend accessibility) often outweigh abstract environmental benefits.
Without visible progress, sustainable shopping can feel insignificant.
The challenge wasn't simply educating users about sustainability. Most shoppers already understood the issue.
The real challenge was encouraging long-term behavior change in a way that felt motivating rather than guilt-driven.
How might we make sustainability feel personal, rewarding, and worth returning to?
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Buffalo Exchange Impact Tracker
Mobile Product Design · Concept Project UX Research · Product Strategy · Behavior Design · Mobile UI
My Role
UX Researcher · Product Designer
User interviews · Persona development · Secondary research
Methods
Timeline
3 months
Focus
Behavior change · Sustainability
· Gamification
Organization
San Diego County,
Public Health Services
Scope
·5 trainings
· 8 PHS branches
· 812 total staff
Focus
· Racial equity
· Workforce development
· Community health
Background
Encouraging Sustainable Shopping Through Visible Impact
Buffalo Exchange has built its brand around resale fashion and sustainability. Every secondhand purchase helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and extend the life of existing clothing.
Yet despite growing awareness of environmental issues, many consumers continue to choose fast fashion over resale alternatives.
This project explored a simple question: How might we help shoppers see the impact of their choices and motivate them to continue choosing resale over fast fashion?
The result was a mobile app concept designed to encourage sustainable shopping habits by making environmental impact visible, measurable, and rewarding.
At its core, the project explored how product design can bridge the gap between what people value and how they actually behave.
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
The Challenge
Sustainability without feedback doesn't stick
Resale shopping is objectively better for the environment. However, the benefits often feel distant and difficult to measure.
Many shoppers care deeply about sustainability, yet they rarely receive feedback showing how their individual choices contribute to larger environmental outcomes.
For younger consumers especially, the immediate rewards of fast fashion (lower prices, convenience, and trend accessibility) often outweigh abstract environmental benefits.
Without visible progress, sustainable shopping can feel insignificant.
The challenge wasn't simply educating users about sustainability. Most shoppers already understood the issue.
The real challenge was encouraging long-term behavior change in a way that felt motivating rather than guilt-driven.
How might we make sustainability feel personal, rewarding, and worth returning to?
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
Understanding the Users
Research Approach
To better understand the motivations and barriers behind resale shopping, our team conducted interviews with 14 Buffalo Exchange shoppers across a range of ages and shopping habits.
The interviews explored:
Why people choose resale over traditional retail
What motivates repeat visits
How sustainability influences purchasing decisions
What barriers prevent more consistent resale shopping
While participants overwhelmingly supported sustainability and circular fashion, many struggled to connect their individual purchases to meaningful environmental impact.
Research Overview | |
|---|---|
Methods | 14 User Interviews · Affinity Mapping · Persona Development · Opportunity Mapping |
Participants | College Students · Adult Buffalo Exchange Shoppers |
Goal | Understand how sustainability influences shopping behavior and identify opportunities to encourage long-term engagement with resale fashion. |
Key Insight | People wanted to make sustainable choices, but rarely received feedback showing that those choices mattered. |
Who I was Designing For
Research revealed two primary user groups whose needs ultimately shaped the product direction.
Petunia, 18
Petunia is environmentally aware and values sustainability, but she is also heavily influenced by affordability, trends, and social validation.
She wants to make responsible choices, but fast fashion often feels easier and more accessible.
Key Need
Visible reinforcement that sustainable choices are making a difference.
Sharon, 37
Sharon is a frequent resale shopper motivated by intentional consumption and reducing waste.
She already participates in sustainable behaviors but wants better visibility into the long-term impact of those actions.
Key Need
Measurable progress that reinforces her contribution over time.
Although their motivations differed, both users shared a common need:
Visible evidence that their choices were making a difference.
Key Insights that Shaped the Product Strategy
Awareness Alone Doesn't Change Behavior
Participants already understood that secondhand shopping was better for the environment.
The problem wasn't awareness. The problem was that sustainability felt too abstract and disconnected from everyday purchasing decisions.
Without feedback, many shoppers struggled to see whether their efforts mattered.
Users already cared about sustainability, but they lacked feedback mechanisms that could help turn good intentions into lasting habits.
Progress Creates Motivation
Participants responded positively to the idea of tracking their impact over time.
Users wanted evidence that their choices mattered. Visible progress created a stronger sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Tracking progress also transformed sustainability from a one-time decision into an ongoing journey.
Identity Reinforces Behavior
For many shoppers, especially younger participants, sustainability was closely tied to personal values and self-expression.
Participants were more excited about sustainability when it became part of how they saw themselves rather than simply another statistic.
Shareable milestones and achievements had the potential to strengthen that identity.
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
From Research to Design
Opportunity Areas
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
From Research to Design
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Product Strategy
The central design question became: What does a person need to feel in order to choose resale again next time?
Interviews revealed that awareness wasn't the problem. Most participants already understood the environmental benefits of resale shopping.
What they lacked was evidence that their individual actions mattered.
To address this, the experience was built around four strategic principles.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Design Process
Exploring Early Concepts
Initial ideation explored several approaches to encouraging sustainable shopping, including community challenges, leaderboards, educational content, and personal impact tracking.
As concepts evolved, personal impact tracking consistently emerged as the strongest opportunity.
Rather than relying on competition or guilt-based messaging, the final direction focused on positive reinforcement and progress visualization.
This approach aligned most closely with the motivations uncovered during research.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.
Final Product
Personal Impact Dashboard
The dashboard serves as the primary entry point to the experience.
Users can instantly view the cumulative environmental impact of their purchases through simple metrics and relatable equivalents.
The goal was immediate understanding and reinforcement.
Users should be able to recognize their contribution within seconds of opening the app.