Low-Impact UI for Food Delivery App
user research / visual design / UX / Thesis project in Informatics
Project Overview
My thesis research project explores how low-impact design principles can be applied to mobile food delivery apps to reduce digital carbon footprints. Through user research and prototyping, my thesis partner and I evaluated how low-impact UI features - such as minimal visuals and dark mode affect user perception and behavior. The findings show that users are open to low-impact design, but clear communication is key due to low awareness. This case study bridges UX with environmental responsibility, demonstrating that thoughtful front-end design can support both usability and sustainability.
Role
UX designer and Researcher
Team
Me and thesis partner
Duration
Jan 2023 - June 2023
Links
The Problem
As we spend more and more time online, the environmental cost of digital activity is rising - yet most users are unaware. While backend solutions like green hosting are improving, frontend design often gets overlooked. Heavy visuals and inefficient layouts increase energy use and add to the internet’s carbon footprint. This project explores how low-impact design can minimize environmental impact without compromising user experience.
Research Questions
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What are users’ impressions and current knowledge of low-impact user interface designs?
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How can we make low-impact mobile applications more attractive to consumers?
Understanding the user
User research: summary
To explore user habits and perceptions of food delivery apps and low-impact interfaces, we conducted qualitative research through three focus groups with students and young adults (ages 20–30). Our goal was to understand their food delivery behaviors, impressions of low-impact interface design, and openness to changing online habits.
We chose focus groups because they allow for in-depth discussions, collective idea generation, and exploration of user experiences. Participants evaluated a real food delivery app in the Swedish market (Foodora), reviewed sustainable design prototypes, and reflected on their preferences, providing concrete insights to inform the next design phase.
User research: discoveries
To answer the first research question: “What are users’ impressions and current knowledge of low-impact user interface designs?”, we first had to dive deeper into user behaviors and awareness to find out. Below you can see some key insights from the focus groups.
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01
Images not always necessary
Users appreciated clean, simple designs - but wanted visual flexibility (e.g., optional images).They suggested limiting images to the landing and restaurant pages.
02
Alternatives to heavy imagery
Monochrome images and vector illustrations were seen as good substitutes, reducing environmental impact while keeping the interface visually clear.
03
Build awareness and trust
Many were unaware of digital carbon impact but open to learning. However, transparency is crucial to avoid greenwashing and build trust with the users. Participants discussed that the low-impact approach should be introduced properly for people to use it.
04
Flexible low-impact mode
Low-impact defaults are accepted if users can toggle back as needed. Users prefer to switch between standard and low-impact modes, making the transition familiar and easy (similar to dark mode).
Early design
Low-fidelity wireframes
After the focus groups we began designing the lo-fi wireframes. Focusing on the core features identified during the user research.
Refining the design
High-fidelity wireframes and prototype
To answer the second research question: “How can we make low-impact mobile applications more attractive to consumers?”, we designed and tested a high-fidelity prototype of a low-impact food delivery app.
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Six main screens were developed to support core user tasks and usability testing. Below I explain the design decisions for each frame.
01.
For first-time users, introduction slides were implemented to provide information regarding the low-impact design.
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Based on focus group findings, the app defaults to low-impact mode, hiding all images to save energy.
02.
The landing page serves as a starting point and is supposed to capture users' attention and encourage them to explore further.
The images are replaced with scalable vector graphics (SVG) illustrations, which is suggested by research to be a more environment-friendly choice.​
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03.
The restaurant page allows users to browse through the menus and offers of the chosen restaurant.
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Users can toggle images on for the entire app or specific restaurants, allowing brands to stand out when needed.
04.
The product screen showcases the details of the selected menu items and allows for customization.
05.
The search page enables users to easily find their desired restaurant.
06.
The cart page allows users to check their order and follow through with one of the tasks in the usability test.
The toggle
The user has multiple options for when to switch on/off the low-impact toggle.
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It is alwasy available in the hamburger menu, and the user also get introduced to the toggle at the end of the introduction screens.
Accessibility & Sustainability considerations
1. Color and Contrast Awareness
Using higher contrast and simplified color palettes improves readability for users with low vision or color blindness.
2. User Control through Image Toggle
This empowers users to customize their experience - helpful for those with slow connections, visual sensitivities, or who prefer simplified layouts for focus and readability.
3. Low-Impact Visual Elements
Vector illustrations and monochrome imagery replace large, high-resolution photos which reduces bandwidth and energy use by minimizing large file sizes.
Usability Tests - Insights
Two rounds of moderated in-person usability tests were conducted to evaluate the prototype’s design, functionality, and overall user experience. Each session was paired with the AttrakDiff Questionnaire, further explained under "How users felt about the prototype".
01
All users completed tasks with medium to high satisfaction
02
No one used the toggle feature during tasks but responded positively to it after
03
Users praised the clean visuals, dark mode, and illustration-based UI
04
Users expressed that having both low- and high-impact options gave a sense of control and felt it was a competitive edge
How users felt about the prototype
​The prototype was evaluated using the AttrakDiff Questionnaire, a standardized UX method with 28 items measuring four key dimensions:
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Pragmatic Quality (PQ): How effectively and efficiently users can complete tasks.
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Hedonic Quality – Identity (HQI): How well the product allows users to express themselves.
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Hedonic Quality – Stimulation (HQS): How engaging and exciting the experience feels.
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Attractiveness (ATT): Users’ overall impression and emotional response to the prototype.
The findings are presented through three visuals: portfolio of results, diagram of average values, and description of word-pairs diagram.
Figure: AttrakDiff Portfolio of Results
This shows that the prototype scored high in both usability and emotional appeal, positioned between the “desirable” and “task-oriented” regions. Results from the second testing round (blue) showed improvement toward the desired area, with slightly more varied user opinions.
Figure: AttrakDiff diagram of average values
The average values diagram shows how the prototype scored across the four UX dimensions - pragmatic quality, hedonic identity, hedonic stimulation, and attractiveness. The results were positive overall, with attractiveness receiving the highest rating, indicating users found the design visually and emotionally appealing.
Figure: AttrakDiff description of word-pairs diagram
The word-pairs diagram shows how participants rated the prototype using opposite adjective pairs. The most notable results were for “technical,” “undemanding,” and “good,” indicating these traits stood out most positively in users’ perceptions.
Impact
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Raised awareness of digital sustainability by introducing users to the concept of low-impact interfaces - showing that digital design choices (like imagery and navigation) directly affect carbon footprint.
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Proved that usability and sustainability can coexist, demonstrating how low-impact interfaces can reduce energy use without harming user experience.
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Validated through user testing, showing that users appreciate having control (like toggling images) and value transparency when adopting sustainable features.
What I learned
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How to conduct user research for emerging topics - turning a complex, unfamiliar subject like digital carbon impact into accessible insights for real users.
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The importance of balancing sustainability and user expectations, ensuring eco-friendly solutions don’t compromise usability or aesthetics.
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Clear communication is crucial. Low-impact features must be explained transparently to avoid greenwashing and help users understand the purpose behind design changes.