Rooted
App Design
Our task was to design "Rooted," a mobile application aimed at streamlining the management and utilization of community garden plots, specifically for DEAS. The core objective was to create a user-friendly platform that connects residents with available garden spaces, simplifies the rental process, and provides resources for successful urban gardening. The app needed to foster a sense of community among gardeners while efficiently handling property management aspects.
Client:
DEAS
Role:
Art Director
Year:
2025
Challenge
Here are a couple of segments about the "Rooted" app design, suitable for your portfolio, focusing on the background, challenges, and final results: Project Background: Cultivating Community Gardens with "Rooted" for DEAS Our task was to design "Rooted," a mobile application aimed at streamlining the management and utilization of community garden plots, specifically for DEAS. The core objective was to create a user-friendly platform that connects residents with available garden spaces, simplifies the rental process, and provides resources for successful urban gardening. The app needed to foster a sense of community among gardeners while efficiently handling property management aspects. Challenges & Solutions: From Concept to Cultivation The primary challenge in developing "Rooted" was balancing the intuitive user experience required for novice and experienced gardeners alike with the complex logistical needs of property management (like plot availability, rental agreements, and support). We addressed this by implementing a clear and inviting onboarding process, as seen in the "Welcome to Rooted!" screen, which immediately sets a simple and accessible tone. Navigation was streamlined to allow users to easily find "Rented Property," "Vacant Property," "Tips & Tricks," and "Support" from the main dashboard. A key hurdle was visually representing garden plots in an engaging yet informative way, which we resolved by designing interactive map views within the app, allowing users to visualize and select specific plots with clear indicators. Furthermore, integrating essential information like rental periods and user settings (shown in the "Settings" screen) required careful organization to ensure clarity without overwhelming the user. The app also needed to provide practical gardening advice, so we incorporated a "Tips & Tricks" section to support users throughout their gardening journey, aiming to simplify the process for everyone to "live a simple life."
Objective
The primary objective behind the "Rooted" app project for DEAS was twofold: to significantly enhance community engagement within urban gardening initiatives and to streamline the administrative process of managing garden plots. Our aim was to create a digital platform that empowered residents to easily discover and rent available garden spaces, fostering a sense of shared purpose and connection to nature within urban environments. Concurrently, the app was designed to provide DEAS with an efficient, transparent, and user-friendly system for overseeing garden plot allocation, rental agreements, and ongoing support for gardeners, ultimately optimizing the utilization of these valuable green spaces.
Results
The "Rooted" app successfully delivers on its promise to simplify urban gardening and community plot management. The final design is clean, intuitive, and visually appealing, utilizing a refreshing green palette that evokes nature and growth. The app effectively guides users from initial sign-up to managing their rented plot and accessing valuable gardening resources. By seamlessly integrating property management functionalities with community-building features, "Rooted" empowers users to easily connect with and cultivate their garden spaces. The application provides a comprehensive digital tool for DEAS to manage their community garden initiatives, while offering a welcoming and supportive environment for individuals to engage in urban gardening, truly embodying its tagline: "A simple way, to live a simple life."
