michael trovela
product + ux design
michael trovela
product + ux design
michael trovela
product + ux design
Haven
Smarter Gardening for People & Wildlife
Haven
Smarter Gardening for People & Wildlife
Haven
Smarter Gardening for People & Wildlife
TYPE
Mobile App
Industry
Home & Garden
Duration
10 Weeks
Key Contributions
UX Research & Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Branding
Team/Role
Solo Project
TYPE
Mobile App
Industry
Home & Garden
Duration
10 Weeks
Key Contributions
UX Research & Design, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Branding
Team/Role
Solo Project
Overview
Empowering Eco-Friendly Gardening
Haven’s innovative features simplify gardening, helping you design vibrant spaces that nurture wildlife and build community.
Empowering Eco-Friendly Gardening
Haven’s innovative features simplify gardening, helping you design vibrant spaces that nurture wildlife and build community.
Empowering Eco-Friendly Gardening
Haven’s innovative features simplify gardening, helping you design vibrant spaces that nurture wildlife and build community.
Organizing Searches
Science-based categories for clarity.
Tailored Recommendations
Region-specific guidance aligned with ecological goals.
Simplified Planning
Tools to design wildlife-friendly gardens.
Community Support
Features that encourage collaboration and learning.
1. Challenge
Making Gardening Simple & Impactful
1. Challenge
Making Gardening Simple & Impactful
1. Challenge
Making Gardening Simple & Impactful
Native gardening offers a powerful way to restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and support biodiversity. Despite growing interest, gardeners face significant hurdles: scattered information, vague recommendations, and limited planning tools make it difficult to act on their intentions.
As a new homeowner, I experienced these challenges firsthand when trying to replace my turf lawn with native plants. My journey revealed that other gardeners shared similar frustrations—and aspirations. Haven grew from this insight into an app that simplifies gardening while fostering ecological stewardship.
My Role & Approach
I led the project from initial research through final design, focusing on creating practical solutions within resource and time constraints. My responsibilities included user research, interaction design, and developing a scalable design system.
In the Field: Growing awareness for Native Plants on NYC’s High Line.
$127 B
Total value of the industry in 2024.
↑8%
Growth in native plant purchases (2020–2022).
18-44
Key demographic driving the shift.
↑38%
Increase in household gardening spending in 2023.
Read more +
Native gardening offers a powerful way to restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and support biodiversity. Despite growing interest, gardeners face significant hurdles: scattered information, vague recommendations, and limited planning tools make it difficult to act on their intentions.
As a new homeowner, I experienced these challenges firsthand when trying to replace my turf lawn with native plants. My journey revealed that other gardeners shared similar frustrations—and aspirations. Haven grew from this insight into an app that simplifies gardening while fostering ecological stewardship.
My Role & Approach
I led the project from initial research through final design, focusing on creating practical solutions within resource and time constraints. My responsibilities included user research, interaction design, and developing a scalable design system.
In the Field: Growing awareness for Native Plants on NYC’s High Line.
$127 B
Total value of the industry in 2024.
↑8%
Growth in native plant purchases (2020–2022).
18-44
Key demographic driving the shift.
↑38%
Increase in household gardening spending in 2023.
Read more +
Native gardening offers a powerful way to restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and support biodiversity. Despite growing interest, gardeners face significant hurdles: scattered information, vague recommendations, and limited planning tools make it difficult to act on their intentions.
As a new homeowner, I experienced these challenges firsthand when trying to replace my turf lawn with native plants. My journey revealed that other gardeners shared similar frustrations—and aspirations. Haven grew from this insight into an app that simplifies gardening while fostering ecological stewardship.
My Role & Approach
I led the project from initial research through final design, focusing on creating practical solutions within resource and time constraints. My responsibilities included user research, interaction design, and developing a scalable design system.
In the Field: Growing awareness for Native Plants on NYC’s High Line.
$127 B
Total value of the industry in 2024.
↑8%
Growth in native plant purchases (2020–2022).
18-44
Key demographic driving the shift.
↑38%
Increase in household gardening spending in 2023.
Read more +
2. Key Insights
from Primary & Secondary Research
2. Key Insights
from Primary & Secondary Research
2. Key Insights
from Primary & Secondary Research
A survey of 30 participants and five interviews revealed three major insights emerged that guided Haven’s design. These findings directly informed Haven’s user-centered approach, leading to features that simplify native gardening and empower meaningful ecological action.
Key Findings
Through research, three major insights emerged that guided Haven's design:
Access and Guidance
Gardeners need centralized, region-specific plant recommendations and practical examples to simplify planning while balancing ecological and aesthetic goals.
Support for Advocacy
Many users were actively advocating for environmental causes but lacked tools like templates or talking points to simplify outreach and share their message effectively.
Purpose and Community
Beyond functional tools, users valued the ability to connect with like-minded individuals to share ideas, collaborate, and find ongoing inspiration
“I want gardening to feel less overwhelming—something clear and inspiring that helps me make a real impact.”
Read more +
A survey of 30 participants and five interviews revealed three major insights emerged that guided Haven’s design. These findings directly informed Haven’s user-centered approach, leading to features that simplify native gardening and empower meaningful ecological action.
Key Findings
Through research, three major insights emerged that guided Haven's design:
Access and Guidance
Gardeners need centralized, region-specific plant recommendations and practical examples to simplify planning while balancing ecological and aesthetic goals.
Support for Advocacy
Many users were actively advocating for environmental causes but lacked tools like templates or talking points to simplify outreach and share their message effectively.
Purpose and Community
Beyond functional tools, users valued the ability to connect with like-minded individuals to share ideas, collaborate, and find ongoing inspiration
“I want gardening to feel less overwhelming—something clear and inspiring that helps me make a real impact.”
Read more +
A survey of 30 participants and five interviews revealed three major insights emerged that guided Haven’s design. These findings directly informed Haven’s user-centered approach, leading to features that simplify native gardening and empower meaningful ecological action.
Key Findings
Through research, three major insights emerged that guided Haven's design:
Access and Guidance
Gardeners need centralized, region-specific plant recommendations and practical examples to simplify planning while balancing ecological and aesthetic goals.
Support for Advocacy
Many users were actively advocating for environmental causes but lacked tools like templates or talking points to simplify outreach and share their message effectively.
Purpose and Community
Beyond functional tools, users valued the ability to connect with like-minded individuals to share ideas, collaborate, and find ongoing inspiration
“I want gardening to feel less overwhelming—something clear and inspiring that helps me make a real impact.”
Read more +
Insights From Competitive Audit
The competitive audit revealed a gap in the market: most gardening apps focus on general plant care and design, neglecting the unique needs of native gardeners. Haven carved out a niche by prioritizing features like wildlife habitat creation, region-specific plant recommendations, and advocacy resources, positioning itself as a platform for ecological impact.
Insights From Competitive Audit
The competitive audit revealed a gap in the market: most gardening apps focus on general plant care and design, neglecting the unique needs of native gardeners. Haven carved out a niche by prioritizing features like wildlife habitat creation, region-specific plant recommendations, and advocacy resources, positioning itself as a platform for ecological impact.
Insights From Competitive Audit
The competitive audit revealed a gap in the market: most gardening apps focus on general plant care and design, neglecting the unique needs of native gardeners. Haven carved out a niche by prioritizing features like wildlife habitat creation, region-specific plant recommendations, and advocacy resources, positioning itself as a platform for ecological impact.
From Insights to Features
Insights from the research shaped Haven’s features. Using How Might We questions, I aligned the app’s design with user needs while staying true to Haven’s mission. Nancy the Naturalist, a guiding persona, helped ensure the app stayed focused on solving real-world problems while fostering a sense of purpose and connection.
From Insights to Features
Insights from the research shaped Haven’s features. Using How Might We questions, I aligned the app’s design with user needs while staying true to Haven’s mission. Nancy the Naturalist, a guiding persona, helped ensure the app stayed focused on solving real-world problems while fostering a sense of purpose and connection.
From Insights to Features
Insights from the research shaped Haven’s features. Using How Might We questions, I aligned the app’s design with user needs while staying true to Haven’s mission. Nancy the Naturalist, a guiding persona, helped ensure the app stayed focused on solving real-world problems while fostering a sense of purpose and connection.
How might we...
Make it easier to find regionally appropriate native plants that support people and wildlife alike?
Provide simple tools for planning and visualization?
Connect gardeners and native plant experts so they can learn and support each other?
3. Design Decisions
Turning Insights into Solutions
3. Design Decisions
Turning Insights into Solutions
3. Design Decisions
Turning Insights into Solutions
Haven's design process followed a structured approach: prioritizing features using a 2x2 grid, creating intuitive information architecture, developing streamlined user flows, and refining the experience through iterative sketches, wireframes, and usability testing.
2x2 Grid
Translating research insights into a functional app required a focused, iterative approach. Working within a 10-week timeline, I used a 2x2 prioritization matrix, identifying high-impact solutions that were feasible to design, test, and iterate. This process ensured that Haven’s design remained grounded in user needs while delivering a scalable product within tight constraints.
2x2 Grid
Translating research insights into a functional app required a focused, iterative approach. Working within a 10-week timeline, I used a 2x2 prioritization matrix, identifying high-impact solutions that were feasible to design, test, and iterate. This process ensured that Haven’s design remained grounded in user needs while delivering a scalable product within tight constraints.
2x2 Grid
Translating research insights into a functional app required a focused, iterative approach. Working within a 10-week timeline, I used a 2x2 prioritization matrix, identifying high-impact solutions that were feasible to design, test, and iterate. This process ensured that Haven’s design remained grounded in user needs while delivering a scalable product within tight constraints.
Prioritizing MVP: Building the Core Features
To align with both user priorities and project constraints, I distilled Haven’s core features into three Design Principles, bridging research insights with actionable solutions.
Prioritizing MVP: Building the Core Features
To align with both user priorities and project constraints, I distilled Haven’s core features into three Design Principles, bridging research insights with actionable solutions.
Prioritizing MVP: Building the Core Features
To align with both user priorities and project constraints, I distilled Haven’s core features into three Design Principles, bridging research insights with actionable solutions.
Plant Search & Save
A regionally tailored plant library that allows users to search, identify, and save plants for future planning.
Advocacy Features
Tools like talking points and templates to empower users in promoting native gardening practices within their communities.
Visualization Tool
Simple, intuitive tools that enable users to map garden designs and visualize their ecological impact.
Information Architecture: Simplifying Navigation
The app’s information architecture centered on four primary user tasks:
Searching and identifying plants
Organizing findings into collections
Planning and visualizing garden layouts
Connecting with the gardening community
The navigation was designed around a flexible, task-oriented framework, reducing friction and ensuring users could move effortlessly between actions. This structure also supported scalability, allowing future features to integrate smoothly without disrupting usability.
Read more +
Information Architecture: Simplifying Navigation
The app’s information architecture centered on four primary user tasks:
Searching and identifying plants
Organizing findings into collections
Planning and visualizing garden layouts
Connecting with the gardening community
The navigation was designed around a flexible, task-oriented framework, reducing friction and ensuring users could move effortlessly between actions. This structure also supported scalability, allowing future features to integrate smoothly without disrupting usability.
Read more +
Information Architecture: Simplifying Navigation
The app’s information architecture centered on four primary user tasks:
Searching and identifying plants
Organizing findings into collections
Planning and visualizing garden layouts
Connecting with the gardening community
The navigation was designed around a flexible, task-oriented framework, reducing friction and ensuring users could move effortlessly between actions. This structure also supported scalability, allowing future features to integrate smoothly without disrupting usability.
Read more +
User Flows and Wireframes
Simplifying user paths was key to delivering an intuitive experience. Guided by Nancy the Naturalist, I streamlined the process for finding plants and saving them to collections, ensuring clarity and ease of use through thoughtful UI design.
User Flows and Wireframes
Simplifying user paths was key to delivering an intuitive experience. Guided by Nancy the Naturalist, I streamlined the process for finding plants and saving them to collections, ensuring clarity and ease of use through thoughtful UI design.
User Flows and Wireframes
Simplifying user paths was key to delivering an intuitive experience. Guided by Nancy the Naturalist, I streamlined the process for finding plants and saving them to collections, ensuring clarity and ease of use through thoughtful UI design.
Sketching and Iteration
Designing Haven began with paper sketches to explore workflows, refine navigation paths, and simplify complex user tasks. These sketches served as the foundation for mid-fidelity wireframes, focusing on usability and clarity. Each iteration built on user needs uncovered during research, paving the way for prototypes tested in usability studies.
Key iterations
Simplified navigation paths to reduce cognitive load.
Improved filtering mechanisms for intuitive plant searches.
Streamlined user interfaces for readability and efficient task completion.
Read more +
Sketching and Iteration
Designing Haven began with paper sketches to explore workflows, refine navigation paths, and simplify complex user tasks. These sketches served as the foundation for mid-fidelity wireframes, focusing on usability and clarity. Each iteration built on user needs uncovered during research, paving the way for prototypes tested in usability studies.
Key iterations
Simplified navigation paths to reduce cognitive load.
Improved filtering mechanisms for intuitive plant searches.
Streamlined user interfaces for readability and efficient task completion.
Read more +
Sketching and Iteration
Designing Haven began with paper sketches to explore workflows, refine navigation paths, and simplify complex user tasks. These sketches served as the foundation for mid-fidelity wireframes, focusing on usability and clarity. Each iteration built on user needs uncovered during research, paving the way for prototypes tested in usability studies.
Key iterations
Simplified navigation paths to reduce cognitive load.
Improved filtering mechanisms for intuitive plant searches.
Streamlined user interfaces for readability and efficient task completion.
Read more +
Notes on the goals behind each main navigation tab.
Notes on the goals behind each main navigation tab.
Notes on the goals behind each main navigation tab.
Iterating quickly on paper.
Iterating quickly on paper.
Iterating quickly on paper.
An overview of key screens created for usability testing
An overview of key screens created for usability testing
An overview of key screens created for usability testing
After usability testing, labels and UX copy were refined to align with user expectations, improving clarity in navigation, filters, and success feedback.
After usability testing, labels and UX copy were refined to align with user expectations, improving clarity in navigation, filters, and success feedback.
After usability testing, labels and UX copy were refined to align with user expectations, improving clarity in navigation, filters, and success feedback.
Filters were streamlined into expandable categories, simplifying the flow by removing redundant submit buttons and enabling users to explore plants more efficiently.
Filters were streamlined into expandable categories, simplifying the flow by removing redundant submit buttons and enabling users to explore plants more efficiently.
Filters were streamlined into expandable categories, simplifying the flow by removing redundant submit buttons and enabling users to explore plants more efficiently.
4. Impact
Usability & Outcomes
4. Impact
Usability & Outcomes
4. Impact
Usability & Outcomes
A survey of 30 participants and five interviews revealed three major insights emerged that guided Haven’s design. These findings directly informed Haven’s user-centered approach, leading to features that simplify native gardening and empower meaningful ecological action.
Key Outcomes
Filling a Market Gap
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Filling a Market Gap
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Filling a Market Gap
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Proven Usability
Two rounds of usability testing validated Haven’s intuitive design. By the second round, the app achieved an 87% success rate in key workflows, with users highlighting its ease of use and thoughtful features.
Proven Usability
Two rounds of usability testing validated Haven’s intuitive design. By the second round, the app achieved an 87% success rate in key workflows, with users highlighting its ease of use and thoughtful features.
Proven Usability
Two rounds of usability testing validated Haven’s intuitive design. By the second round, the app achieved an 87% success rate in key workflows, with users highlighting its ease of use and thoughtful features.
Scalable Design
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Scalable Design
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Scalable Design
Haven stands out as the only native gardening app combining plant advocacy, education, and community tools. This niche focus positions Haven as a purpose-driven alternative to general gardening platforms.
Key Flows:
Final Design Solutions
The following high-fidelity prototypes demonstrate how usability testing feedback directly shaped Haven’s final design. Each example highlights core workflows, illustrating seamless functionality and user-focused improvements.
1. Search and Save Plants
Quickly identify native plants and save them to custom collections, making planning and organization effortless.
2. Community Connection
Engage with like-minded gardeners and access shared resources for collaboration.
3. Precision Filtering
Streamlined filters simplify plant searches without overwhelming users
4. Detailed Plant Information
Access scientifically sound plant data in an intuitive, user-friendly interface.
5. Step-by-step Plant ID
A guided process for plant identification that ensures accuracy and builds user confidence.
Next Steps
Haven’s roadmap focuses on collaboration, innovation, and growth:
Localized Intelligence
Provide precise, region-specific plant recommendations through partnerships and real-time data.
Localized Intelligence
Provide precise, region-specific plant recommendations through partnerships and real-time data.
Localized Intelligence
Provide precise, region-specific plant recommendations through partnerships and real-time data.
Professional Ecosystem
Build tools that connect researchers, retailers, and professionals with gardeners’ needs and goals.
Professional Ecosystem
Build tools that connect researchers, retailers, and professionals with gardeners’ needs and goals.
Professional Ecosystem
Build tools that connect researchers, retailers, and professionals with gardeners’ needs and goals.
Community Engagement
Strengthen features that encourage advocacy, storytelling, and collaboration among users.
Community Engagement
Strengthen features that encourage advocacy, storytelling, and collaboration among users.
Community Engagement
Strengthen features that encourage advocacy, storytelling, and collaboration among users.
Citizen Science Integration
Enable users to share wildlife data to support conservation and research efforts.
Citizen Science Integration
Enable users to share wildlife data to support conservation and research efforts.
Citizen Science Integration
Enable users to share wildlife data to support conservation and research efforts.
Iterative Growth
Refine usability to adapt to evolving user needs, keeping Haven user-focused and impactful.
Iterative Growth
Refine usability to adapt to evolving user needs, keeping Haven user-focused and impactful.
Iterative Growth
Refine usability to adapt to evolving user needs, keeping Haven user-focused and impactful.
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