Eco-Puzz
Nature App for METU
Role
Product Designer
Year
2023
Team
Ahmet Önder Kasapçı, Doğa Tanrıverdi, Gülce Tokmak, Sude Sürmen
About Project
Eco Puzz is a gamified nature exploration app designed for the campus of Middle East Technical University. The experience combines location-based puzzles with a quest system that guides users through curated journeys across the environment. By completing challenges and quests, users actively explore, observe, and learn about natural elements around them. The project transforms passive movement into an engaging and educational experience, encouraging environmental awareness through play.
Project Scoping
Who ?
Nature Enthusiasts METU Visitors METU students and their relatives
Why ?
To get informed about the nature of METU To explore the trail paths in METU To learn about different species and habitats in METU
Where ?
Natural areas of the campus Regular areas of the campus
When ?
They want to observe nature They are doing outdoor activities They need a stress relief
What ?
-Lake -Swamp -Habitats -Endemic species
User Persona
Duru Yalçın
The Nature Enthusiast
About
Age: 22
Occupation: METU Student
Hobbies & Interests
• Photography
• Nature Walks
• Hiking
Motivations
• Wants to learn about the things she wouldn’t casually notice.
• Is curious about the nature around.
• Wants to learn interesting facts.
Challenges
• Regular nature exploration isn’t engaging or dynamic enough.
• Has limited knowledge about the diverse ecosystems within METU.
Goals
• Encourage users to explore METU's natural wonders, revealing hidden gems in it.
• Provide opportunities to users engage in quests, solve puzzles, and deepen their knowledge
• Keeps users entertained with a variety of quests.
Eco-consciousness
Outdoor Activity Frequency
Tech Proficiency
App Usage / Web Usage
Information Architecture
Final Design
The final design of Eco-Puzz brings together location-based exploration, puzzle-solving, and a quest system into a cohesive mobile experience. The interface is designed to guide users intuitively while encouraging interaction with the natural environment. The following screens illustrate the core features and user flow of the application.
Onboarding Screens
Homepage & Profile Screens
The home screen serves as a customizable hub where users can personalize widgets based on their preferences. It provides quick access to quests, camera, map, the collection hub and profile, while also highlighting ongoing quests to support continuity and engagement.
Quests
The quest system provides structured goals that guide users through the exploration experience. Users can track active and completed quests while progressing through step-by-step challenges. Quests are organized into six different themes, offering variety and encouraging continuous engagement.
Example Quest Flow
Users begin by selecting a quest from the quests page, where they can view its description and instructions. After starting the quest, they are presented with puzzle pieces along with tip cards that guide the task. By selecting a piece and capturing the appropriate photo, users complete the objective. Each completed puzzle piece reveals additional information, reinforcing learning through interaction.
Camera Identification
The camera feature allows users to capture elements from their surroundings and identify species through an AI-supported database. The system suggests possible matches, helping users recognize and learn about different organisms. Additionally, the “Hidden Gems” feature scans the image to detect less noticeable species, revealing details that might be overlooked at first glance and enriching the discovery experience.
Trail Paths
Trail paths present curated routes in METU nature, allowing users to plan their exploration before starting. Each path provides key information such as estimated duration, potential species encounters, available quests, and community feedback from previous users. Along the route, milestone puzzle pieces offer informative content, while “Memory Journal” pieces enable users to leave and share personal experiences, enriching the journey through both learning and social interaction.
Collection Hub
The collection hub brings together all user interactions into a unified system of puzzle pieces. Actions such as species identification, discovering hidden gems, reaching milestones, and completing quests are transformed into collectible pieces that gradually build a personalized experience map. Each piece retains its informational content and is color-coded based on the type of interaction, allowing users to track their journey and revisit what they have learned.
