SAUNG - Waste Management UI/UX Design

Project Overview

SAUNG is a UI/UX concept for a mobile app that tackles Indonesia's waste-management crisis through gamification. Users exchange sorted waste for vouchers while learning about sustainability — turning disposal from a chore into a rewarding habit. It was developed for a Human-Computer Interaction course by a 4-designer team, where I led UI/UX design and user research.

The Problem

Indonesia generated 35.93 million tons of waste in 2022 (up 22% year-over-year), and only 62% is properly managed — leaving 13.47 million tons unmanaged. Plastic (17.9%) and food waste (40.5%) dominate the stream, contradicting UN SDG 11 for sustainable cities.

The Concept

• Coin-based rewards — users earn coins for proper disposal and redeem them for vouchers, creating real-world value from waste.
• Educational integration — waste-classification guides and sustainability tips woven into the flow.
• Missions & levels — structured missions and progression that keep users engaged long-term.

The name "SAUNG" (Indonesian for "house") frames the app as a home where waste becomes valuable rather than burdensome.

User Research

Research identified three target segments — environmental activists, environmental-engineering students, and homemakers — and found strong interest in active participation, tangible rewards, educational content, and simple interfaces. A green-dominant palette was chosen to signal sustainability, trust, and calm.

Design Process

Three iterations, each validated with users:

1. Low-fidelity wireframes (Whimsical) — core functionality and user flows.
2. High-fidelity prototype (Figma) — final color, typography, and interactions, refined from first-round SUS testing.
3. Final design — usability, visual-hierarchy, and accessibility improvements from a second round of Maze.co testing.

Iteration improved results measurably: +40% task completion (iteration 1 to 2), +25% satisfaction (2 to 3), and 90% positive feedback on the final design.

Key Interfaces

Authentication and profile management, an educational content hub (card-based waste guides and articles), the gamification system (coins, missions, level progression), a step-by-step waste-pickup ordering flow with status tracking, and a coin-to-voucher marketplace with clear exchange rates.

Impact & Takeaways

SAUNG demonstrates that gamified, user-centered design can make sustainable behavior engaging. Tangible reward visualization proved crucial for sustained engagement, embedded education raised perceived value, and social elements amplified motivation. The design principles could extend to corporate, government, and campus sustainability programs.

Final Design (Figma): Saung 2.0 · Usability Report: Maze.co