GAIA

Stage 1: Problem Discovery & Research

To validate the relevance of paper-receipt waste and understand user expectations for a digital alternative, I surveyed 44 participants. I conducted a series of informal interviews with peers, professors, industry professionals from large tech companies, as well as business owners. The survey revealed that 75% of respondents were between 18 and 24 years old and made in-person purchases at least once a week. Yet over 94% either decline receipts, discard them immediately, or keep them briefly, then throw them away. Only 25% were aware that most receipts are non-recyclable because of chemical coatings, while 52% believed paper receipts significantly contribute to environmental waste.

I have also identified that more than 96% of the respondents had used digital or e-mailed receipts before and were familiar with the procedure. When I asked them about how comfortable they are with using NFC technology to make their payments, only 10% of them said they are uncomfortable with it. When asked about potential solutions, 95% said they would likely adopt a system that automatically stores receipts digitally during NFC payments, provided it is effortless and secure. Participants prioritized ease of access (81%), warranty tracking for purchases (41%), and sustainability insights (46%) as the most valuable features, aligning directly with Gaia’s vision.

Complementing the quantitative results, the interviews emphasized the importance of frictionless integration. Many also stated that it would be very convenient to track all receipts and reminders for upcoming expirations. They gave personal examples from the times they lost track of their subscriptions, warranties, and registrations, and told me that they are in need to be notified.

These findings shaped Gaia’s design goal:

Transform receipts from a disposable afterthought into an automated, sustainable, and insight-driven experience that is triggered the moment you tap to pay.”

Stage 2 · Design Strategy

My design strategy for Gaia came directly from user insights gathered through surveys and interviews. We learned that users want digital receipts to be easy to store, track. They also stated that they value their privacy and want their receipts to be kept securely. After interpreting these data, we have determined that users are demanding certain features:

1. Zero Effort Capture: Users prefer automation over interaction. Gaia’s NFC-linked system ensures that receipts are stored instantly after each payment, requiring no additional taps, scans, or apps to open.

2. Privacy & Trust by Design: Since 2744% of participants mentioned privacy and 68% cited spam concerns, Gaia eliminates email-based storage. Receipts are encrypted and stored locally first, then synced only with the user’s permission.

3. Meaningful Feedback Loops: Beyond storage, users wanted to see their environment al impact. Gaia introduces Eco Insights, which are personalized metrics on paper saved, CO₂ prevented, and recycling milestones.

These demanded features shaped Gaia’s value proposition. :

Gaia’s goal is to deliver seamless, automated digital receipts for every NFC payment. It will ensure security, verification, sustainability, and tangible environmental tracking without user effort.

The design process continued with a systems-thinking approach, gathering information about merging payment networks, retail systems, and end users into one interoperable ecosystem. Wireflows and journey maps portrayed how Gaia could work flawlessly with the existing Apple Pay / Google Pay systems, avoiding any behavioral alteration.

Currently, we are iterating on two parallel directions:

• Merchant-side POS integration: researching how to operate Gaia’s real-time data transfer pipeline.

• User-side mobile dashboard: developing the app’s prototype to provide users with a minimalistic, straightforward, and convenient  digital environment

The outcome is a strategy that balances a pleasant user experience and sustainability impact. We want to utilize this strategy to make the receipt experience effortless yet influential.

Stage 3: Prototype Development

During our prototype phase, I focused on turning Gaia’s strategy into a seamless experience. I use Figma to refine ongoing interaction and user experience design. I recently developed mid to high-fidelity screens to showcase some of our most important features.

1. Tap-to-Save Integration

When the user taps to pay, Gaia automatically:

• Stores the receipt securely within the app (no scanning, QR codes, or email links).

• Links transaction metadata (merchant, category, amount) to enable contextual notifications.

• Logs the eco-impact of each purchase, converting waste reduction into measurable progress.

2. Smart Reminders & Notifications

Based on user feedback about missed warranty deadlines and forgotten returns, Gaia introduces intelligent reminders. The system recognizes key receipt types (warranty expirations, registration expirations, subscription renewals) and automatically schedules notifications before the warranty or return period expires. Users receive only relevant, time-sensitive alerts.

3. Interface & Visual Language

The interface welcomes a minimalist, trust-centered aesthetic:

• A dark green and off-white palette communicates sustainability and calm.

• Clear typography and iconography reduce cognitive load while reinforcing reliability and trust.

• The Eco Insights dashboard visualizes paper and CO₂ savings, motivating sustainable habits through tangible metrics.