Gaia

Stage 1: Problem Discovery & Research

To understand the scale of receipt waste and identify what users expect from a digital alternative, I surveyed 44 participants and conducted interviews with peers, professors, industry professionals, and business owners. The survey revealed that 75% of respondents were between the ages 18 and 24 and made in-person purchases frequently. More than 94% reported declining or immediately discarding receipts, yet only 25% knew thermal receipts could not be recycled due to BPA and BPS coatings.

Participants were already familiar with digital receipts. Over 96% had used email or app-based receipts before, and 90% felt comfortable using modern payment methods. When introduced to the idea of an automatic digital receipt system, 95% said they would likely adopt it if it worked seamlessly and securely. They valued easy access (81%), warranty tracking (41%), and sustainability insights (46%) as the most useful features.

Interviews revealed consistent frustrations. Users described losing warranty dates, forgetting subscription renewals, and having receipts scattered across email inboxes, apps, and physical spaces. They wanted a system that required no additional effort yet organized everything clearly.

These insights shaped Gaia’s vision:
Transform receipts from disposable paper into an automated, sustainable, and insight-driven experience that activates the moment a purchase is made.

Stage 2 · Design Strategy

Early insights showed users want trust, automation, and clarity. Privacy and simplicity were essential. This led to three core design pillars:

Zero Effort Capture
Instead of relying on NFC, Gaia integrates directly with banks and card networks to receive real-time transaction data. This allows receipts to be created automatically for every purchase, regardless of whether users pay with a physical card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or online.

Privacy and Trust
Many users expressed concerns about spam or unwanted emails. Gaia eliminates email-based receipts. Instead, receipts are generated securely on-device and synchronized only with user permission.

Meaningful Feedback Loops
Users want visibility into their environmental impact. Gaia provides personalized Eco Insights that show paper saved, CO₂ prevented, and sustainability progress over time.

To ensure feasibility, I mapped how transaction pipelines work within existing payment infrastructures. This systems thinking approach allowed Gaia to fit naturally into the financial ecosystem without requiring changes from users or retailers.

Stage 3: Prototype Development

I translated Gaia’s strategy into a functional prototype in Figma. The goal was to create a smooth, trustworthy experience while minimizing cognitive load.

Automatic Receipt Generation
After each payment, Gaia retrieves transaction metadata through secure bank connections. It then creates a structured digital receipt that users can access instantly.

Smart Reminders
Gaia identifies purchases that include warranties, return windows, or subscriptions, and automatically schedules reminders before deadlines. Users receive only relevant and timely notifications.

Interface and Visual Language
The interface follows a minimalist aesthetic built around dark green and off-white tones. Clean typography and simple iconography support readability and convey a sense of calm and trust. The Eco Insights dashboard visualizes environmental progress in an intuitive and motivating way.