Role
User Experience Designer
Team
Avi Athota, Cinya Lin, Lauren Carlin
Duration
6 Weeks
Overview
As part of our coursework at Georgia Tech, we were tasked to design an app aimed at addressing a UN Sustainable Development Goal. My team, Avi, Cinya, and Lauren, chose #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Originally inspired by a collaboration between the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), which deployed decommissioned railcars off the coast of Savannah, Georgia to create artificial reefs for essential fish habitats, our app builds on this idea by expanding the possibilities of vehicle repurposing. It connects government agencies with community organizations through a searchable database of retired transit vehicles, streamlining their transformation into sustainable assets such as mobile libraries, laundry units for unhoused populations, or artificial reefs. By bridging logistical gaps, our platform empowers local groups to create meaningful, city-level impact while significantly reducing environmental waste.
My personal contributions include:
Conducted research into real-world examples of vehicle repurposing, such as reef restoration and mobile community services, to inform app features and user needs
Designed the interface and created wireframes using Figma to visualize the app’s core functionalities
Developed user personas and use-case scenarios to guide design decisions and ensure alignment with sustainability and community impact goals
Presented the final prototype to classmates and instructors, highlighting how the platform supports sustainable resource use and sustainable urban development
How might we streamline the repurposing of decommissioned transit vehicles so that these assets can be transformed into sustainable public goods rather than ending up as waste?
Research Objectives
Identify the documentation and compliance requirements for transferring decommissioned vehicles.
Understand which repurposing use cases are most desirable and feasible for community and environmental organizations.
Learn the logistical factors that can influence successful vehicle transfers
User Interviews
Key Insights
From our research, we uncovered three main insights.
Goals
Keeping our research in mind, we made the following goals for our brand redesign:
Include a centralized vehicle database with filters by condition, size, location, and material
Provide vehicle specifications and compliance documentation on each listing.
Implement a matching/recommendation system for project fit.
Use a GIS map interface to highlight proximity and facilitate local reuse.
Design for both ends: government upload portals and community browsing tools.
First, we focused on establishing a clear and concise brand identity to guide our design process.
Mood Board
Next, we began by creating a mood board that explored a visual tone of our brand's values: sustainability, emotional connection, and transparency.
Naming and Sketching
Then we began sketching ideas for branding.
Applying Amado’s brand identity across physical and digital spaces allowed us to reinforce its values, sustainability, emotional connection, and transparency, through real-world interactions.
Website & Mobile App
The website experience prioritizes clarity, calmness, and accessibility—guiding users through a more mindful approach to shopping.
Key features we focused on implementing included:
A dedicated small business spotlight
A “favorites” option to save preferred businesses or products
A personalized profile section that added a human touch
Print Material
Our print materials bring Amado’s tone to life in public spaces, inviting communities to slow down and shop consciously.
We began with the business card, intentionally printed on seed paper—so instead of being thrown away, it can be planted and grow into something new.
We then designed a poster that invites the community to a local farmers market to spotlight small businesses and sustainable food practices.
Lastly, we designed a large-scale billboard to maximize visibility and extends Amado’s mission into public space, encouraging passersby to reconsider how and where they shop.
Merchandise
We created a line of branded merchandise to bring Amado’s identity into everyday, personal use. Each piece embodies the brand’s values of sustainability and human connection, transforming practical goods into meaningful extensions of the brand. This approach emphasized that Amado is more than just a logo or website, it’s a brand designed to live alongside its community.
Reflection
Reimagining Amazon as Amado was an opportunity to explore how brand design can shape not just perception, but values and behavior. This project challenged me to think beyond aesthetics and focus on building a system rooted in empathy, sustainability, and human connection. Every design decision was guided by a deeper mission: to create a brand that feels personal, intentional, and regenerative.
Throughout this process, I deepened my understanding of brand strategy, identity systems, and storytelling across both digital and physical spaces. More than anything, this project reinforced the power of design to influence culture and create space for slower, more meaningful interactions.