Work by Haydon | Passport 2 Recovery

Project type

Mobile App

Focus

Civic Service Design

My role

Lead Designer

Client

Flinders University

The 'Passport 2 Recovery' App displayed in a phone mock-up.

In 2019, bushfires destroyed 42% of Kangaroo Island, damaging ecosystems and collapsing tourism. Recovery required long-term environmental monitoring and renewed visitor engagement.

My role was to design a mobile app that brought tourists back by involving them in legitimate citizen science for ecosystem recovery.

A mock-up of the app shown in a phone lying on a rock outdoors.

Design approach

Stakeholder and discovery

I co-facilitated design and technical workshops with developers, scientists, and stakeholders from Flinders University to define scope, prioritise research activities, and align UX with technical feasibility.

Stakeholder and discovery

UX and flow design

I designed end-to-end user flows and wireframes for complex scientific tasks, including insect identification and soil sampling.

Instructions were carefully structured to maintain data accuracy without overwhelming casual tourists.

UX and flow design

I designed end-to-end user flows and wireframes for complex scientific tasks, including insect identification and soil sampling.

Instructions were carefully structured to maintain data accuracy without overwhelming casual tourists.

Product and visual design

I led the app design while collaborating with university design students developing the broader Passport 2 Recovery brand.

The onboarding experience used a passport metaphor, Kangaroo Island stamping, and native wildlife to create emotional connection and frame participation as both tourism and contribution.

We launched with core functionality and expanded iteratively to 12 citizen science activities by 2024.

A passport-inspired sign-up that turns onboarding into a symbolic first step, helping users feel connected to place and responsible for their contribution from the start.

Product and visual design

I led the app design while collaborating with university design students developing the broader Passport 2 Recovery brand.

The onboarding experience used a passport metaphor, Kangaroo Island stamping, and native wildlife to create emotional connection and frame participation as both tourism and contribution.

We launched with core functionality and expanded iteratively to 12 citizen science activities by 2024.

A passport-inspired sign-up that turns onboarding into a symbolic first step, helping users feel connected to place and responsible for their contribution from the start.

Rewards and ecosystem loop

I designed a rewards system in partnership with local businesses, linking conservation participation with tangible local benefits.

This created a closed loop where tourists, scientists, and the local economy all gained value.

A phone being held in the sky showing the completion screen of an activity from the app.

A completion screen that celebrates progress, shows points earned, and nudges users to explore rewards from local businesses.

Rewards and ecosystem loop

I designed a rewards system in partnership with local businesses, linking conservation participation with tangible local benefits.

This created a closed loop where tourists, scientists, and the local economy all gained value.

A completion screen that celebrates progress, shows points earned, and nudges users to explore rewards from local businesses.

The app has generated close to 3,000 citizen science submissions now used by researchers to track ecosystem recovery on Kangaroo Island.

It has been adopted by classroom excursions and guided tourism groups, extending its educational reach beyond individual visitors while supporting local businesses through a built-in rewards system.

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