Ferdia Tobin Larkin Yūgen

Yūgen

For my final year college project, I was tasked with tackling a growing problem in Ireland and the world, littering in National and Forest Parks. As someone who loves the outdoors and has seen the problem first hand, this was a great project to work on.

ROLE

Student

PROBLEM

Natural parks and beauty spots are cherished places where people go to relax and embrace nature. Littering has become a growing issue in these places especially since lockdown. My research shows that it affects wildlife, soil quality, fauna, and even peoples mental well being. People who value these places have expressed their frustration to those who litter. Littering in these places happens for a number of reasons. The main reason, is people’s lack of respect and consideration for the landscape and other people. While many people want pristine natural parks and forests, they often take a backseat on the issue, assuming park rangers and workers will clean it up. This behaviour is driven by misalignment of values and actions, where people want a cleaner world, but lack the motivation and prioritise convenience over accountability. Understanding this is key to designing a solution that encourages people to hold themselves accountable and have them align their actions with their values.

Three million animals are injured or killed each year due to litter. Plastic bags, bottles, and other products can lead to suffocation and digestive issues.
Bottles and cans become traps for insects, leading to death. Insects such as bees have been seen to die in paper cups, even though they seem easy to escape.
89% of dead adult birds are found with plastic particles in their stomach.

ROLE

Student

PROBLEM

Three million animals are injured or killed each year due to litter. Plastic bags, bottles, and other products can lead to suffocation and digestive issues.
Bottles and cans become traps for insects, leading to death. Insects such as bees have been seen to die in paper cups, even though they seem easy to escape.
89% of dead adult birds are found with plastic particles in their stomach.

Background

As someone who loves exploring the outdoors, I knew I wanted to create something to protect National parks around the world. What bothered me most was the amount of litter I would find on trail, especially on weekends when parks would be busy. Parks are spending thousands a year to keep our parks clean of litter, a problem that could be stopped before it happens. From my user research I came to the solution which is the Yūgen bin.

What does it do?

The Yūgen Bin encourages park visitors to not only return their litter, but pick up litter around the park in return for rewards. Park visitors can collect rewards to be redeemed in the park café, there are also digital rewards to give a sense of achievement. Each park has it’s own leaderboard for those who return the most, adding some competitiveness.

Research & Ideation

My research consisted of getting outdoors to interview people about their opinions on litter and how it affects them. This gave me a better understanding on how people feel about it and what would change their mindset to pick it up.

Key Quotes

“People assume other people will handle it.”
“It’s frustrating and negatively affects everything about the trail.”
“When I go camping it’s for my mental health.”
“They don’t care about anyone but themselves.”

Ideation

Prototype Bin Mini-Games

LitterCanvas is one of the mini-games that appears on the bin screen. Each time someone deposits rubbish a piece of digital puzzle is revealed, gradually showing beautiful artwork inspired by the local landscape and local artists. Once enough pieces are unlocked, users can earn small rewards such as discounted art prints and discounts in the park café. It is designed to spark curiosity and encourage repeat engagement. LitterCanvas connects visitors to nature through creativity and promotes environmental action.
On weekends and holidays, the Yūgen Bin transforms the park into a Treasure Hunt. It’s an interactive game where visitors can team up, track progress on their phone, and compete to collect rewards. The more they clean, the more they earn, turning park clean-ups into a fun, social challenge. Whether with friends or family, Treasure Hunt makes caring for nature an exciting adventure.

Designing for Change

Yūgen Bin was created to inspire lasting behavioural shifts through thoughtful design. By transforming litter disposal into an engaging, rewarding experience, it encourages communities to take pride in public spaces. This project isn’t just about managing waste it’s about rethinking how design can nudge action and create a cleaner, more connected world.

Product Designer with Real World Experience Solving User and Business Needs

Ferdia Tobin Larkin