Outlining the app

Pros for developing a mobile app

- Zero waste solution that aligns with Apple's efforts towards a zero waste manufacturing process.
- Free to use.
- Easy, accessible platform to use that the user carries everywhere on the iPhone. Taking advantage of Apple's most popular device sold 78.3 million in Q1 of 2017 as compared to 5.3 million Macs. As a result the iPhone's popularity will help spread the message on an international scale.
- The app doesn't force its message onto the user. People prefer not to be told what to do, especially for on screen usage. Letting the user discover the app makes the process of going green more approachable.
- Using an app as opposed to reading awareness campaigns about climate change will make the user feel more a part in the help to reduce the issue which produces a positive user experience, creating the incentive to use the app more often.
- The app will help in making climate change less of an abstract concept, which was highlighted in the Vox video. Users will be more likely to adopt 'greener' habits knowing their actions have impact.

Cons for developing an app

- Not everyone on the iPhone will be interested in using the app.
- Because the app itself won't be essential to the iPhone's use, it may lose its attention amongst the user's other apps. Therefore the message of conserving the environment isn't as effectively communicated.
- The app may find initial success because of its novelty to the Apple 'ecosystem' however getting the user to use the app longterm is important in helping to develop environmentally friendly habits. Being environmentally conscious has to be the norm in order to reduce global warming and not an occasional or selective practice.

App Name 

Full Name: Apple Eco
App Name: Eco

App Aim & Features

- To provide tips on how to be green.
- To be the users way to track their eco habits.
- To provide relevant information on climate change.
- To inform the user about Apple's Recycling program, where users can send in their own hardware for an Apple gift card.
- A rating system that gives the user a sense of reward for being green. This will help keep users on the app as this produces a positive user experience as evidenced by the method used in the Vox video.
- A forum page where users can suggest their own eco tips to each other globally.
- Merge the app with the Home Dev kit to allow the eco app to better the house's energy consumption.
- User is able to key in their electrical appliances, light bulbs, utility or energy bill values and the app will suggest ways to save energy and get savings on their energy bill.
- A statistics page where it records your daily usage to produce a timeline of how eco the user has been. This is a feature that the user can possibly feel proud about and to have a visual representation of what you've done to reduce your carbon footprint.

Target Audience

- Modern home owners
- International
- Relatively anyone who has an iPhone

Tone of Voice

- A functional tone of voice that aids the user rather than instructs.
- In the style already used in Apple's other native apps. The user is already used to this tone of voice and is designed to catered its audience.
- Simplistic language to lessen the complexity and perceived tediousness of adopting green habits as well as to cater to a wide age demographic.

App Design 

- Predominantly 3 colour scheme. Green, black and white.
- 5 sections maximum to keep the app's simplicity.
- A similar art direction to their Health app or the recent Earth Day video campaign.
- Has to follow Apple's app design guidelines as users are used to this layout of information and will make the app natural to use.

Sources 

https://9to5mac.com/2017/01/31/apple-earnings-fy17-q1/