Hilio
Sustainability App

UX Research,
Branding, Designsystem,
Mockup Design
Usability Testing
Prototype

Figma
Miro
Lark
Slack, AdobeXD

MY ROLE

TOOLS

Product manager,
Developer

TEAM

In today’s world, especially post-pandemic, sustainable living is no longer a niche—it’s a necessity. But the path to living consciously isn’t easy.

Here’s the reality:

• Sustainable choices feel expensive and out of reach for many.

• Greenwashing is everywhere, making it hard to know what’s truly sustainable.

• And to top it off, people have to jump across multiple apps, blogs, and platforms just to verify one decision—whether it’s shopping, eating out, or investing.

• Local green businesses? Most people don’t even know they exist—because they’re buried online or under-marketed.

This isn’t just a content issue—it reflects a broken user experience in the sustainability space.

Why There’s a Need for a Sustainable App?

“How might we help people live more sustainably without feeling overwhelmed — by creating a simple, all-in-one platform to discover trusted businesses, understand their impact, and find eco-friendly deals nearby?”

Ok! I got you. I’m not going to lecture you about sustainability, but in short words —

Hilio is a sustainability companion app that simplifies conscious living by offering a single, user-friendly platform where users can:

• Discover verified local sustainable businesses

• Access exclusive eco-friendly deals and offers

• Learn the real impact of their choices in simple, relatable language

• Explore green investment options (like climate-focused stocks) without financial complexity

🌱 Solution

PROTOTYPE

View Prototype

Research

Through targeted surveys and interviews, we brought together a diverse group of users — from eco-curious beginners to conscious shoppers and green investors. These conversations uncovered the everyday struggles people face: from greenwashing confusion to not knowing where to start — revealing just how disconnected and overwhelming the current sustainability experience really is.

USER SURVEY

The goal was to explore:

• How people currently make sustainable choices

• Where they get their information

• What stops them from living more sustainably

• What kind of support or features they’d want in an app like Hilio

💬 What Users Said

“I want to live more sustainably, but I don’t know where to start.”

“Every brand claims to be eco-friendly. It’s hard to know who’s legit.”

“I’d love an app that just tells me what’s nearby and actually sustainable.”

“Investing in green stocks sounds great, but it feels like a finance world I don’t understand.”

KEY INSIGHTS FROM RESEARCH

Bring everything about sustainable living into one accessible, all-in-one app

Make green investing approachable for everyone

Cut through greenwashing with verified business listings

Offer real-world incentives like deals and offers

🧠 Insights That Shaped Hilio

These responses gave us clarity: people don’t need more information—they need simpler ways to take action.

So Hilio was designed to:

🚀 What’s Next for Hilio

With the core experience and brand foundation in place, we’re now preparing for launch and real-world testing. Here’s what’s coming up:

• Soft Launch: Rolling out the first version of Hilio to a small group of users in Montreal for initial feedback.

• User Testing & Feedback Loop: Observing how people use the app in real life, gathering insights, and identifying any friction points.

• Iterating on Design: Refining features like the impact card, map experience, and deals section based on what we learn from users.

• Prepping for Full Launch: Once tested and optimized, we’ll gear up for a broader launch — with refreshed visuals, improved flows, and updated marketing content.

📢 Marketing Contribution

I helped position Hilio as more than just an app, it’s a movement toward mindful, accessible living.
Designed Instagram content creation for general awareness about sustainability. As part of Hilio’s growth journey, I contributed to spreading the brand’s message across Montreal through Social media.

"Priyanka made a huge difference at Hilio, not just as a designer, but as someone who really understood the heart of the product.
She helped shape the user experience in a way that felt clear and approachable, while also supporting our marketing efforts with thoughtful content, visuals, and print materials. Her work connected the dots between design and storytelling, and it showed in how people responded to Hilio."

-Pranit S, Product Manager

★★★★★

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