FYTA

Overview

Educating indoor gardeners about the impact of sunlight on plant health & equipping them with data tracking tools

During my six-month internship as a product design intern at FYTA, a small Berlin-based tech startup focused on enhancing indoor gardening experiences through technology, I had the unique opportunity to take on several design projects. My role allowed me to create everything from app store previews to a brand identity book, but my proudest project was redesigning the light visualization feature in FYTA’s app. Working within a small, cross-functional team of six, I engaged with teammates across design, data science, customer support, and development to deliver an experience that educates users about their plants’ light needs.

Problem

Indoor gardeners tend to misunderstand the impact of sunlight on plant health, and the current app feature adds to the confusion.

FYTA markets itself as the “fitness tracker for plants,” offering in-app data visualizations for plant health metrics as a key point of value. However, the data visualizations representing Daily Light Integral (DLI), a plant’s sunlight intake, were a frequent source of user confusion and dissatisfaction. With customers frequently finding the color scheme misaligned with their expectations or not understanding how to interpret the graphs, it became clear the design did not align well with users' mental models. The confusion was apparent in user feedback: customers would often question why their plants’ statuses were marked “optimal” while colors in the app signaled otherwise.

The existing design struggled to communicate that plants need specific amounts of light, and that too much or too little can lead to stress and slow growth. The challenge was not only to represent complex light data visually but also to educate users about these nuanced concepts without overwhelming them.

In-Depth Research and Understanding
Due to unfamiliarity with gardening and the audience involved, I conducted scrappy user interviews with 2 indoor gardening enthusiasts in my network, in order to tackle problems from their perspective. Through Zoom conversations, my goal was to grasp how they perceived and prioritized light compared to other plant care factors like water.

I also initiated countless interviews with my teammates and stakeholders, such as FYTA’s customer service specialist, who monitored user feedback on Discord and frequently interacted with users. Key findings emerged:

Design

Exploring solutions & gathering team feedback through 7+ iterations

I initially experimented with a few data visualization designs for mobile, taking the initiative to seek out twice-weekly feedback from my teammates. Early discussions with the data scientist informed the thresholds and technical feasibility of various chart types, such as line versus bar charts. I chose the latter for its clear delineation of “safe” versus “suboptimal” light exposure. Conversations with the designer allowed for alignment of the light visualizations alongside the total system of water, light, temperature, and nutrition. I also collaborated closely with FYTA’s CEO, discussing the compromises between making light visualizations more intuitive while still upholding the brand’s scientific appeal and data-backed value proposition.

Iterations

1. Defining the Graph Style
   I initially experimented with a line chart to represent daily and weekly DLI changes but found it overwhelming for users. Switching to a bar chart allowed for better visibility of light “peaks” and “valleys” without creating an overly negative emotional impact. After receiving initial feedback, I added subtle background color gradients to help users easily discern optimal light levels.

2. Color Theory and Psychological Impact
   Early iterations included colors like red for suboptimal days, but this was later changed to more neutral tones after user interviews revealed it was unnecessarily alarming. Instead, we opted for soft yellows to signify adequate light and a gradient to indicate suboptimal ranges. This approach reduced stress for users, allowing them to monitor patterns over time without feeling their plants were in imminent danger.

3. User-Friendly Terminology
   The design underwent several rounds of feedback with stakeholders, including FYTA’s plant scientist and customer support team. Based on customer feedback gathered by FYTA, we replaced jargon like "DLI" with descriptive terms and added visual indicators to clarify when light levels were too high or low.

4. Educational Insights
   To balance data with practical advice, we created “insight cards” below the graph, offering tips on adjusting light exposure without overwhelming users with data.

Final Design
The final solution featured a simplified bar chart highlighting light exposure per day with an overlay showing the optimal light range. Additional insights provided actionable guidance, allowing users to make minor adjustments to their plant’s environment. A more subdued color palette aligned with user expectations, reducing frustration. The redesign received positive feedback from stakeholders and aligned well with FYTA’s mission of making indoor gardening more accessible.

Reflection

First time designing for a startup…and I loved it.

My time at FYTA taught me to assert my ideas, ask the right questions, and work proactively in a startup environment. I learned to seek feedback early, conduct scrappy, self-directed research to fill in my knowledge gaps, and iterate quickly on ideas. At times, I struggled with the limited mentorship offered by a startup environment, but this project shaped my commitment to pursuing a career in UX that values collaboration and continuous learning. Looking forward, I hope to work within a larger design team that will further refine my skills.