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UX/UI Design
Genera
Designing a Community-Powered Freecycling App with AI, AR, and Purpose

Genera is a community-powered app that uses AI to match donated items with people in real need.

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Project Overview

Genera is a community-powered freecycling app that allows users to donate and receive items like clothes, furniture, and a variety of different objects. The app uses AI to match donors with people in need, such as refugees, students, or single parents, and integrates augmented reality (AR) to help users visualize how furniture will look in their homes. 

How this project came to be..

This idea started from my own lived experience in Lisbon. I noticed that a lot of perfectly usable furniture was being left on the streets, often just discarded without a second thought. This made me realise two things:

1

There's a surplus of good, unwanted items out there

2

There are so many people especially students, migrants or low-income families who could really use them

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A platform that connects people through thoughtful design and smart tech, making it easier to give, receive, and reduce waste.
Research & Insights
Market Research

I  started by diving into platforms like Freecycle, Facebook Marketplace, Olio, and some local charity shops here in Lisbon. They all help with second-hand giving, but I quickly noticed a few things missing:

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  • Most platforms require users to scroll endlessly or search manually. There’s little to no automation in matching items to people who genuinely need them.

  • The interfaces feel outdated, and there’s minimal tech that makes the process smarter, faster, or more intuitive.

  • Currently, the experience is mostly about buying or selling. Donations often feel secondary, and there’s little emphasis on connecting resources to social impact.

Industry & Online Data Analysis

Over 10 million tons of furniture are thrown away in Europe every year, much of it reusable, pointing to a need for better redistribution systems. (European Environment Agency, 2023)

70% of second-hand shoppers say they avoid taking large furniture because they can’t visualize it in their space,AR solves this. (IKEA x Adobe XR Study, 2022)

AI-powered recommendations increase engagement by 25%  smart matching can improve donation success.

(McKinsey, 2023)

Defining the Goals

Genera aims to redesign the way people give and receive second-hand items by addressing the key pain points uncovered in research.

Ensure Fair Access

Use AI to match donations with people in real need (e.g. students, refugees, single parents) based on urgency, location, and item relevance.

Make Furniture Easier to Rehome

Integrate AR so users can see how furniture fits in their space, helping them decide with confidence and reducing waste.

Build Trust in the Donation Process

Add verification systems, community moderation, and transparent user profiles to protect against resellers and hoarders.

Features

Donating an Item

This feature allows users to easily donate second-hand items by uploading photos, adding details, and setting availability, all in just a few taps.

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AI then suggests recipients based on need and location, making the process smarter and fairer.

Requesting an Item

This feature lets Miguel easily find and request second-hand items. After logging in and verifying his need (like submitting a student ID), he can browse by category or location.

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​Smart algorithms help prioritise matches based on his needs and location, making the process simple and easy to navigate through.

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