NatureCapture
Astana, Kazakhstan
2025, Senior, Interactive & Multimedia
Project Description: NatureCapture is an app I created to encourage people to spend more time outdoors and feel more connected to the natural world around them. I focused on making the design friendly, simple, and green — something that feels light, welcoming, and a bit like nature itself. When you open the app, the first thing you see is a big “Start Nature Time” button. You can choose to turn on your location to track your route using GPS, which also shows the weather, distance, and air quality for where you are. After each walk, you’ll get a short summary of what you did, a quick check-in on how you’re feeling, and something that makes this app special — it tells you about the mental and physical health benefits you just gained. I researched and included over 50 science-backed benefits, and after each session, the app shows three of them. As you spend more time outside, you earn coins. These can be used to unlock fun features like customizing your avatar or nature buddy, listening to calming nature playlists, earning badges, or even protecting your streak. There’s also a leaderboard so you can keep track of your progress and see how your friends are doing too. To keep things fresh and fun, NatureCapture shares new activity ideas for your walks — like taking deep breaths, spotting birds, or closing your eyes to listen to your surroundings. There are 50 different suggestions in total, and each session gives you 10 random ones to try. After your walk, you’ll also see one of 20 “Did You Know?” nature facts — little things that make you appreciate the outdoors more. Plus, I added 25 short science articles that explain how being in nature helps your mind and body. App can help you discover nearby parks and green spaces. It also shows current weather and air quality, and even tells you about some of the plants and animals you might find there. You can add friends, message them, plan group walks, and save your sessions with photos, notes, and a calendar that shows your outdoor journey over time. In the end, NatureCapture is all about making time in nature more enjoyable and meaningful — whether you’re walking alone, exploring with friends, or just trying to clear your mind after a long day.
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Reflection
The idea for my project came from using Duolingo — I loved how it made learning feel fun, gamified, and encouraging. I wanted to bring that same energy to something I deeply care about: spending time outdoors and reconnecting with nature, while highlighting its health benefits. The original idea was simple: help people enjoy walking outdoors. But as I worked on it, I kept adding features that I thought could make the experience more meaningful — like showing science-backed health benefits after each walk, suggesting mindful nature activities, and creating playlists to match the mood. It became more than just walking outdoors — it was about feeling nature and being present in it more and more. Overall, the goal of this app is summed up in one message: connect to nature. At its core, this app is my love letter to the outdoors — a reminder that nature isn’t just a place to visit; it’s a part of us. So go outside. Connect with nature. Share the experience, and enjoy it together. And if this app can make even one person pause and feel that connection, then I’ve done what I set out to do.