Marin Garden Hub

https://www.maringardenhub.com/

UX Autopsy

The importance of the UX process

Discovery

Marin county required a website where they could pool gardening knowledge and resources. A forum to discuss topics in the community was also requested

Role

Website designer and builder

Team

1 product owner
1 backend developer

Timeline

2 months

Process

Due to timeline constraints, we skipped several standard UX phases such as user interviews, journey mapping, and usability testing. Most decisions were based on stakeholder assumptions and rapid iteration.

Unforeseen issues

Unclear requirements

Requirements and resources were being defined and gathered as work progressed

Google sites

Google sites was chosen because it was free. At the time it fulfilled all requirements

Requirements change - translation

Google sites did not support translation automatically. All content had to be moved to Wix.

Unknown Risks

Designs were not decided ahead of time. Time was lost from going back and forth on how a page should look.

Stakeholder had strong opinions on how the site should be arranged. Better potential design were missed out on.

User needs were not verified. Information may not be relevant to users

Missed Steps

Hypothetical iteration 2

User research

No users are available to interview. AI was used for user responses

Insights

Local knowledge is highly valued

87% of participants said they trust advice from fellow Marin gardeners over generic online content, citing the county's unique microclimates and soil conditions.

Resource sharing is a strong motivator

Participants want to lend tools, trade seeds, and share surplus produce. No existing platform serves this purpose in a way that feels safe and local.

Forum is essential, not optional

73% of surveyed users said a live forum — not just static guides — is what would bring them back to the site regularly. Topical threads matter most.

Mobile-first usage expected

Most participants said they'd use the platform from the garden itself — on a phone, often with dirty hands. Fast-loading, simple interfaces are critical.