For this student project, I needed to develop a concept for an app-based service, create a brand for it, and design a mockup of the basic UI/UX. My idea originated from two observations: first, people often don’t have an umbrella when they need one, and second, when someone is in a city and requires an umbrella, they typically buy inexpensive ones that break easily and are eventually discarded. This not only causes personal inconvenience but also contributes to environmental issues.

I named the service "Ukko," after the Finnish god of weather. Ukko is an umbrella borrowing service that allows users to pick up high-quality, high-tech umbrellas from designated Ukko stations throughout the city and return them when they’re finished using them. The app also provides an option for users to opt-in for push notifications, alerting them to upcoming bad weather and helping them locate nearby Ukko stations. Additionally, I saw an opportunity to sell advertising placements on these stations as a potential way to fund the service.