EcoConnect

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Inspiration

University life can feel isolating, and while many students want to get involved, putting themselves out there can be tough. Simultaneously, the Earth is facing its own crisis. Campuses are flooded with fast fashion, barely used electronics end up in landfill, and reusable items are tossed away without second thought. At first, these issues seem unrelated, but EcoConnect bridges the gap: a sustainability app that makes it simple, fun, and rewarding for students to meet through meaningful, eco-friendly actions.

What it does

Users can post items they no longer need and suggest something they’d like in return. It could be a textbook for an old hoodie, or a pot plant for a home-cooked meal! Successful swaps earn both users points and help them climb the leaderboard, a fun incentive to put themselves out there and connect with others.

How we built it

EcoConnect was designed in Figma and brought to life through Next.js. Backend was Firebase.

Challenges we ran into

Our first hurdle was schedules, which meant we couldn’t meet in person until the final day. This led to our biggest issue: syncing the front and back end. We had to make significant changes to resolve conflicts between functionality and design. This cost us valuable time that could have been spent on our pitch.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of our ability to adapt to unfavourable circumstances. Throughout the process, we maintained strong communication skills and resilience, not giving up at any stage.

What we learned

H: This project was my first time dealing with Firebase. A: This project was my first time working with After Effects. Although I wasn’t able to convert the animation into our final design, I’m proud of my new skills.