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Bridging the Gap to Nature
In today's fast-paced digital age, many people find themselves spending less time outdoors, leading to a growing disconnect from the natural world. This detachment contributes to various societal challenges, including mental health concerns and a reduced sense of responsibility towards environmental protection.
The Wildling team identified a crucial need for a user-friendly, accessible tool that could inspire and empower individuals to rediscover the benefits of nature, wherever they are in the country. While many nature groups do excellent work preserving and signposting natural spaces, it wasn't easy to find a centralised platform where families can find all of this information in one place. The aim was clear: to create a cross-platform mobile application that would allow people to search and explore natural destinations from across the UK, making the process effortless and inviting.
“We wanted to give people the tool to engage with nature by making it genuinely easy to visit. But Wildling also helps when you can’t get outside, through soundscapes, stories, and bite-sized ideas for everyday connection. Even a few minutes a day makes a difference.” - Ant Rawlins, Wildling
Crafting a Seamless Connection
We began by thoroughly understanding Wildling's core mission: to make nature easier to access, more fun, and free for everyone. Our team collaborated closely with the Wildling team to prioritise the scope of the project to make sure there was a strong foundation that could be built on as the application grows.
With the priorities in place, we translated these into wireframes, designs and various prototypes. Continuous prototyping enabled us to both demo the designs in context and make sure the whole app experience worked seamlessly. Special care was taken to consider both iOS and Android devices; it was important for the app to be developed cross-platform at launch to allow maximum reach in the market. This involved careful consideration of each platform's unique characteristics while maintaining a consistent and delightful user experience across both.
The application is nothing without its content; making that content easy to manage is pivotal in enabling the Wildling team to get everything in place for launch and continually update the application. The CMS enables the Wildling team to easily manage magazine content and locations, from tagging locations with the relevant amenities to adding blogs and videoscapes to the magazine.
The development of Wildling has been iterative, from continuous testing and feedback loops to additional feature development. This has been crucial in developing a high-quality product ready to connect users with the UK's wild spaces.
“We’ve been working with Elixel for a while on the development of the Wildling app, and the quality of their work is outstanding. Independent experts have reviewed both the UI and technical build, and all have been impressed with what’s been produced. The team brings together the right blend of specialists who challenge us in the right ways, collaborate on our goals, and work hard to deliver.” - Ant Rawlins, Wildling
Mobile app for the great outdoors
The result of our collaboration is the Wildling app—a powerful and intuitive mobile application that transforms how families and individuals interact with nature. More than just a directory, the app is a catalyst for positive change. It serves as a comprehensive guide, allowing users to effortlessly find and explore a vast array of natural destinations, from hidden woodlands to expansive coastlines.
The app provides rich details for each location, including photos, descriptions, and links to the user's maps app for seamless navigation. By simplifying access to nature, Wildling helps improve mental and physical well-being across the UK, reducing the barriers that often prevent people from stepping outside. The app's engaging content and intuitive design encourage active engagement with natural spaces, fostering a stronger connection to the environment. This connection, in turn, inspires users to become more mindful of their impact and even participate in conservation efforts.
"Wildling is a hugely timely app, and a new way to make nature accessible for everyone from city to coast, for free." Deborah Meaden
