ForageKY
A safety-first foraging app for identifying plants and fungi in Kentucky.
Overview
ForageKY is a mobile app that helps users identify wild plants and mushrooms through photo recognition while providing clear safety guidance, educational content, and recipes for cooking and herbal use.
The app is designed to make foraging more accessible, local, and safe.
Type: Live Client
Timeline: 2025-Present
- Figma
- Visual Studio Code
Problem
Foraging can be dangerous without proper knowledge:
- Toxic lookalikes are common
- Beginners rely on unreliable sources
- Existing apps lack regional accuracy
- Safety is often not prioritized
Users need a way to identify plants confidently and safely.
Goal
Design an app that:
Helps users understand how to use what they find
Accurately identifies plants and fungi
Communicates safety risks clearly
Provides Kentucky-specific knowledge
Key Insights
Safety is the top concern, especially with mushrooms
Users prefer visual, simple results
People want to know: “What can I do with this?”
Offline access is important in outdoor environments
Our Solution
What the app needed:
Photo Identification
Instant plant and mushroom recognition with confidence levels and key details
Safety System
Color-coded indicators:
- ✅ Safe | ⚠️ Caution | ❌ Toxic
- toxic lookalike comparisons
Recipes & Uses
Cooking and basic medicinal guides tied to each plant
Local Focus
Kentucky-specific species, seasons, and habitats
Foraging Log
Save finds, track progress, and build a digital field journal
Design Approach
Safety-first UX with clear warnings and visual cues
Simple, fast interactions for use in the field
Earthy color palette
Botanical, field guide-inspired style
User Flow
Identify → Learn safety → Explore uses → Save & track
Impact
ForageKY promotes:
- Responsible, sustainable harvesting
- Safer foraging practices
- Confidence for beginners
- Deeper connection to local nature
