Self-Checkout Kiosk Research
Project Context
While using the self-checkout kiosk at my local Home Depot for a DIY project, I encountered two receipt options on the confirmation page: “Email and Print” or “Print Receipt.” This setup seemed overly complicated and missed an opportunity to promote more eco-friendly choices.
Goal
Redesign the receipt selection step to feel easier, more intentional, and gently encourage sustainable behavior, without taking away user control.
End Users
Home Depot customers using self-checkout kiosks, especially those open to digital receipts and motivated by sustainability.
Research Focus
How can subtle design changes guide users toward more sustainable receipt choices without creating friction or confusion?
Methods
Informal observation (on-site interaction)
Informal comparative analysis (CVS digital-first flows)
Secondary research (behavioral psychology + sustainable UX patterns)
Key Insights
From this guide, I learned that simplifying choices makes sustainable actions easier to take.
This HBR article showed how showing users their impact, like carbon savings, can actually influence follow-through.
And this piece reinforced how default options can quietly steer people toward better habits.
I began with low-fidelity wireframes, focusing on how the options would be laid out on the confirmation page. I redesigned the receipt selection experience to:
Simplified options: Email, SMS, or Print (no more confusing combos).
Added a sustainability message: Shows carbon impact saved when choosing digital.
Set digital as the default: A subtle nudge toward better habits, still user-first.
In-store self-checkout kiosk: Confirmation screen vertical wireframe (Figma). This is the current confirmation screen layout with the addition of SMS as a receipt option and the carbon footprint saved message.
In-store self-checkout kiosk: Confirmation screen horizontal wireframe (Figma).
Design Solution
Mockups
Once the wireframes were complete, I worked on the mockups. The mockups included:
Clean, modern typography to make the receipt options easy to read and accessible.
A visual representation of the carbon savings, using icons to show how much paper would be saved by opting for a digital receipt.
Clear CTAs (Call-to-Actions) for each receipt option, with the digital receipt pre-selected to guide users toward more eco-friendly choices.
To view the mockups in Figma, click on the following image:
In-store self-checkout kiosk: confirmation screen vertical mockup (Figma). This is the current confirmation screen layout with the addition of SMS as a receipt option and the carbon footprint saved message.
In-store self-checkout kiosk: confirmation screen horizontal mockup (Figma).
Conclusion
This wasn’t a full redesign, it was a small, focused change. But it reminded me how powerful interface micro-decisions can be. When defaults nudge, copy reassures, and options make sense, good decisions come naturally.
I had the chance to share these recommendations with the POS team and received encouraging feedback. While the project was paused, it was still a meaningful opportunity to apply thoughtful UX thinking to a real-world scenario. I’m grateful for the experience, the practice in sustainable design, and the skills it helped me grow.