Objective


Create a responsive web app that gives users a simple intuitive way to connect with an expert in any field within seconds so they feel informed and more prepared to face their everyday (and not so everyday) problems



Challenge


People need a way to gain confidence in the kitchen with cooking new things, updating old recipes and finding a way to pair food and drink together.


We will know this to be true when we see a consistent increase in the number of people using our app that gives them a way to connect to experts and a community of others to get advice on how to improve their skills in the kitchen.


Solution


To help people in the kitchen I created a way for home cooks to watch videos made by chefs walking them through recipes or how to use kitchen gadgets and cooking techniques. I also made a way for homecooyks to message experts to ask questions and get advice.



Context


This project was a part of the immersive CareerFoundry UX design course, while learning design thinking and the design process I was putting the lessons into practice with this project. The goal of this course is to go through the design process in a real life situation from start to finish.


My Role Tools


Competitive Analysis Figma

User Interviews Keynote

Wire framing Optimal Sort

Prototyping Usability Hub

Usability Testing Pencil Paper

Ideate
Empathize
Define
Prototype
Test
Refine
Design Iterations
Collaberation
Competitive Analysis
User Research
Problem Statement
User Personas
User Journey
User Flows
Site Map
Card Sort
Wireframes
Prototypes
User Tests
A/B Tests
Preference Tests
Design Process
Empathize

Competitive Analyses

In order to begin the project I had to learn about the landscape that my app would eventually be in. I started off by analyizing two competitor Yummly and Epicurious. I wanted to see worked well and not so well to.

Yummly

Revised Research Goals

• Collect data on context in which users would use a cooking app.

• Discover how participants use previous cooking apps.

• Determine what features would be beneficial in a cooking app.

• Determine pain points of existing cooking apps.

Interview Insights

• All three participants wanted an easier way to find recipes.

• All three participants had the same complaint when it comes to not being able to find

ingredients in the store but had their one idea for a solution.

• Although all three participants said they would talk to chefs they also each had a

different reason for connecting. One wanted advice on cookware, another on easy

meal recipes and the last because they had similar taste in cuisine.

• One of the biggest pain points was that some websites recipes aren’t detailed enough

causing one of the participants to mix and match recipes when looking for something to cook.

Interviews

After the surveys I was able to revise my research goals

and come up with questions to better understand how people

would use my app during the interviews.

Affinity Map Insights

Users wanted faster way to find recipes

Users wanted faster way to shop for food

Users wanted videos that were easier to follow

Users wanted better way to introduce new food/ingredients

Define
Affinity Mapping
After gathering the my notes from the interviews I was able to create an affinity map in Figjam. Picking out statements and quotes I found important I grouped them as Behaviors/Attitudes, Wants/Needs, Frustrations, Qutoes and Cooking, Experts, Shopping, Recipes.
The Beginner Cook “Leo”
User Journeys
Using the personas and the data from the interviews I was able to map out the emotional journeys the users might have while using the app, which lead to a new phase.

User Personas

Using the data from the interviews I was able to create personas to become the face of my potential users.

The Stay-at-Home Mom “Lauren”
User Flows
Now that I had mapped out the users emotional journeys I could map out the quickest journey the users would take to complete their tasks.
Epicurious
Research Goals
• Collect data on the content in which users would use a cooking app
• Discover what cooking apps/websites potential users currently use or have used
• Identify pain points in any existing cooking apps

Survey Insights

• The majority of participants don’t use cooking apps, but would if they could connect with experts.

• 37% of participants said they would like to connect with a nutritionist.

• 55% of participants said they would want to discuss ingredient substitutions.

• 89% of participants said they would like to find recipes that use ingredients they already

have.

Site Map
I now felt that I had enough information that I could build out the information architecture and create a site map that would help me define the scope of my app.
Prototype
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Home

  • Just for You
    Recipes

    Local
    Seasonal
    Featured
    Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
    All The Food
    Chicken and Mushroom Crepe
    Fungi
    Cavatelli with Asperagas
    Stinky Pete
    Recommended
    Banana Coconut Cake
    Frangipan
    Chocolate Mousse
    Chocaholic
    Banana Pudding
    Joss Jackson
    Experts
    Recipes
    Search
    Home
    Shopping List
    Featured
    Recommended

  • Just for You
    Recipes

    Local
    Seasonal
    Featured
    Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry
    All The Food
    Chicken and Mushroom Crepe
    Fungi
    Cavatelli with Asperagas
    Stinky Pete
    Recommended
    Banana Coconut Cake
    Frangipan
    Chocolate Mousse
    Chocaholic
    Banana Pudding
    Joss Jackson
    Experts
    Recipes
    Search
    Home
    Shopping List
    Featured
    Recommended

Strengths

Smart thermometer gives the option to connect without signing in

Grocery delivery service

Learns what you like

Guided cooking videos

Allows easy meal planning

Bring recipes from different sites to one place

Weakness

Some recipes send you to another site for the directions

Nutritional facts aren’t free but when sent to another site by the recipe the nutritional facts are there for free

Original recipes are not free

Video sound didn’t work in full screen

Strengths

Smart timer that adjusts to type and quantity of food

Professional demos of kitchen tools

Ingredient list includes special equipment needed

Location service to teel you what’s locally in season

Home page gives themed recipes

Free

Weakness

Videos on the app aren’t organized

Recipe ratings don’t always reflect user ratings

Recipes don’t list skill level

No nutritional info

Must open website to search videos or read articles

  • Featured
    chicken
    Recipe Suggestions
    chicken
    chicken thighs
    chili
    cheese
    chicken pot pie
    Z
    X
    C
    V
    B
    N
    M
    A
    S
    D
    F
    G
    H
    J
    K
    L
    Q
    W
    E
    R
    T
    Y
    U
    I
    O
    P
    space
    return
    123
Search
  • chicken pot pie
    Chicken Pot Pie
    Home Cooked Faves
    Seriously Good Chicken Pot Pie
    Joss Jackson
    Chicken Pot PIe with Biscuits
    Momma Cooks All
    Experts
    Recipes
    Search
    Home
    Shopping List
Search Results
Test
Revisions and Preference Testing
Using the information I recieved and getting others opinions on some asthetic changes I implemented, I was getting closer to turning my mid-fidelity prototype into a high-fidelity prototype.

Goals:

The main goal of this test is to evaluate the learnability of Eat It. I will be observing if users understand the app, its value and how to complete basic tasks such as logging in, creating and saving a shopping list, watching an experts video and messaging an expert.

Methodology:

Testing will be done both in-person and remotely, with a clickable prototype on the users phone.



Participants:

There will be 6 participants aged from 25-60 recruited from personal/social network, with interests in food and cooking.


Metrics:

Errors will be measured using Jakob Nielsen’s scale

Findings

Use more universally understood icons

Get rid of confusing extra info

Add feature to show recent or bookmarked recipes

Make search easier to use

Iteration
Design Collaboration
I learned just how important it is to get the opinions of other designers on your design, they can catch things you missed. I found that some of my bright ideas weren’t as bright as I thought they were.
Before
After

I originally thought it would be a good idea have the search results start big then get a little smaller based on popularity, others just thought it confusing and after thinking about it i had to agree.

Designing for Accessablility
I also found that making sure that a design can be used just as easily for the handicapped makes the design better for those that aren’t handicapped as well

Closing

What I Learned


How to conduct user testing

How to receive and incorporate criticism

How to evaluate test results


After researching the market it was time to find out how people felt about cooking apps, the problems they faced when using them and if they could change them for the better how. I did this by sureveying then interviewing potential future users.
User Research

Surveys

I started by putting out a short survey online with google docs.

Feel free to try the prototype

FRAMER