Case Study:
Detective Foodie
Mobile App
Project Overview
The Problem
Busy people that eat out have a hard time finding trending restaurants nearby with healthy options or popular dishes that are current. They hungrily sift through old reviews and menus. Users want current menus and food reviews that they can get excited about and order now.
The Goal
Design an app that allows users to easily find trending restaurants nearby that not only show healthy options but popular dishes that are currently on the menu. Exciting for foodies to investigate new restaurants and to see what is trending and fun in the area. They look forward to what they are going to order and make a reservation right now! “Want what you can have!”
The Product
Detective Foodie is a food review and reservation app that helps users find trending restaurants nearby, order food currently on the menu, and build a community of foodies. From photos, videos, and trending menu items, users can order dishes that are current. Restaurants can clear up bad reviews with an “open investigation” and invite foodies to investigate.
My Role
UX Designer designing an app for Detective Foodie from conception to delivery.
Responsibilities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, and iterating on designs
Project Duration
Sept 2021 - Jan 2022
Understanding the user
I conducted interviews and created empathy maps to understand the users I’m designing for and their needs. A primary user group identified through research was "working adults who don’t have enough time to cook balancing multiple jobs."
This user group confirmed initial assumptions , but research also revealed that time was not the only factor limiting users from cooking at home.
Other user problems included socialization with friends, dating, entertainment, and community.
User Pain Points
1.) Healthy Options
Adults eating out multiple times a week have a hard time finding healthy options when searching for a restaurant.
2.) Out-dated Info
When searching for a restaurant menus or food reviews are not updated online and users can’t order what they decided on. This could also be the reason they chose the restaurant.
3.) Community
Busy “foodies” crave a community of people who love the hottest food dishes and restaurants. People crave interaction through videos, pictures and comments.
4.) Time
Working adults don’t want to spend added time on meal prep with multiple jobs.
Persona and Problem Statement
Marilyn is a busy, single actress who needs to find healthy restaurant menu options because she eats out 4x a week and needs to keep her figure.
User Journey Map
Mapping Marilyn’s user journey revealed how helpful it would be for users to have access to a categorized restaurant app with easy search options and icons as well as up-to-date information. Accessibility is considered with icons, pictures, and videos for people with situational, temporary, or permanent disability.
Starting The Design
Paper Wireframes
Taking the time to draft iterations of each screen of the app on paper ensured that the elements that made it to digital wireframes would be well-suited to address user pain points. For the home screen, I prioritized a quick and easy reservation process to help users save time.
Some elements were kept for easy ‘reservation flow.’ Elements that took too long or distracted were not. Floor plan could be an option w/ research.
Possible sketches for profile screens.
Digital Wireframes
As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research.
Hierarchy design on each screen helps guide the user to what is important on the page and make the flow faster and more efficient.
Usability Study Findings
I conducted two rounds of usability studies. Findings from the first study helped guide the designs from wireframes to mockups. The second study used a high-fidelity prototype and revealed what aspects of the mockups needed refining.
Round 1 findings
Users want to find restaurants nearby.
Users want a confirmation of their reservation.
Users want what is important at the top of the screen.
Round 2 findings
Too many buttons per screen overwhelms user.
User info/contact is needed. Reservation time wheel is easier.
Research needed on computer systems in restaurant floor-plans to link, if this screen is desired.
Refining the design
Mockups
Early designs allowed customization and focus on trending restaurants nearby, but after the usability studies, I organized the app design for what was most important/immediate for the user. Too many buttons grouped together brought confusion. New design aided in ease for user to navigate flow.
The second usability study revealed more information was needed to confirm reservation. # of Guests, day, & contact information.
I also changed the time to a scrolling wheel for efficiency and engagement. Floor plan could be an option, but with confirmation on restaurant sharing access.
Accessibility Considerations
1. Screen Readers
Provided access to users who are vision impaired through adding alt text to images for screen readers.
2. Icons
Used Icons to help make navigation easier.
3. Images
Used detailed imagery for food items and restaurants to help all users better understand.
Refined designs
High-fidelity prototype
The final high-fidelity prototype presented cleaner user flows for finding restaurants and making a reservation. It also met user needs for a clear and efficient reservation confirmation.
View the Detective Foodie
Going forward
Takeaways
Impact
The app made users feel like they were a part of a trusted community of foodies; it’s efficient, easy to use, and users have the ability to make reservations nearby. Users can order the food they get excited about from the reviews. They want what they CAN have!
One quote from peer feedback:
“I feel like honestly this was really friggin’ easy. I like that there were healthy options listed right under the restaurant. Nice, smooth process! Finished under 5 min., super easy.”
What I learned
While designing the Detective Foodie app, I learned that the first ideas for the app are only the beginning of the process. Usability studies and peer feedback influenced each iteration of the app’s designs.
Next Steps
1) Testing
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.
2) User Research
Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.
Conduct more research for the profile and food review community of the app as “foodie detectives.”
Let's Connect!
Thank you for your time reviewing my work on the Detective Foodie app! If you’d like to see more or get in touch, my contact information is provided below.
Email: amandaklein001@gmail.com
Phone: 928-925-2535
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-klein-a87038a9/