Let's Cook!
2019
MADE FROM THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
This app prototype I created allows users to discover recipes from ingredients they already have in their fridge. I wanted to create an app that would be useful for its users, so this was inspired by my personal experience living as a university student who often had trouble deciding what to cook. The use case of this app is to solve the issue of not knowing what to cook by finding a recipe with ingredients you own.
U: cheeselover
P: cheddar
Curated for university students
The persona I created is a second-year university student who lives in school residence. This storytelling technique allowed me to further understand how to direct the focus of the app’s interface, elements, and purpose towards its target users, university students.
Wireframing
I used iPhone templates to wireframe the basic layout and elements of the different pages of the app (e.g. Homepage, Recipe, Let’s Cook!/Search, My Profile, Edit Profile). After much trial and error, I laid out each app element appropriately in its designated frame (e.g. menu bar on Homepage).
Prototype
Using Adobe Xd, a new tool which I am now very familiar with, I created the app’s user interface, added content (recipes, user profiles, pictures), and mapped the prototype’s clickthrough. Mapping each page and connecting them all was a challenge, because one disconnection would lead to a dead end in the prototype. My app’s user interface is influenced by Instagram (bottom menu bar, comment section, profile post layout), TikTok (profile picture and bio layout), and iPhone Settings app (Let’s Cook! Search tool, colour scheme). Some of the features and app elements were inspired by Instagram (posting pictures, profile, edit profile, comments on posts) and TikTok (“For You” page). I used Instagram and Tiktok layouts as inspirations because students, who live in the world of social media, are familiar with these social media app layouts. This can result in better user experience through easier navigation and familiarity, especially with the social and photo posting aspect of the app.
User Testing (version 1)
I conducted a user test with three classmates through interaction flows (e.g. “Search for recipes with egg”) in order to test my app prototype (version 1), and I observed their user experience through each task. After testing the prototype, in the location of the app’s probable usage location (student residence), the three students completed my user test feedback survey. I analyzed the data from the user test survey and made solutions to the errors in my prototype. This first round of user interface was extremely important for the future prototype (version 2) because I found out what elements and user interface designs of the prototype needed to be removed, changed, and what could stay the same.
User Testing (version 2)
With the survey findings, I refined the prototype. After changes and improvements, I presented the final prototype (version 2) to my class, where I walked them through the prototype in the student residence for the full experience. I also wrote up an artist statement that described my app prototype, my design inspirations, and design rationales.