Yes Chef Kitchen Aid
A digital recipe bank, cooking assistant and kitchen management aid.
Integrated voice assistant, recipe scaler, unit converter, timer, integrated shopping list,
online shopping options.
Yes Chef Kitchen Aid
A digital recipe bank, cooking assistant and kitchen management aid.
Integrated voice assistant, recipe scaler, unit converter, timer, integrated shopping list online shopping options.
Yes Chef Kitchen Aid
A digital recipe bank, cooking assistant and kitchen management aid.
Integrated voice assistant, recipe scaler, unit converter, timer, integrated shopping list, online shopping options.
Project Summary
Role
Ux Researcher
Ux / Product Designer
Role
Ux Researcher
Product Designer
Role
Ux Researcher
Ux / Product Designer
Duration
9 weeks
Duration
9 weeks
Duration
9 weeks
Year
2022
Year
2022
Year
2022
Program
Figma
Program
Figma
Program
Figma
Category
Student Work
User Pain Points
Lack of nutritional information.
Lack of recipe difficulty and time required.
Lack of trust in recipes.
Choice overload.
Having to touch the phone whilst cooking.
Recipes for wrong serving size and unfamiliar measuring units.
User Pain Points
Lack of nutritional information.
Lack of difficulty and time required.
Lack of trust in recipes.
Choice overload.
Having to touch the phone whilst cooking.
Recipes for wrong serving size
Unfamiliar measuring units.
User Pain Points
Lack of nutritional information.
Lack of difficulty and time required.
Lack of trust in recipes.
Choice overload.
Having to touch the phone whilst cooking.
Recipes for wrong serving size
Unfamiliar measuring units.
Solutions
Nutritional Info prominent on page.
Difficulty and cooking duration info prominent on page.
Recipe bank user generated.
Include a blog with only the best recipe for each dish.
Voice assistant, override sleep/standby settings.
Integrated recipe scaler and choice of recipe units.
Solutions
Nutritional Info prominent on page.
Difficulty and cooking duration info prominent on page.
Recipe bank user generated.
Include a blog with only the best recipe for each dish.
Voice assistant, override sleep/standby settings.
Integrated recipe scaler and choice of recipe units.
Solutions
Nutritional Info prominent on page.
Difficulty and cooking duration info prominent on page.
Recipe bank user generated.
Include a blog with only the best recipe for each dish.
Voice assistant, override sleep/standby settings.
Integrated recipe scaler and choice of recipe units.
Main Problems Faced in Design
Integrating secondary functions without obscuring the main function.
Operational functionality of digital pantry.
Understanding conditional relationships between related functions.
Main Problems Faced in Design
Integrating secondary functions without obscuring the main function.
Operational functionality of digital pantry.
Understanding conditional relationships between related functions.
Main Problems Faced in Design
Integrating secondary functions without obscuring the main function.
Operational functionality of digital pantry.
Understanding conditional relationships between related functions.
Solutions
Proper execution of app structure and use of hierarchy.
Allow for manual editing along side autoupdate.
Create a Systems Use Map
Solutions
Proper execution of app structure and use of hierarchy.
Allow for manual editing along side autoupdate.
Create a Systems Use Map
Solutions
Proper execution of app structure and use of hierarchy.
Allow for manual editing along side autoupdate.
Create a Systems Use Map
User Discovery & Empathising
I surveyed 8 potential users about the issues they face whilst choosing a recipe, and any issues they incur while trying to follow their chosen recipe.
I surveyed 8 potential users about the issues they face whilst choosing a recipe, and any issues they incur while trying to follow their chosen recipe.
I surveyed 8 potential users about the issues they face whilst choosing a recipe, and any issues they incur while trying to follow their chosen recipe.
talked about the inconvenience of recipes written in unfamiliar units and the difficulties
involved in adjusting the recipe
for the desired number of servings
talked about the inconvenience of recipes written in unfamiliar units and the difficulties involved in adjusting the recipe for the desired number of servings
talked about the inconvenience of recipes written in unfamiliar units and the difficulties
involved in adjusting the recipe
for the desired number of servings
66%
mentioned a difficulty in deciding
what to cook, especially when
having to cook to specific
health or dietary requirements
mentioned a difficulty in deciding
what to cook, especially when
having to cook to specific health
or dietary requirements
mentioned a difficulty in deciding
what to cook, especially when
having to cook to specific
health or dietary requirements
88%
100%
described problems interacting
with their device during the
cooking process.
described problems interacting
with their device during the
cooking process.
described problems interacting
with their device during the
cooking process.
“If I could use one app to help me cook shop and keeping tabs on my kitchen
I’d never need another.”
“If I could use one app to help me cook shop and keeping tabs on my kitchen I’d never need another.”
“If I could use one app to help me cook shop and keeping tabs on my kitchen I’d never need another.”
Competitive Analysis
I analysed 5 of the largest direct competitors providing recipe storage systems and 2 indirect competitors by reviewing their service and researching customer reviews.
Streamlined flows.
Focus on recipe filtering
Search by ingredients function.
Hands free/voice assistant
Information on required utensils.
Cooking tools, timer, weight converter, unit converter.
Shopping list function.
Streamlined flows.
Focus on recipe filtering
Search by ingredients function.
Hands free/voice assistant
Information on required utensils.
Cooking tools, timer, weight converter, unit converter.
Shopping list function.
Shopping aid, "find locally / buy online"
Blog for inspiration and learning.
Detailed nutritional information.
Inbuilt accessibility tools and language options.
Preference analytics to tailor blog and recommendations.
“Recently made” function to manage leftovers refresh memory.
Shopping aid, "find locally / buy online"
Blog for inspiration and learning.
Detailed nutritional information.
Inbuilt accessibility tools and language options.
Preference analytics to tailor blog and recommendations.
“Recently made” function to manage leftovers / refresh memory.
Opportunities Identified
Ideation
Utilising the crazy eight, mind mapping, worst idea and opposite thinking methodologies to generate as many possible solutions to the above described user pain points and market opportunities.
Utilising the crazy eight, mind mapping, worst idea and opposite thinking methodologies to generate as many possible solutions to the above described user pain points and market opportunities.
Utilising the crazy eight, mind mapping, worst idea and opposite thinking methodologies to generate as many possible solutions to the above described user pain points and market opportunities.
With app functionality largely being directed by the successes and shortcoming of competing solutions the ideation phase was primarily concerned with exploring various app structures, the hierarchy of the various functions available from the homepage, and the availability of nutritional and cooking information.
Within this stage the need to scale up or down recipes for various portion sizes was also brainstormed on with an integrated recipe scaler being decided upon.
The issue of touching the devise was also addressed and solved through the use of a voice assistant that could provide recipe information and answer related questions on command.
With app functionality largely being directed by the successes and shortcoming of competing solutions the ideation phase was largely concerned with exploring various app structures, the hierarchy of the various functions available from the homepage, the availability of nutritional and cooking information.
Within this stage the need to scale up or down recipes for various portion sizes was also brainstormed on with an integrated recipe scaler being decided upon.
The issue of touching the devise was also addressed and solved through the use of a voice assistant that could provide recipe information and answer related questions on command.
With app functionality largely being directed by the successes and shortcoming of competing solutions the ideation phase was largely concerned with exploring various app structures, the hierarchy of the various functions available from the homepage, the availability of nutritional and cooking information.
Within this stage the need to scale up or down recipes for various portion sizes was also brainstormed on with an integrated recipe scaler being decided upon.
The issue of touching the devise was also addressed and solved through the use of a voice assistant that could provide recipe information and answer related questions on command.
Design, Prototype and Tests
Taking the final design solutions from Ideation, a low fidelity design was created in Figma which was then tested with five potential users in a moderated usability study in order to understand the strengths and failings of the current structure and layout.
Key Info
Given a dedicated and highlighted space to allow users to see nutritional, dietary and allergy information quickly and to decide on the recipes appropriateness.
Increased visibility of voice assistant in 'Let's Cook'.
Voice assistant function was often missed.
Included a screen notifying user of voice assistant at start of Let's cook flow.
Increased the size and prominence of the on/off button on the voice assistant in header.
"Add to shopping list' added to bottom bar.
Enables function and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Meal Planner button added to bottom bar.
Increases Functions usability and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Favourites button added
Enables function, position chosen as activates a background action.
Increased primary function's real estate on homepage.
To keep the main function of the app central to structure and high in the visual hierarchy.
Shopping list and cooking tools moved to header bar.
Maintain focus on main function and allow access to secondary functions throughout the app.
Separation of 'add new recipe' and 'Your Recipes' buttons.
Reduce confusion and improve CTA clarity.
Search and Filter added to Recommended section.
Increased direct access and functionality
Blog integrated into Homepage
More direct visibility with option to see more.
'What Can I make with?' brought to homepage.
Was found to be a very popular feature so now has direct access.
Hi Fidelity Prototype
Hi Fidelity Prototype
Having addressed the above issues, a high fidelity prototype
was built and tested again with five more potential users.
The resulting conclusions are presented below
Having addressed the above issues, a high fidelity prototype
was built and tested again with five more potential users.
The resulting conclusions are presented below
Having addressed the above issues a high fidelity prototype was built and tested again with five more potential users.
The resulting conclusions are
presented below
Selected Changes Discussed
Selected Changes Discussed
Increased primary function real estate on homepage.
To keep the main function of the app central to structure and high in the visual hierarchy.
Shopping list and cooking tools moved to header bar.
Maintain focus on main function and allow access to secondary functions throughout the app.
Separation of 'add new recipe' and 'Your Recipes' buttons.
Reduce confusion and improve CTA clarity.
Search and Filter added to Recommended section.
Increased direct access and functionality
Blog integrated into Homepage
More direct visibility with option to see more.
'What Can I make with?' brought to homepage.
Was found to be a very popular feature so now has direct access.
Key Info
Given a dedicated and highlighted space to allow users to see nutritional, dietary and allergy information quickly and to decide on the recipes appropriateness.
Increased visibility of voice assistant in 'Let's Cook'.
Voice assistant function was often missed.
Included a screen notifying user of voice assistant at start of Let's cook flow.
Increased the size and prominence of the on/off button on the voice assistant in header.
Add to shopping list added to bottom bar.
Enables function and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Meal Planner button added to bottom bar.
Increases Functions usability and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Favourites button added
Enables function, position chosen as activates a background action.
Developed Structure
Developed Structure
Initial Test Feedback
Initial Test Feedback
100%
of the tasks were completed, however some CTA buttons where miss identified, esp scales as accessibility tools, edit recipe button and add new recipe button.
Revealing the need for improved iconography and introduction of button labels.
of the tasks were completed, however some CTA buttons where miss identified, esp scales as accessibility tools, edit recipe button and add new recipe button.
Revealing the need for improved iconography and introduction of button labels.
60%
of the participants did not notice the voice control feature.
Spurring action to increase its visibility.
of the participants did not notice the voice control feature.
Spurring action to increase its visibility.
40%
of the participants did not identify floating add recipe button or floating edit recipe button as a button.
Showing the need to improved visible functionality of CTA buttons.
of the participants did not identify floating add recipe button or floating edit recipe button as a button.
Showing the need to improved visible functionality of CTA buttons.
Needs to Improve
Visibility of call to action buttons
Comprehension of Icons
Balance in hierarchy between primary and secondary functions on homepage
Apps structure / information architecture.
Visibility of call to action buttons
Comprehension of Icons
Balance in hierarchy between primary and secondary functions on homepage
Apps structure / information architecture.
Visibility of call to action buttons
Comprehension of Icons
Balance in hierarchy between primary and secondary functions on homepage
Apps structure / information architecture.
Key Info
Given a dedicated and highlighted space to allow users to see nutritional, dietary and allergy information quickly and to decide on the recipes appropriateness.
Increased visibility of voice assistant in 'Let's Cook'.
Voice assistant function was often missed.
Included a screen notifying user of voice assistant at start of Let's cook flow.
Increased the size and prominence of the on/off button on the voice assistant in header.
Add to shopping list added to bottom bar.
Enables function and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Meal Planner button added to bottom bar.
Increases Functions usability and places it with other CTA buttons.
Add to Favourites button added
Enables function, position chosen as activates a background action.
Thoughts To Accessibility
User equity and accessibility played a central role in the developmental course of the app.
Been designed with inbuilt accessibility functions such as a screen reader, a touch magnifier and voice assistant. Inclusion of the accessibility functions, especially the voice assistant, has shown to greatly improve general usability.
User equity and accessibility played a central role in the developmental course of the app.
Been designed with inbuilt accessibility functions such as a screen reader, a touch magnifier and voice assistant. Inclusion of the accessibility functions, especially the voice assistant, has shown to greatly improve general usability.
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