case study —

THE SNACK SHOP

(A)

The Problem

Pool goers lack the desire to manage a complicated ordering process and spend time on their phones to receive high-quality consistent service while enjoying the water.

(B)

The Solution

Design an app that allows users to easily order and receive nourishing food with minimal time on their phones.

(C)

My Role

UX researcher and designer from concept to delivery. Conducted interviews, wireframing, prototyping, hosted usability studies, accounted for accessibility, and iterated on designs.

STEP 1 : UNDERSTANDING THE USER

EMPATHIZE + DEFINE

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 time to manage complicated ordering and delivering processes. Then personas were created to showcase and empathize with my two main customers.

This user group confirmed initial assumptions about The Snack Shop customers, but research also revealed that time was not the only factor limiting users from enjoying the process. Other user problems included safety with familial obligations or health concerns that make it difficult to enjoy the ordering process and feel safe and respected in the delivery process. This key feedback helped me define how to best move into design.

STEP 2 : DESIGN

IDEATE + PROTOTYPE + TEST

This phase is my favorite. To begin loosening my unconscious biases I let my solutions to users’ problems be as off the wall as possible at the beginning. I hosted my own design sprint to ideate by using ‘crazy eights’ and ‘how might we’ and good snacks. I didn’t even consider the restrictions of a phone screen at the beginning … hello custom prescription menu goggles so you can read while you swim laps? sure!

Once the absurd had a chance to be expressed - I revisited my qualitative research. I filtered my design solutions through what was feasible, desirable, and viable. My competitive audits on other food ordering apps also greatly informed my design decisions when creating wireframes.

I conducted three rounds of usability studies throughout this design process and wrote reports for myself. Findings from the first study helped inform the iteration from digital wireframes to a lo - fi prototype. The second study revealed what needed refining and redesign within my lo - fi prototype. The final iteration was inspired by design feedback I received where the users didn’t feel connected to the overall visual, I completely agreed and wanted a more sophisticated aesthetic.

LO - FI PROTOTYPE + MOCKUP

Using my digital wireframes, I connected a low-fidelity prototype. I then took this prototype through a usability study, iterated on the product based on the feedback received, and created this mockup —

The Design Guide

ACCESSIBILITY

Inclusive design in the world of UX is one of my key motivating factors when creating a product. I am constantly eager to learn how to make my designs more equity-focused and unbiased. These three elements were top of mind as I was creating The Snack Shop app :

add alt text to images to aid screen readers
used icons to improve navigation ease
used accurate imagery and clear, brief descriptions

ENJOY

GOING FORWARD

WHAT I LEARNED :

The Snack Shop app was my first project in the world of UX and using Figma! My decision to experiment with different phone sizes for prototypes ultimately wasted my time efficiently iterating when working with user feedback. The usability studies were the greatest asset to my design and functional decisions. I desire to create from an unbiased mindset, and this project was a wonderful practice of letting go of my opinions and truly creating for my end-user.

NEXT STEPS :

Conduct more user research to determine new areas of improvement. Use restaurant staff and those with disabilities as the target participants to learn how they desire to be supported to improve this product. I want to enhance the accessibility features and learn how to better problem-solve for the exception, knowing it truly benefits all.

Thank you for going on my design journey!

All processes are documented here.