MealMate

In our increasingly fast-paced society, individuals are consuming more processed food as they struggle to make time for meal preparation. Furthermore, the decrease in meal preparation skills is contributing to the rise of food waste. To better understand these issues, I initiated an in-depth exploration of the common pain points that people encounter in meal planning and preparation. I designed interfaces for both mobile and tablet devices. For this case study, I chose to focus specifically on the mobile interfaces to provide a more concise overview of the challenges and solutions I encountered during the design process.

Role

As the sole designer, I worked on all stages of the design including research, sketching, user testing, mid-fidelity and high-fidelity prototyping.

Period

Sep - Nov 2023

View in Figma

›

MealMate

In our increasingly fast-paced society, individuals are consuming more processed food as they struggle to make time for meal preparation. Furthermore, the decrease in meal preparation skills is contributing to the rise of food waste. To better understand these issues, I initiated an in-depth exploration of the common pain points that people encounter in meal planning and preparation. I designed interfaces for both mobile and tablet devices. For this case study, I chose to focus specifically on the mobile interfaces to provide a more concise overview of the challenges and solutions I encountered during the design process.

Role

As the sole designer, I worked on all stages of the design including research, sketching, user testing, mid-fidelity and high-fidelity prototyping.

Period

Sep - Nov 2023

View in Figma

›

Background Research

I aimed to investigate the food habits of young adults aged 18-30, with a focus on how lifestyle, upbringing, and economic conditions influence perceptions of home cooking.

I began by examining existing research on factors influencing processed food consumption.

Design Focus

To address these findings, I designed a problem statement and potential solution:

Problem Statement

Time pressures on working individuals have attributed to the decline of cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning skills. This decline has cascading effects, including reduced family dinner participation, increased processed food consumption, and increased food waste.

Solution

A rotating schedule application that gets household members involved in the meal planning process together, according to their different routines and skill levels.

Problem Statement

Time pressures on working individuals have attributed to the decline of cooking self-efficacy and meal-planning skills. This decline has cascading effects, including reduced family dinner participation, increased processed food consumption, and increased food waste.

Solution

A rotating schedule application that gets household members involved in the meal planning process together, according to their different routines and skill levels.

Discovery Surveys

I conducted discovery surveys with 25 individuals on social media. The survey respondents skewed younger with 64% reporting their age as between 18-24.

The majority of respondents also reported a low household income, with 52% earning under $40,000, despite the fact that 41.7% of respondents were living with their parents. These respondents were more likely to report greater difficulties with cooking, grocery shopping and meal planning, which suggests that this could be an issue among the blue-collar demographic.

Interviews

I also conducted 3 semi-structured interviews with a selection of survey respondents to gain insights into behavioural drivers. However, my focus shifted towards specific pain points that demanded attention and innovation. These were the issues I resolved to ideate design solutions for.

Tracking Ingredients

All three interviewees did not have strategies to keep track of ingredients that they have at home, with two users relying on “opening the fridge and [seeing] what’s there”.

Stock Availability

When asked to describe challenges they’ve experienced when grocery shopping, all three interviewees cited the unpredictability of items in stock.

Fatigue

All three interviewees cited tiredness as the main factor influencing the frequencies at which they plan meals or cook for themselves. One interviewee also stated that their lack of a meal planning system often results in having nothing to eat for the day.

Lack of Cohesion

All three interviewees cited unpredictable schedules and differing preferences as the main factors influencing the distribution of cooking responsibilities in their households.

Tracking Ingredients

All three interviewees did not have strategies to keep track of ingredients that they have at home, with two users relying on “opening the fridge and [seeing] what’s there”.

Stock Availability

When asked to describe challenges they’ve experienced when grocery shopping, all three interviewees cited the unpredictability of items in stock.

Fatigue

All three interviewees cited tiredness as the main factor influencing the frequencies at which they plan meals or cook for themselves. One interviewee also stated that their lack of a meal planning system often results in having nothing to eat for the day.

Lack of Cohesion

All three interviewees cited unpredictable schedules and differing preferences as the main factors influencing the distribution of cooking responsibilities in their households.

Wireframes

To begin addressing these pain points, I created low-fidelity wireframes for each key screen—login, dashboard, pantry, schedule, recipe collections, and individual recipes. These screens played a crucial role in ideating user flows and establishing the information architecture.

User Flows

Following a peer review of my wireframes, I extended the project by designing supplementary screens to accommodate tap events and modals. This process aimed to achieve a comprehensive, fully interactive prototype.

Usability Evaluation

Research Questions

  • Are there any points in the flow where users encounter obstacles or delays?

  • How do users perceive the ease of use of the application?

  • Are there functionalities that users believe are lacking?

  • What are the critical breakpoints or impediments within the application's usage?

Participant Criteria

  • Possess familiarity with meal planning applications.

  • Demonstrate basic technological literacy, including prior use of a smartphone.

  • Include at least one males and one female, aged between 18 and 30.

  • Willing to consent to a screen-recorded user test.

Methodology

Unmoderated usability test

Location: Australia (Remote)

Date: During Zoom meeting scheduled for Monday 30th October, 2023

Length: 30 minutes for each participant.

I used the think-aloud protocol to assess the effectiveness of the user flows, which involved users verbalising their thoughts in real-time as they performed set tasks. This method offers direct insights into their thought processes, decision-making, and potential challenges they encounter.

Evaluation Results

From my research, I identified 3 primary pain points that were complicating the flow for users. I made a series of changes to address these pain points:

Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

Previously, the process of assigning cooking shifts and the communicating with other household members were ambiguous. The addition of “Edit Shifts” and “Message Partner” buttons allow users to input and modify their availability, providing a clearer understanding of how cooking responsibilities are distributed. The primary goal of MealMate is to promote efficient cooperation between household members. By incorporating more context on task allocation based on user availability, the second iteration of the Schedule screen enhances flexibility and efficiency of use. The added capability for users to communicate potential changes promotes a sense of collaboration, aligning with the application’s goals of cooperation.

Flexibility and Efficiency of Use

Previously, the process of assigning cooking shifts and the communicating with other household members were ambiguous. The addition of “Edit Shifts” and “Message Partner” buttons allow users to input and modify their availability, providing a clearer understanding of how cooking responsibilities are distributed. The primary goal of MealMate is to promote efficient cooperation between household members. By incorporating more context on task allocation based on user availability, the second iteration of the Schedule screen enhances flexibility and efficiency of use. The added capability for users to communicate potential changes promotes a sense of collaboration, aligning with the application’s goals of cooperation.

Error Prevention

Initially, there was no warning system in place if a user unexpectedly exited the Pantry Screen, leading to a lack of adequate safeguards against errors. This omission heightened the risk of accidental loss of progress. One of MealMate’s primary goals is to facilitate simple and more efficient meal preparation. The addition of a pop-up warning modal, activated when users try to leave a task midway, prevents accidental errors, saves time, and improves user satisfaction.

Error Prevention

Initially, there was no warning system in place if a user unexpectedly exited the Pantry Screen, leading to a lack of adequate safeguards against errors. This omission heightened the risk of accidental loss of progress. One of MealMate’s primary goals is to facilitate simple and more efficient meal preparation. The addition of a pop-up warning modal, activated when users try to leave a task midway, prevents accidental errors, saves time, and improves user satisfaction.

Visibility of System Status

The second iteration of the Instructions module includes a checklist feature, addressing feedback gathered during usability testing. Users can now interact with checkboxes that grey out completed steps, enhancing the visibility of the system status and providing a sense of completion. Enhancing the efficiency of the cooking process is one of the primary goals of MealMate. By enabling users to quickly identify the next actionable items, this improvement allows for faster task completion and reduces stress, contributing to an overall seamless cooking experience.

Visibility of System Status

The second iteration of the Instructions module includes a checklist feature, addressing feedback gathered during usability testing. Users can now interact with checkboxes that grey out completed steps, enhancing the visibility of the system status and providing a sense of completion. Enhancing the efficiency of the cooking process is one of the primary goals of MealMate. By enabling users to quickly identify the next actionable items, this improvement allows for faster task completion and reduces stress, contributing to an overall seamless cooking experience.

Final High-Fidelity Prototypes

Finally, after spending some time defining a visual style for the application, I developed the final high-fidelity prototypes.

Key Takeaways

This case study underscored the need for early-stage user testing. Peer reviews played a crucial role in gathering user feedback as early as possible, ensuring continuous improvement aligned with user expectations. User testing was crucial in pinpointing additional problems and refocusing on the app's primary goals.

Next Steps

To further develop and refine the project, I'd conduct additional usability testing on the high-fidelity prototypes to validate the resolution of initial issues. Once validated, creating a site map and design guide will assist developers in translating the designs into code.

Other Projects

PawPal

A pet-seeking application that makes animal companionship more accessible to everyone.

Visit the Balkans

A microsite showcasing the diverse cultures, histories, and traditions of the Balkans.

View All

›

Designed by Taylor