Case Study

ChowDown

Food Menu and Delivery App

 
 

Project Overview

 

The product: 

The product is a food menu preview and delivery app for users who want to quickly and efficiently view menus and order from their favorite restaurants. 

Project duration:

August 2021 to June 2022

The problem:

With more companies moving more products to digital platforms, it’s imperative that the information users receive is not only accurate, but also friendly for all types of users. The main issues users of this kind of app identified were getting accurate information for various restaurants and accessibility in regard to mobile functioning.

The goal: 

Create a food menu and delivery app that delivers the most up-to-date restaurant information while also ensuring accessibility for new users.

My role: 

I managed all aspects of this project from user research and ideation to prototyping and user testing.

User research: Summary

My main goal is to make the ordering process more streamlined for users by identifying some common pain points that users have during the process. I started my research by writing down a series of questions and putting them into a survey that I sent out to people of various ages and backgrounds. I reviewed the answers and found some common paint points across multiple demographics.

User research: Pain Points

 

Incorrect ordering times

During interviews, delivery apps showing incorrect ordering times was a highlighted issue. Often, the users would complete the food order process just to have their order canceled because the business was no longer taking orders.

Poor app flow

Users needing to place orders quickly found it frustrating to open apps and have to scroll through a lot of options just to find the one they’re looking for.

Lack of information

Users found that they wanted more information from the business they’re ordering from such as a food allergy warnings or calorie counts.

  • Persona

    Problem statement:

    Oscar is a busy healthcare administrator who needs to easily access menus of restaurants he likes so he can quickly place a food order.

  • User Journey Map

    Mapping out Oscar’s user journey showed how useful it would be for users to have access to an app that allows for viewing food options and placing an order quickly.

Wireframes

 
 

Paper wireframes

I took time to draft out different iterations of each screen of the app on paper to ensure that the elements which made it to the digital wireframes would be suited to address the user pain points.

Digital wireframe and prototype

After I created my paper wireframes, I took the key elements from the first round and created a new base design. The goal in combining these elements was to create a design based on feedback and research. I wanted to keep the app easy to use so I kept the flow simple and straightforward. My low fidelity prototype shows the app’s primary user flow of ordering food.

See the ChowDown Lo-Fi prototype.

Usability study: Findings

 

Round 1 findings

  1. Users had issues navigating back to previous screens

  2. Users had trouble locating the option to edit payment

  3. Users wanted a prompt screen before completing their order

Round 2 findings

  1. Users had difficulty with the color contrast of the button navigation

  2. Some users were confused on where to start after opening the app

Mockups

After getting feedback from my usability study, I made minor changes to the layout and moved a few options to the menu navigation.

After conducting a second usability study, I found that I needed to change the colors of the background and foreground to make the app more accessible for users who may be visually impaired. I also added additional elements to the top navigation.

High-fidelity prototype

The high-fidelity prototype presented a cleaner user flow for ordering food and checking out. It also met needs for users who need food delivered.

See the ChowDown Hi-Fi prototype.

Accessibility considerations

 

Provided ease for users who are vision impaired by reworking color options for the app.

Used recognizable icons to help make navigation through the app easier.

Provided streamlined restaurant information for users to make accurate decisions on food choice.

Takeaways

 

Impact: 

The app makes it easier for users to navigate through their various options for food ordering and delivery that meet their day-to-day needs.

What I learned:

While I was designing this app, I learned of many best practices and tools that help put the user first.

 

Next Steps

1. Conduct another usability study to make sure necessary pain points have been addressed.

2. Conduct more research to see if there are any more areas that can be improved.

Let’s connect!

Thank you for your time reviewing my work on ChowDown! I’ve included my contact information below if you’d like to get in touch.