Transitioning to a meal prepping lifestyle can be daunting for many individuals due to challenges such as finding recipes, portioning meals, and managing time.
A mobile app with AI-generated weekly meal plans based on user preferences and curated content on meal planning/prepping.
I explored the challenges of meal planning and prepping through user research. By conducting interviews and analysis, I identified key barriers, mapped customer journeys, and developed inclusive personas. I then created wireframes, prototypes, and conducted usability testing to refine features based on feedback, ensuring alignment with user needs.
Conducted a competitive analysis on 5 meal prepping methods.
Review 4 articles on meal prepping.
Conducted 5 user interviews.
While the initial focus was on meal prepping, the user interviews revealed that meal planning is a critical precursor to successful meal prepping.
This insight led to a second round of discovery.
Conducted a competitive analysis on 3 meal planning methods.
Review 5 articles on meal planning.
Conducted 3 user interviews.
Users often block out a specific day for grocery shopping and cooking.
Meal prepping is primarily motivated by the desire to eat healthier and save time during the week.
Repeating meals can lead to boredom; users struggle to find new recipes.
Users lack a centralized source for meal planning information, leading to inefficiencies and food waste.
A quiz to identify user goals and preferences could make the process more tailored and engaging.
How might we reduce the burden of maintaining the meal planning and prepping lifestyle for individuals with diverse dietary needs?
Using the Microsoft Persona Spectrum, I created two personas—a primary and a secondary—to ensure inclusivity and accessibility in my solution.
Accessibility features incorporated include:
Voice Control
Step-by-step instructions
Screen reader compatibility
Closed captioning
Multilingual support
High contrast colors
To maintain inclusivity, demographic data was excluded, focusing instead on characteristics relevant to user behavior and goals.
I developed a current state journey map for the primary persona, John, to illustrate pain points in the existing meal planning and prepping process. This map highlighted key opportunities for improvement, particularly in the meal planning and cooking phases.
I created a future state user flow to outline the key steps users would take to plan meals, follow recipes, and manage their grocery lists. Quick wireframes in Miro helped visualize the interface and refine essential elements, such as the footer and main screens.
The PlanIt prototype focuses on three key features:
AI-Generated Weekly Meal Plans
Based on user preferences and dietary restrictions.
Simplifies meal planning and saves users time.
Curated Content on Meal Planning & Prepping
Addresses the knowledge gap with articles, tips, and tutorials.
Makes the lifestyle more accessible for beginners.
Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions with Videos
Includes dynamically updated ingredient quantities.
Minimizes scrolling and allows users to cook at their own pace.
I conducted usability tests with 2 participants over Zoom. Participants were asked to:
1.
View a recipe and demonstrate how they would follow the instructions while cooking.
2.
Create a weekly meal plan using the app.
3.
Add a recipe to a specific day in the meal plan.
Finding #1:
The grocery list icon was not intuitive; users did not understand its functionality.
Iteration:
Redesigned the grocery list icon for better clarity.
Finding #2:
The weekly meal plan layout was well-received, though participants suggested minor visual adjustments.
Iteration:
Reduced the size of meal icons on the weekly meal plan page.
Finding #3:
Users appreciated the step-by-step instructions feature.
Additional Iterations (Based on broader feedback & refinements):
Incorporated additional accessibility features, such as screen reader support.
Enhanced the “Tips from the Community” section on recipe pages.
Improved the visual realism of images and text.
Built out the full flow for customizing weekly meal plans.
Renamed “Calendar” to “Meal Plan” in the footer.
If I were to revisit this project, I would focus on expanding the prototype’s features, such as:
Automating grocery list generation.
Integrating social sharing for meal plans.
Providing more robust progress tracking to keep users motivated.
PlanIt was a rewarding project that deepened my understanding of inclusive design, user research, and iterative prototyping. This experience has equipped me to tackle complex UX challenges and design solutions that meet diverse user needs.
B2B | Supply Chain
0 to 1 Product Innovation
Contributed to the design and development of a new product, guiding it from initial concept validation to final design to product launch.
New Product Design
User Research
Usability Testing