Work

About

Overview

Research

Utilizing WasteNot's food waste data, I formulated interview questions and conducted user interviews. The majority of participants expressed guilt regarding food waste but admitted to lacking proactive measures to reduce it. The research feedback strongly indicated that users would enthusiastically embrace the opportunity to combat food waste if provided with a user-friendly tool for guidance.

User Persona

Erin is a busy lawyer who believes in reducing food waste. However, she often finds it challenging to track and manage her food inventory effectively, resulting in occasional food spoilage and waste. She is looking for a solution that helps her minimize food waste and make more sustainable choices.

Ben, a working caregiver, often finds himself throwing away expired food due to a hectic schedule and lack of time for proper meal planning. He wants a solution that can help him manage his food inventory efficiently and minimize food waste while accommodating his busy lifestyle.

Competitive Audit

Conducting an audit of several competitor's products has provided valuable insights into the gaps and opportunities that can be addressed with the WasteNot app.

Starting The Designing

Digital Wireframes

After brainstorming and sketching out some paper wireframes, I proceeded to create the initial designs for the WasteNot app. These designs primarily centered around providing personalized guidance to users, assisting them in effectively managing their food.

The upper section of the home screen functions as a food coach, offering customized recommendations to users based on their preferences and behaviors.

The global navigation ensures convenient access to all app features, allowing users to easily navigate and explore different functionalities.

Low-fidelity prototype

In preparation for usability testing, I developed a low-fidelity prototype that simulated the user journey of viewing an item about to expire and utilizing it in a recipe. The prototype allowed users to interact with the basic functionalities and navigate through the intended flow.

Refining The Designing

Mockups

After analyzing the insights from the usability studies, I implemented design modifications to address the issues identified. One of the changes involved creating a dedicated section on the home screen that allows users to easily explore recipes based on the ingredients available in their "My Food" inventory.

Before usability study

After usability study

Further design enhancements were implemented, such as incorporating an "Add new item" feature to the "My Food" page, allowing users to easily add new food items to their inventory. Additionally, a clearer indication of the remaining days before an item expires was provided to improve usability and help users better manage their food inventory.

Before usability study

After usability study

High-fidelity prototype

The high-fidelity prototype maintained the user flow of the low-fidelity prototype, incorporating the design changes that were implemented based on the findings from the usability study. The revised design changes were carried forward to ensure a consistent and improved user experience throughout the prototype.

Responsive Design

Sitemap

Using the WasteNot sitemap as a reference, I structured the design of each screen for the responsive website. This approach ensured consistency and cohesiveness in the user experience across different devices. The organizational structure of the website's screens followed the same logical flow as the app, providing a familiar and seamless experience for users transitioning between platforms.

Conclusion

Impact

Users expressed that the WasteNot app empowered them to make a meaningful impact on reducing food waste. According to a peer feedback quote, the app effectively connected environmental concerns with personal responsibility in a user-friendly and captivating manner.

What I learned

Through the design process, I discovered that addressing a significant problem required a systematic approach and a focus on user needs. By carefully navigating each step of the process, I was able to develop practical and valuable solutions. It became clear that aligning with specific user requirements and gaining insights from their feedback played a crucial role in creating feasible and effective solutions.