Google Ventures Style Design Sprint
Project Type
App Feature Design
Platform
Duration
Mobile iOS
Savr Recipes
1 Week
Role
User Research User Interviews Sketching Wireframing
UX&UI Designer
End-to-end Visual Design +
The Problem
Tools
Figma Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator
Users struggle to manage their subscriptions efficiently due to a lack of transparency and control. They experience difficulty in canceling unwanted subscriptions, frustration with hidden renewal processes, and limited access to better deals. Additionally, concerns about app security prevent some users from linking their financial information.
The Solution
Comprehensive Subscription Management App Designed for Transparency, Control, and Security.
Day 1:
Understand
Research highlights
Frustrating users, leading to confusion and difficulty completing tasks.
Unclear Instructions: Frustrating users, leading to confusion and difficulty completing tasks.
Unanticipated Prepping Time: Makes users underestimate the effort and time required, causing stress and rushed cooking.
Unfamiliarity with Ingredients: Requires additional information or substitutions.
Lack of Design Layout: Makes the interface difficult to navigate and find important information.
Lack of Time to Cook
“I can see what the finished product looks like, but I don’t know if I’m on the right track halfway through... is it supposed to look like this? If not, it’s better to know sooner rather than later.”
User Flow
End-to-End user experience
Main Persona
Day 2:
Sketch
As I scrolled through recipe cards and navigated search features, I transformed into a culinary spy on a mission. My goal? To unearth strengths, weaknesses, and untapped opportunities. Each app offered a unique flavor; all these insights would be the secret sauce for my own sketches, ensuring my recipe app wouldn't simply be another dish on the shelf, but a delicious innovation fit for the most discerning digital chefs.
Sketches
Crazy 8’s sketches helped me decide the most critical screens, addressing key user feedback from interviews: prepping time, cook time, and a new ingredient substitution option.
Sketching unveiled the essential interfaces
Day 3:
Storyboard
Users wanted clearer ingredient options, transparent prep and cook times, and visual guidance every step of the way. Now, users can browse recipes with vibrant pictures highlighting key ingredients and easy-to-spot substitution suggestions. Prep and cook times are front and center, helping you plan your culinary adventure. I also, added in short videos and pictures throughout the step-by-step instructions.
Say goodbye to recipe anxiety and hello to stress-free, joyful cooking!
Day 4:
Prototyping
Prototyping is definitely the closest interaction with what would be the final product, and it's crucial because it will help the users understand the app better. Especially:
Substitutions ingredients: This will make the recipe more adaptable for users with dietary restrictions or limited access to specific ingredients.
Prepping time: Knowing the total time commitment before starting will help users plan their cooking schedule.
All the steps with short videos: This visual breakdown will make the cooking process clearer and more engaging, leading to a more enjoyable cooking experience.
Day 5:
Testing and Validating
I interviewed 5 people, as I considered them perfect users for testing due to their passion for cooking and familiarity with recipe apps. I knew right away that I would get the invaluable feedback I needed to improve my app. I conducted the interviews on Zoom for some of them, and for the rest, I showed them the prototype in person.
Prototyping facilitates both the testing and user experiences. It brings you closest to the real and final product, giving users a taste of what's to come. In this case, the new features impressed the users, as they'd never seen anything like it in another recipe app. This positive response shows that users loved the prototype and enjoyed the experience.
User Findings
One of the most important findings (if not the most) for users was the servings option. Most other recipe apps lack this feature, making it difficult for users to know and calculate portions when trying a new recipe. The inclusion of servings in my app makes it stand out and addresses a significant user pain point.
Secondly, the short videos in the steps section were a huge hit with users. They went beyond simply listing instructions by visually demonstrating what each step should look like. This visual guidance proved invaluable, enhancing the user experience and making them feel confident at every stage.
Finally, the substitution ingredients displayed with actual photos were a game-changer for the entire cooking experience. Users are naturally drawn to visuals, and this section brilliantly replaced "boring text" with clear photo references. This innovation truly resonated with users, making recipe navigation and adaptation seamless and enjoyable.
Next Steps
I agree that enhancing the A.I aspect of the app could be a valuable next step, especially given the growing popularity of A.I in cooking tools. Introducing an AI mascot could be a fun and engaging way to elevate the user experience. Think of it as a virtual chef or cooking companion that provides guidance, tips, and encouragement throughout the recipe journey.
Conclusion
Overall, I truly enjoyed the challenge of the design sprint. The testing and learning experiences were phenomenal, and I thoroughly enjoy helping users create and improve apps. But the best part, is being innovative. It's about crafting something new, something unseen, that captures users' attention while genuinely helping them and facilitating a unique and satisfying user experience.