Find a Food Service App
Context
Completing the Google User Experience (UX) Design certificate, I created a case study for a fictional app that helps users find a food service, Find a Food Service, from September - October 2023.
The Challenge
People with low income don’t always have the money they need to buy groceries and are often too busy working jobs to buy and prepare food. My app addresses food insecurity amidst people’s busy schedules.
Project Goal
To create an interactive prototype of an app and responsive website to that makes access to food for low income populations easier.
Scope
End-to-end
Tools
Figma
Role
UX Designer
Team
I worked individually on this project from ideation to delivery.
Responsibilities
My role in this project was to ensure the completion of this app design from ideation to interactive prototype.
In order to design the app, I:
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Ideated designs for the app
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Benchmarked and audited similar food service apps and websites
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Created two personas for users of this app
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Designed wireframes for the app
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Performed user testing
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Designed mockups for the app
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Designed interactive prototypes for the app
The process was very engaging and challenging, as it focused on creating an app for social good. My work in a public library also made me aware of some of the challenges that come up when people try to access food services, such as figuring out location and eligibility as well as the inability to leave home at times. Therefore, my designs include filters to search for food pantries and food delivery services.
Research Study Details
Key Steps
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Benchmarking
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Creating personas
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Performing user testing
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Creating wireframes using Figma
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Creating mockups using Figma
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Creating interactive prototypes using Figma
Target Audience
The target audience of this app was low income, working adults with busy schedules who needed different ways to access food services.
Competitive Audit
I conducted a competitive audit as part of my research for the app. I was surprised at how different database sites for food services differed. Some were more simple than others, due to also being educational organizations. For example, FindHelp.org and Feeding America have different designs due to the nature of the organization.
User's Goal
I designed the app around the goal of a user trying to find the directions for a food service.
Personas
The personas I focused on were low income, working adults who had food-based needs, like ways to find and access food services, whether they be food pantries or food delivery.
Ideation
I conducted a competitive audit as part of my research for the app. I was surprised at how different database sites for food services differed. Some were more simple than others, due to also being educational organizations.
Ideation
Home Screen
Digital Wireframes
I created digital wireframes from my ideation phase. My main goals were to make the search process as straightforward as possible but also flexible enough for users to tailor their searches.
Main features
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Visual Map
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Easy search interface
Results Screen
Visual map feature
Ability for users to filter search results
Results Screen with More Information
A screen that shows more information about the food service
Buttons that help categorize the information in small chunks
User Testing
I performed a user test, asking a few friends to pretend to be users of this app. They used an interactive digital wireframe to complete the user test.
Findings
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Icons
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Users need more icons near CTA text
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Filter Results
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Users need a more obvious button to finalize the “filter” results as well as to minimize it when they don’t want to use it
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Sort By
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Users wished there was a way to sort results A-Z or by those closest to them in distance outside of the filter option; users want to filter then sort by
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User Test Summary
The results showed that users were focused on the searching and filtering capabilities to help narrow down relevant services to them.
Home Screen
Mockups
I applied the findings from the user testing. I:
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Added more icons to buttons
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Created a separate Sort By button to make prioritizing results easier
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Added an Apply Filter button
Results Screen with Filter and Sort By Options
Separate Filter and Sort By buttons
Separate Apply Filter button
Results Screen with More Information
Buttons have more icons
Conclusion
I learned about the various needs users need to overcome to access food services.
Next Steps
Usability Study - Continue to do usability studies to ensure that the site is accessible to all users.
Research - Research more about the obstacles people encounter when trying to access food services so the site can bypass those obstacles. Legal policies and services themselves are constantly changing, so the app should reflect those changes.
Iterative Designs - Continue to do interactive designs on the site to improve its usability.