Project Overview
Savr is a food recipe app that offers its users access to countless easy at home recipes. I conducted a modified GV design sprint for Savr in order to optimize its user experience. More specifically to bring simplicity, clarity, and efficiency to the cooking process.
The Process
Day 1: Map
Problem Identification
Lack of simplicity in:
Ingredients
Utensils/kitchenware
Steps
Lack of clarity with:
Techniques
Definition
Progress
Lack of efficiency:
Time
Preparation
Solution
Develop an app that makes cooking easy! Recipe ingredients and directions will be listed logically to limit wasting time. Recipes will also incorporate a learning component for all techniques, and there will also be progress photos/videos along the way.
User Map
Day 2: Sketch
On day 2 I analyzed 3 competing apps on the market. After getting a better idea of elements I like, dislike, and could improve on I started sketching. Initially, I conducted the Crazy 8 method and produced 8 screens in 8 minutes, of those 8 I chose 3 critical screens to focus more effort on.
Competitive Analysis
Crazy 8 Sketches
Critical Screens
Day 3: Storyboard
On day 3 I created more sketches to add to my existing critical screens. The result is the storyboard you see below. In total there are 5 detailed wireframes that I believe help to initially solve the problems previously discussed. A few things I chose to focus on were making “Quick and Easy” meals easily accessible on the home screen (1). Incorporating a video of the process for reference (2), visuals of all the cookware needed (3) and clickable techniques for those that need them (4).
Day 4: Prototyping
My prototype, seen below, is composed of 5 screens. I used the POP by Marvel app to develop my prototype. This app made the process of prototyping both quick and easy.
Day 5: Testing
Usability Testing Goals
My goals include:
Identifying if users can easily navigate to and through recipes.
If users have the necessary information in terms of cookware and techniques. It is important to ensure Savr provides all necessary info and users don’t need to do additional research elsewhere.
Usability Testing Results
I conducted a round of testing which brought to light problems in the design, below are the 3 main issues identified and the redesign that addressed them.
The main suggestion I received during
testing was for there to be an
indication that “Roughly chop” was
clickable. Any phrases that can be
clicked on for further explanation will
be a hyperlink with a blue line
underneath.
The second suggestion was in
regards to the bottom navigation
bar. The icon imagery was not
easily understood by users so I
plan on adding text underneath
the icons stating what they are.
Last but not least participants s
suggested that the presentation
of the cookware be elevated. In
the next phases (not currently
shown here) of this project I
intend to have real images of all
the cookware instead of the cartoon version.
Next Steps
1 . Develop high fidelity wireframes.
2. Improve on the UI.
3. Incorporate additional elements that would elevate the users experience.
Challenges
1 . Designing an app that provides users with all the information they need so they don’t need to go elsewhere.
2. Designing a cohesive interface for those familiar and unfamiliar with both app and cooking.
3. Creating a simple and seamless flow.
Outcomes & Lessons
This GV Design Sprint was very enlightening. Even though I conducted it alone I got a good idea of what team projects in a real world setting are like. I am pleased with what I was able to get done in one week as one person. Read below for some lessons I learned along the way:
1. Controlled ideation sessions are insightful. When working with time limitations a lot of ideas get generated without the fear of judgment. And in a team setting these ideas can be further discussed and developed into something amazing.
2. Design sprints in a team environment allow different perspectives to shine. Although I worked independently on this design sprint I know that if I had the help of a diverse group of people the ideas that would have been generated would have been brilliant and endless.