06
FASTCOOK
A handy tool assists beginners with multiple recipes for a meal.
Timeline
OCT - NOV 2023
Position
UX Researcher
UIUX Designer
Type
Individual Project
Tool
Figma
Final Design
Context
Beginners at cooking usually find it difficult to coordinate when executing multiple recipes simultaneously.
research
Desk Research
Beginners spend 46% more time than the total cooking time on the recipes;
More than 40% beginners find themselves in a mess when executing >3 recipes.
Competitive Analysis
There are many existing products trying to help beginners acquire cooking skills in different forms.
The analysis goal is to figure out the drawbacks from current solutions:
Not help with cooking more dishes simultaneously;
Embedded timer is liked by users, but less provided.
Contextual Inquiry
Objectives
Recognize the needs and challenges faced by novice users when preparing multiple recipes;
Understanding user behavior throughout the cooking process;
Methodology
In-depth Interviews | Observations
Participants
11 participants (7 Beginners + 4 Advanced)
16~37 yrs
Recipe
Steps
Time
User journey map
Following the observation results, the map was made to illustrate the key actions users undertake when they face challenges in discovering and preparing recipes. Meanwhile, this map outlines users' thoughts and actions at each stage of the process.
synthesis
Don’t know how to choose a meal plan suits cooking skills
Feel overwhelmed when organizing ingredients from various recipes
Hard to streamline cooking steps and time
Statement
How might we provide beginners
with a more organized and efficient experience of cooking multiple recipes?
ideation
Ideas
Recipe recommendation based on user’s need and proficiency, and a preview provided before start preparing the meal
A step-by-step guide to all the dishes in one place
A combined and organized cooking plan with smart step arrangement and precise timing
User Flow
Begin with recipes, users are recommended by plans or single recipes fit their skills.
Users can preview and adjust their cooking plan before they start cooking.
Cooking process should be simple but comprehensive for beginners.
Design concept
A handy tool that assists beginners in the kitchen with managing multiple recipes simultaneously for a single meal.
User test & Iteration
The testing purpose is to know the ease of use, the interaction experience, and the functionality. I designed two work flow to understand whether 7 participants could make a meal plan and follow the instructions when cooking/imaging the process.
Flow 1 - Planning workflow
Flow 2 - Cooking workflow
Iteration - Flow 1
Show “Plan” page at the first place
Provide user with categories for quick choosing
Iteration - Flow 2
Show the Estimated time before go to cooking
Users have preferences on “cooking steps”, so text, picture and video forms will help in differently ways.
Final solution prototype & storyboard
Onboarding
When signing up, users provide all the cookers and appliances they have, and eating habits, which helps personalize recipe recommendation and cooking time estimation.
* These can be edited in Profile page later.
Scenario
reflection
Things I learned from this project
Understanding the Experience
Gaining insights into user experience issues in overlooked daily routine requires in-depth research and empathetic approach.
User Centric
Conducting testing sessions helps gather insights and feedback from target user, which informs further improvements to the whole design.
User Behavior Analysis
For this project, analyzing the user behavior was a key approach to learn how users interact with cooking tools and recipes, and how their skill level affects their cooking process.