The problem

How often have you heard "I don't know what to make!"? How many times did you think about it? Me too! That’s why I was determined to think of a way to create an app that would motivate people to cook and reduce the workload when approaching recipes. The endless wondering about what to eat and searching for easy recipes is a burden to us all, and I think this app will help many people.

UX Research

Competitive analysis

I started with some brainstorming to explore possible solutions and gather my initial thoughts. I conducted competitor analysis In order to see how other similar recipe platforms were approaching this subject and how I could implement features that would set my solution apart.
This analysis focuses on recipe/food apps exploring and helping users figure out what to cook and how to prepare the meal. I also analyzed some essential features and areas that could help users with their goal.

User interviews

I conducted five in-person interviews with beginner cooks in the age range of 23-35. I turned to people who don't usually have time to cook or are too lazy. Among them are young mothers, students, and careerists.
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I asked questions to understand what users experience when they search for a recipe and cook. I also wanted to know their motivations and challenges when approaching cooking.

Insights from inreviews

• People would be motivated to cook more at home if given recipes that utilize ingredients they already own.
• People were most concerned about saving time.
• A user who finds a recipe complicated will look for something easier to make or compare it to similar recipes.
• People prefer a guide or tutorial to make instructions clearer.
• There is a paradox of choice that frustrates people when trying to find recipes.
• Beginners tend to trust others more than themselves.

Empathy Map

To gain a deeper understanding of my target audience, I created an empathy map. Through empathy, I put myself in other people's shoes and connect with how they might be feeling about their problems, circumstance, or situation related to cooking.

Persona

I intuitively compiled a list of features that describe the ideal user on the platform. After getting insights from the initial research, I understood who my target user will be and created a persona. User persona will help me make better design decisions that will satisfy the user's needs.

How might we...

After completing the research, I framed 'How might we' questions based on the design challenges I discovered. Using these questions allowed me to explore ideas and come up with solutions.

• How might we help users find reliable and easy recipes?

• How might we make users feel confident with the cooking process?

• How might we motivate users to start cooking?

• How might we ensure an enjoyable and straightforward experience?

Screen Mapping

I decided to map the main screens of the app. It will help me visualize the steps users take in order to accomplish a goal. During the process, I will analyze each step and see where the opportunity lies and how the user experience can be optimized.

UI Design

Based on the initial research, I mapped out the main basics of the design concept and created a short list of guidelines that led me through the design process.

• Clean and elegant
  
• User friendly
  
• Accessible
• Stimulating
  

Wireframes

Before moving to tools for designing I started by sketching few designs and see what ideas I can come up with.
Based on sketches I started creating high-fidelity wireframes.