Healthtrackr/ End food waste
An end-to-end application to track food expiration and health goals.
Screen
Mobile
My Role
UX Researcher
UI Designer
Branding
Prototyping
Timeline
4-5 weeks
Tools
Figma
Fig Jam
Contrast
Deliverables
Wireframes
Industry
Health & Fitness
The Problem
Each year, an alarming amount of food goes to waste, with approximately one-third of the world's food production, equivalent to a staggering 1.3 billion metric tons, never reaching the plates it was intended for. In this imperfect world, nobody is immune to the challenge of food waste, including myself.
It is an all-too-common scenario: we unintentionally overlook certain grocery items tucked away in the refrigerator, only to rediscover them when they are past their prime. Not only this leads to a waste of food but also results in financial loss as money spent on those forgotten items goes down the drain.
Quotes from user interviews
“I probably toss out a third of my produce since I buy organic.”
- Health Junky
“I tend to hoarder my groceries since I don’t want to waste, but I end up having an investigation in my fridge to see what item is causing the odor.”
- Fridge Hoarder
The Goal
Our primary objective was clear: to eradicate or minimize the widespread issue of food waste. To achieve this, we embarked on a mission to dive into the pain points experienced by users in the realms of grocery shopping, fitness, and diet. By understanding these pain points, we attempted to uncover the underlying challenges and obstacles that contribute to food waste in these areas.
In essence, our mission involved a two-fold process: identifying users' pain points and then leveraging those insights to develop practical solutions. By addressing the core problems at their roots, we aspired to make a meaningful impact and encourage positive change in the lives of our users.
The Approach
The process began by conducting a thorough SWOT analysis of competitors within the health and fitness market. I carefully evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of these competitors, documenting my findings. This analysis served as a foundation for brainstorming innovative ideas, ensuring that I would learn from the mistakes of others and apply those lessons to my own design.
Next, I conducted multiple interviews with users of health and fitness apps. As I carefully reviewed the interview recordings, I diligently took note of the pain points/needs expressed by users and considered various persona factors that emerged from their background story.
Using the gathered insights, I proceeded to create a detailed user persona and formulated "How Might We" (HMW) questions and "Point of View" (POV) statements to gain a deeper understanding of the users' pain points. These findings, combined with the knowledge obtained from analyzing competitors, formed the basis for constructing a comprehensive site map, which encompassed all the ideas and concepts gathered thus far.
POVs
- I’d like to explore ways to help users make tracking food easier
- I’d like to explore ways to help users have less food waste
- I’d like to explore ways limit clutter in the kitchen
- I’d like to explore ways make hitting goals easier and faster
- I’d like to explore ways allow more family time for the users
- I’d like to explore ways to help users eat a healthier diet
- I’d like to explore ways to minimize food waste
- I’d like to explore ways to make completing task more simple
HMWs
- How might we allow the user to keep track of food waste?
- How might we create good habits for the user?
- How might we get the user back on the app?
- How might we give the user the easiest route to complete daily goals?
- How might we give the best user experience with daily tasks?
- How might we make the user complete tasks on the app?
- How might we create the most user friendly app?
- How might we create in all in one fitness and diet app?
Solution
Introducing a food expiration feature could be the solution to combat food waste. Upon conducting an extensive analysis of competitors in the health and fitness app market, it became apparent that none of them offered a feature to track food expirations. Recognizing this gap, I realized that incorporating a food expiration tracking feature would not only help reduce food waste but also result in significant savings throughout the year.
By enabling users to set up notifications, they would receive timely alerts notifying them of upcoming food expirations. For instance, the app would inform users that a particular food item is set to expire within a specified number of days. In cases where multiple food items are nearing their expiration dates, the app would provide recipe ideas based on the ingredients that are at risk of being wasted.
After receiving feedback from users, it became evident that the food expiration feature would be a valuable tool for them. By leveraging this feature, users could effectively manage their food inventory, minimize waste, and make the most of their ingredients, leading to both financial and environmental benefits.
Overall, the introduction of a food expiration feature within the app addresses a crucial need in the market and provides users with a practical solution to tackle food waste in their daily lives.
Subsequently, I proceeded to create a task flow and low-fidelity wireframes, which provided a visual blueprint of the application's structure. The idea is users would receive notifications when the food was about to expire.
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
To streamline the workflow, I developed a UI kit to ensure efficiency during the creation of high-fidelity wireframes.
With the UI Kit finalized, I focused on the branding aspect of the application. I dedicated time to designing a logo that would effectively represent the brand.
Once the high-fidelity mockups were complete, I embarked on testing the user flow to verify that users could effortlessly navigate and complete their assigned tasks. After revisions based on user feedback, the final prototype was complete.
By following this approach, I aimed to develop a user-friendly and effective application that addressed the specific pain points and needs of users in the health and fitness domain.
Final Product
Conclusion
Upon finalizing the prototype, I became extremely confident in the process as I recognized that I had produced a polished and professional outcome for my clients. The completion of this case study served as a significant milestone in my journey, instilling a greater sense of comfort and familiarity with the entire process from start to finish. Through this comprehensive experience, I could confidently assert that my skills had undoubtedly advanced and evolved.
If I had more time, I would create re-designed the dashboard to be tailored more towards a food tracking app rather than a health & fitness app. The process of conceptualizing, designing, and implementing the prototype presented a myriad of challenges and opportunities for growth. As I tackled each step, I acquired valuable insights, refined my techniques, and expanded my expertise. The case study allowed me to apply theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, honing my abilities and deepening my understanding of the intricacies involved in delivering a successful product.