SushiLovers

case study

SushiLovers is a mobile application that offers a convenient and easy way for Japanese cuisine lovers to order their favorite dishes from the restaurant. The app is designed to provide users with an intuitive interface that allows them to browse through the menu, customize their orders, and make payments quickly and easily. The app also offers a loyalty program that rewards users for their repeat business and offers exclusive deals and discounts. Overall, SushiLovers aims to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for customers who want to order their favorite dishes on-the-go.

Project Overview

The problem: Busy workers lack the time necessary to prepare a meal during break time.

The goal: Design an app for SushiLovers that can help customers order food more efficiently and save time during checkout.

My role: UX designer designing an app for SushiLovers from conception to delivery.

Responsibilities:

  • Conduct user research to understand the needs and behaviors of couples planning weddings.

  • Design an app for SushiLovers that can help customers order food more efficiently and save time during checkout.

Persona: Aiko Tanaka

Aiko is a busy office manager who needs an app that can help her ordering food more efficiently because she usually do not have lots of lunch time at work

User research: summary

Through conducting interviews and creating empathy maps, I gained an understanding of the users I am designing for and their needs. Among the primary user group identified during research were working adults who are too busy to prepare their meals.

A new app that aims to aid Japanese cuisine enthusiasts in finding and ordering their favorite dishes. The focus is on making the food exploration and ordering process user-friendly before the launch. In this regard, I conducted a thorough analysis of the ordering, payment, and tracking process to identify and tackle any potential challenges that could hinder the overall user experience.

Paper wireframes

Drafting multiple iterations of each app screen on paper helped ensure that the final digital wireframes effectively addressed user pain points. When designing the home screen, my priority was to provide users with a simple and speedy way to select their meal and customize it to their taste preferences.

Digital wireframes

Throughout the initial design phase, I ensured that the screen designs were based on the feedback and discoveries obtained from the user research.

Incorporating easy navigation was a critical user requirement that had to be addressed in the designs.

Low-Fidelity Prototype

Upon completion of the digital wireframes, I developed a low-fidelity prototype that focused on the primary user flow of creating and ordering a Japanese meal. This prototype was specifically designed to be utilized in a usability study.

View the app’s low-fidelity

Usability study: findings

We conducted usability studies on the SushiLovers app to evaluate its user-friendliness, customization challenges, and users' desire for a favorite list feature. Findings revealed insights on the app's strengths and areas for improvement, emphasizing the importance of user feedback for enhancing usability and meeting user expectations.

  • Users want more customization

  • Users want to have a favorite list option

  • Users want to be able to check out easily

  • Users want to have more payment options

Mockups:

Although the initial designs already included some customization options, the usability studies provided valuable insights that led to the incorporation of additional features. For instance, I added multiple topping choices that could be selected using checkboxes.

Additionally, a "note" section was included to enable customers to make special requests based on their dietary restrictions, allergies, and other preferences.

Key Mockups:

High-Fidelity Prototype

The high-fidelity prototype that was eventually developed featured cleaner user flows, particularly when it came to customizing a dish and completing the checkout process. It also catered to users' needs by providing options for standard or express delivery and allowing for even more customization.

View the app's high-fidelity

Accessibility considerations

  1. Alternative Text: Provide alternative text descriptions for all images in the app, so that visually impaired users can use screen readers to understand the content.

  2. Clear Text and Typography: Use clear, easy-to-read text and typography throughout the app.

  3. Consistent Layout and Navigation: Maintain a consistent layout and navigation structure throughout the app, to help users with cognitive or memory impairments find and use features consistently.

Impact:

The app's design, with its focus on user needs, customization options, and easy navigation, gives users a feeling that their preferences and convenience are essential to SushiLovers. By incorporating user feedback and conducting usability studies, the app provides a user experience that feels tailored to their needs. This personalized approach ultimately makes users feel valued, leading to a positive perception of the brand and potentially increasing customer loyalty.

What I learned:

  • As I worked on the SushiLovers app, I realized that it is essential to remain open-minded and willing to make changes based on feedback.

  • Similarly, peer feedback helped me refine the designs, adding features and functionality that better addressed user needs and pain points.

  • Ultimately, this experience taught me that the design process is an ongoing and collaborative effort that requires continuous refinement and improvement.

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