Discover recipes based on what’s in your fridge—or search for something new to cook.
Project Type: Concept app, UX case study
Role: UX/UI designer, Brand designer
Industry: Foodtech, Lifestyle
Contributors: Nil Yılmaz, Suro Kim, Poppy Pimsirin
01
UX Research
Overview
The cooking process often begins in one of two directions:
- From ingredients to a recipe
- From a recipe to ingredients
Currently, no app successfully combines both paths into a seamless experience. Meanwhile, individualism is on the rise—making it increasingly important for people to know how to cook for themselves. Despite this need, many still feel discouraged or overwhelmed by the cooking process.
The goal is to create a flexible tool that supports users in either starting point, helping them cook confidently while reducing waste.
Research Goals
We want to identify who struggles the most with cooking, understand what discourages them from preparing meals, and explore how they currently manage food or ingredient waste in their daily lives.
Methodologies
Competıtıve Analysıs
User Intervıews
Research Findings
Two-way Recıpe Dıscovery
From pantry to plate or from craving to cooking
Guıded yet Flexıble Journey
Personalised flow with choice and clarity
Smart Ingredıent Management
Minimising waste, maximising what you have
Paın Poınts & Barrıers
What frustrates users in daily cooking
Personas
Hıroshı
Finance professional – 32 y/o – Health-focused & tech-savvy
Hiroshi is a finance professional living in Vancouver with a busy lifestyle. He values healthy living, follows a vegetarian diet, exercises regularly, and enjoys cooking at home. He is tech-savvy, enjoys exploring new cuisines, and pays close attention to the nutritional value of his meals.
Goals
- Access quick, healthy, and high-quality recipes
- Get alternative ingredient suggestions when something is missing
- View detailed nutritional info for ingredients and full recipes
- Discover new cuisines and share recipes easily
Frustrations
- Recipes that take too long to prepare
- Lack of vegetarian alternatives
- Missing or insufficient nutritional information
- Apps that are not user-friendly or practical
Isabella
International law student – 26 y/o – Budget-conscious & eco-friendly
Isabella is a Brazilian international student in Vancouver studying law. Passionate about sustainability, she tries to reduce food waste and her carbon footprint. Although she enjoys global cuisines, her lack of cooking experience makes it challenging to prepare meals. She is tech-savvy and seeks affordable, beginner-friendly solutions that align with her financial and environmental values.
Goals
- Find beginner-friendly recipes with step-by-step instructions
- Minimize food waste by using available ingredients efficiently
- Compare prices to stay within a student budget
- Explore new cuisines despite limited cooking skills
Frustrations
- Complicated recipes without clear steps
- Difficulty using leftover ingredients
- Apps lacking price comparison features
- Most apps are designed for experienced cooks
02
UX Design
Information Architecture- Sitemap
User Flow
Task Flows
1# fınd a recıpe wıth ıngredıents at home
2# post a new recıpe
Wireframes
03
UI Design
High Fidelity Mockups
Prototype
04
Usability Test
Preference Setting
Search and My Kitchen
Community
Favorite
System Usability Scale
05
Key Takeaways
Challenges
- Analyzing user needs accurately and understanding their expectations
- Responding effectively to user feedback and insights
- Initially deciding to add a feature for comparing item prices from online marketplaces, but later realizing it would add unnecessary complexity and burden to the project
Lesson Learned
- Keeping the design simple is always more effective and manageable
- Following current design trends helps to understand common approaches and user expectations more clearly