AccuChef is a versatile and innovative platform that empowers users to upload, standardize, discover, and share recipes effortlessly. Additionally, the app seamlessly connects users with local cloud kitchens to transform standardized recipes into delectable food orders. By enhancing recipe consistency, culinary exploration, and restaurant-quality dining experiences, the app revolutionizes the way people approach cooking and dining.
The problem we aimed to address was the lack of a comprehensive solution for achieving consistency in cooking results and preserving the unique culinary techniques and preferences of both home cooks and professional chefs. Existing platforms often lacked the ability to standardize recipes with precise measurements, accommodate personalized variations, and foster a vibrant community for sharing culinary expertise. Our goal was to provide a user-centric app that empowers individuals to cook with confidence, maintain the integrity of their culinary creativity, and connect with a like-minded community of food enthusiasts.
An innovative food standardization app that provides precise measurements, customizable options, and a collaborative space. It empowers users to cook with consistency, adapt recipes to their preferences, and share their culinary expertise. This comprehensive platform enhances cooking experiences, fosters community connections, and preserves the unique magic of each user's culinary creations.
Users were frustrated by inconsistent cooking outcomes due to unclear measurements and techniques. They struggled with adapting recipes to dietary preferences and lacked a platform to preserve their unique cooking methods. Additionally, limited options for sharing and learning from others hindered their culinary growth.
As a UX designer, I envisioned and crafted the app's user experience, from ideation to design. I ensured intuitive navigation, empathetic user journeys, and engaging interfaces, addressing user pain points. My focus was on creating a seamless, enjoyable, and functional platform that empowers culinary creativity and fosters community engagement.
Since my primary tasks were to ideate, design, research and present, the tools I used were -
-Figma
-Miro
-Adobe Illustrator
-Google Forms
Given I had an idea and my key objectives sorted, now it was time to see what other applications, if any, exist out there and if at all there was a need for such an application.
"Were people really excited about this idea? Was it something they thought would have been useful?"
To my surprise, there were were a lot of people online complaining about an app called "Paprika". This was not only a standardizing app, but also one of the first apps to actually help users browse through the internet and find recipes to their liking.
I then thought to myself that if people ARE in fact complaining about it not being the best out there, they sure are looking for one that helps them with the objectives I had identified with my application.
Through researching online forums and reviews on apps like Paprika, these were the insights I drew -
Research indicates that the target audience includes individuals aged 25-45, both males and females, with a strong interest in cooking and exploring new flavors.
Users are interested in a wide range of cuisines, with a growing trend towards plant-based and healthier options. Current cooking trends include fusion cuisine, global flavors, and personalized variations of traditional recipes. Dietary preferences such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and keto are on the rise.
The majority of the target audience is comfortable using mobile apps and recipe platforms for cooking guidance and recipe discovery.
Demand for quick and easy recipes that fit busy lifestyles is increasing.
While many options, traditional and tech-oriented, both existed for users, with the current methods however, these were the crucial pain points they faced.
Difficulty in adapting recipes to dietary restrictions and preferences. Managing and organizing recipe collections from various sources.
Inconsistent results due to variations in ingredient proportions, cooking techniques, and lack of precise measurements. Users value features such as customizable recipes, ingredient substitutions, and clear instructions.
Existing cooking and recipe apps receive mixed reviews.
Complaints often revolve around limited recipe variety, complex user interfaces, and lack of personalized options.
I conducted user interviews and came up with the following affinity diagrams
Using the insights drawn from affinity mapping, I then came up with two main personas
After reviewing potential ideas, I mapped out a feature prioritization matrix that would indicate our most highly impacted and prioritized features using which I created this taskflow diagram.
Now having clarity on the requirements, I got to concept sketching for the low-fi frames
Once I had my low-fidelity sketches conceptualized, I worked on the med-fidelity wireframes
After conducting some usability testing on the created medium fidelity wireframes, I made an attempt to create a UI that was clean, elegant and pleasant.
As of now, the prototype is being developed with even more screens and is undergoing usability testing to see the possibility of launching this as a real-life product that can help users with not just standardization, but also create a provision for all the food content creators by providing them an exclusive platform just like SPOTIFY but for food...
The design system used for the app is shown below -
