Savr Recipes

Day 1 - Map

The Problem & Insights

Savr Recipes is a mobile cooking app that creates an easier experience for people to follow and cook recipes from home. The startup has received some negative feedback on some of their more complicated recipes, and how the steps are executed. Most users love the quality and diversity in the recipe choices, but there are difficulties when it comes to following instructions and preparing to cook these recipes. The problem space also includes the timing, order of steps, and techniques that Savr presents. There are a few design constraints when it comes time for me to find a solution. The current recipes are written as text, in basic steps from start to finish. The new design should also be created as a mobile app, since most people use Savr in that form. Lastly, the design must focus on the task of creating a better experience for users when it’s time to actually cook the meal. 

The interviewer asked participants to tell him about their experience cooking a new recipe for the first time. This information was synthesized through affinity mapping. A pattern was noticed in users' experiences, especially when involving complex recipes. Users were most frustrated with the lack of time management and preparation built into the recipes. During Anna’s interview, she stated “I like to be as prepared as I possibly can be before I start cooking things that I can’t undo”. If preparation were built into the process, this would end up saving her time later on as well. The interviewees also mentioned they appreciate simplicity in a recipe, as well as in the way it is displayed for them to follow. Frustrations arose when the process became too complex. Sara says she has to leave the app to “google image search or youtube” different techniques listed in recipes, because she is unclear on what they mean. When things become too complex, it allows a lot more room for making mistakes. Users' mistakes resulted in disliking their final product and avoiding trying any new recipes in the future. 

The Map

A few maps were created in hopes of finding one that would best address the problem and conveys the solution.

The third map was decided on.

Day 2 - Sketch

Competitors Solutions (Lightning Demo)

The Epicurious app won an editors choice award and is known for its inspiring and easy to follow recipes. The design is clean and simple which makes it very easy to navigate while cooking. There is also a timer built in.

Yummy, provides a simple experience with photos and short steps, to keep you on track while cooking. Suggested tools are at the bottom as well.

The Napkin app has very similar features to what is in the works for Savr’s solution. They offer a step by step process with large text and photos, and a swiping feature that allows you to prepare for next steps. I felt inspired by the main recipe screen because it offers custom selection for serving and shows recipe information in a simple display.

Crazy 8 Sketches

A quick sketching exercise was done to brainstorm eight different variations of the main screen.

The highlighted sketch was selected because the layout would be the easiest and most simple way for users to follow. They can swipe up or down to move to the next or last step, while an image and text is provided. They can see the next step so they know what is to come. A timer and full recipe list is offered at the bottom when needed. If there is a chance for the cook to prepare ahead during the process, a pop up will appear near the bottom as well.

Sketches

This is the solution sketch, which shows the screen users will start out on, the critical screen, and the screen after (or in this case the full recipe screen).

Day 3 - Decide

Sketching Continued

During the research phase, users made a point that recipe apps were very easy to lose track in. In the sketches, there are a few different features that will make it easier for cooks to follow along when cooking. The step by step experience will allow people to see the steps in large with a photo of how the current process should be looking. There is also a progress bar that lets them know where they are at in the process. People also struggle with time. A timer feature is built in so users do not have to leave the app, and they also never forget to take that meal out of the oven! One last major feature in the sketches is the “checklist” for Ingredients and Kitchen tools. Users can select what they do and don’t have for the recipe. If they don’t have something, a substitute will appear for it (if there is one).

Day 4 - Prototype

High Fidelity Screens

The prototype is for the red route of a user who is looking to cook an easy recipe at home. The prototype shows the critical screens for completing a user's goal. There is the main recipe page, the recipe “experience” as i call it (where users get step by step directions while cooking), and the timer. My goals for testing the prototype are to be sure that the design takes away most frustrations that users were expressing. I hope to uncover some areas that could be improved or if there are any hidden flaws, that they be exposed. I want to learn what feature is gonna help a home cook out the most, and really focus and build upon that feature.

Day 5 - Test

Interviews

5 interviews were conducted to test the new design for the Savr mobile app. Each participant had unique qualities, but they all shared the interest in cooking an easy meal at home.

It was noticed that users were very excited off the bat about the concept: an easy to use application that allows you to stay on track and lays everything out in a simple manner.

Participants were assigned a task to select a raspberry cheesecake recipe and choose what ingredients and kitchenware they had and didn’t have. All users moved rather quickly through the pre-cooking screens, but It was noticed many were confused as to how they should swipe and move through the ingredient and kitchenware screens shown below.

It seems that there was not enough instruction. Most users asked me what to do when they reached the bottom half of this screen. If i could ideate and redesign, i may add a text form telling them to select what they do and don't have, and that a substitute will appear for the items they’re missing.

Another finding was that users didn’t understand how to move to the next step when finished with the one they were on. There could have definitely been more time spent on the scrolling feature for the recipe “experience” page, so users could better move through this screen. If I could make improvements, I may consider a “next step” button or an arrow icon.

There were several compliments on the design and the accessibility. Users said they love getting to see their progress as they move along, and that the built in timer would save them lots of time. They also appreciated that they could see all of the steps in large text with photos to check the accuracy of what they’re cooking.