ChefUp
ChefUp is a responsive website tailored for novice home chefs, emphasizing ingredient accessibility and offering comprehensive step-by-step video guidance.
My Role
Lead UX Designer/Researcher
Overview
ChefUp is a responsive website tailored for novice home chefs, emphasizing ingredient accessibility and offering comprehensive step-by-step video guidance. This project strategically targets the needs of aspiring home cooks, focusing on simplifying ingredient procurement and providing detailed instructional videos to enhance their culinary skills. ChefUp's platform is designed to deliver a seamless experience across various devices, prioritizing user accessibility while maintaining technical considerations such as compatibility and performance.
The Challenge
Source: Studyfinds.org
Many individuals, especially new cooks, struggle to find simplified and accessible cooking tutorials online, lacking clear ingredient lists and step-by-step guidance, which hinders their culinary learning and confidence.
The Solution
The goal is to provide a user-friendly and comprehensive cooking tutorial platform that empowers new cooks with simplified recipes, clear ingredient lists, and step-by-step video guidance, fostering their culinary skills and confidence.
User Research: Summary
In conducting user research, we initially assumed that our target audience for ChefUp, primarily new cooks, might prefer quick and easy recipes over more complex culinary challenges. To validate this assumption, we conducted surveys and in-depth interviews with potential users. However, our research revealed a more diverse range of preferences among our audience. While some indeed sought simplicity, others desired adventurous and complex recipes with clear guidance. This insight prompted us to expand our recipe offerings to cater to a broader spectrum of cooking enthusiasts, ensuring that ChefUp remains inclusive and adaptable to various culinary preferences and skill levels.
User Research: Pain Points
Personas
Meet Sarah, a working mother with a desire to create memorable family meals and bond with her loved ones through cooking needs an accessible and clear cooking resource online because she is a brand new “chef”.
User Journey Map
Notes:
Initial steps are positive, but disappointment arises when instructions lead to the same place.
The user appreciates the early display of ingredients but faces frustration with non-functional videos during cooking. A slight confusion emerges about returning to the homepage.
Improvement opportunities include adding a quick sign-in option, expanding recipe options, improving video functionality, and enhancing homepage accessibility.
Sitemap
Notes:
The sitemap is logically structured, with clear paths for users to navigate the website's content and functionality. The idea was to create a simple website highlighting the 3 meal system, without over complicating the cooking process.
Paper Wireframes
The bottom picture combines elements of the previous paper wireframes, to simplify and create the easiest experience for new “chefs”. Simplifying the page into four videos with recipe info allows the user to quickly choose a dish.
Digital Wireframes
Users were excited about the hero video design, and the accessible interface, highlighting four meals. The experience was less overwhelming than having many recipes available.
Digital Wireframe screen size variations
With the mobile version of the website, instead of a horizontal view of the meals, it is scrollable using a stacked view. In addition, the hamburger menu hides tabs and creates a cleaner view.
Usability Study Findings
Mockups
The account page was unacceptable for accessibility, in addition to lackluster UI prior to the usability study.
Following the usability study, it was made aware that a language page is incredibly important. Users are now able to select their preferred language.
Mockups: Original Screen Size
Mockups: Screen Size Variations
Accessibility Considerations
Takeaways
Next Steps
