smacks!
Food-centric review app for all the lip-smacking foods
introduction
Smacks! is a food-centric review app designed to revolutionize how users discover and review their favorite foods. Our aim was to create a platform that prioritizes food reviews over service ratings, allowing users to track their food journey and find the perfect dining spots tailored to their preferences.
problem statement
Existing review platforms like Yelp and Google Reviews focus primarily on service rather than food quality. We identified a need for a dedicated food review platform that highlights recommended dishes at restaurants.
research and analysis
Our research included a literary review, competitive analysis, and two rounds of interviews. We synthesized our findings using affinity diagrams and created personas to represent our key user types: Review Guru, Foodie, and Dietary Needs.
personas
Based on our findings from the interviews and affinity maps we created personas for our 3 key user types: Review Guru, Foodie and Dietary Needs.
 Review Guru |
Name: Jennie Age: 29 Occupation: Food Blogger about:Jennie loves to go eat new food while blogging about it. She spends most of her time sharing the restaurants she eats at online through her social media. To add on, she will use her status as an elite reviewer to leave reviews on the experience she had on Yelp & Google Review.goals:It would be nice to find a platform that allows her to focus her reviews on the food rather than the service as her occupation is to write about food. Perks if she can directly upload said review to her social media. |
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 Foodie |
Name: Desmond Age: 24 Occupation: Graduate Student about:Desmond loves going out to eat and trying new foods. He prefers local restaurants to chain places, and is always down to try something on the menu he has never had before. If you need restaurant recommendations in the Chicago area, he’s the guy people ask. He has a highlight on his Instagram full of pictures of good food he’s eaten.goals:He would like a formal way to keep track of the places & food he has eaten. This would also help when he recommends food, as well as a way to share his favorite foods with his friends. |
 Dietary Needs |
Name: Britt Age: 27 Occupation: Receptionist about:Going out to eat is something Britt loves do with her friends and family. However she has several food allergies and finding places that can accommodate her dietary needs is challenging.goals:Britt wants to find restaurants that can accommodate her dietary needs. She would also like to keep track of which places she has tried and if/how they were able to meet her dietary needs. |
design and development
Using tools like Figma and Adobe Illustrator, we developed mid-fidelity and hi-fi prototypes. These prototypes underwent rigorous testing, including usability testing, cognitive walkthroughs, and A/B testing with 16 participants. Feedback highlighted the need for clearer navigation to the journal feature and improved interaction design for restaurant reviews.
results and impact
Through our iterative design process, we successfully achieved our goals of offering users a platform to track their food journey, prioritize dietary preferences, and focus on food-centric reviews. Positive feedback from users affirmed the intuitive design and features of Smacks!
reflection and future recommendations
While Smacks! has made significant strides, there are opportunities for future enhancements. We envision integrating universal symbols for dietary preferences, smart assistant integration, and a recommendation system based on user preferences. Additionally, considering adding reviews for supermarket snacks could further broaden the app's appeal.
role and contributions
As a UX/UI Designer, Prototyper, and Researcher, I played a pivotal role in shaping the design and functionality of Smacks! My contributions included user research, prototyping, and usability testing, ensuring the app met user needs and expectations.
conclusion
Smacks! represents the culmination of extensive research and iterative design, placing the user experience at its core. With a focus on continuous improvement and innovation, Smacks! is poised to redefine the food review landscape.