CookEase
Your go-to-destination for curated recipe boxes!
Problem
Today, cooking has become a necessary skill for all, especially for working professionals who don’t live with their families. And those who want to learn cooking find it very complex as they need to know the recipe and spend time getting the right ingredients. While there is YouTube to find recipes and delivery apps to get you the essentials that you need, the whole process still requires a good amount of effort. There is still scope to simplify this experience for cooking enthusiasts.
My Task
Design an innovative app where you can effortlessly order curated recipe boxes with ingredients and expert recipes. No more grocery store runs or complex instructions. Perfect for busy professionals and cooking novices alike. Enjoy homemade meals hassle-free.
Solutions
An app where users can directly buy recipe boxes from various categories of food cuisine. Each box features pre-defined ingredients and a user-friendly recipe instruction, ensuring a simplified cooking journey. Satisfy your cravings by effortlessly placing orders for your favourite dishes, with the convenience of doorstep delivery.
Design Process
Used the Design Thinking approach for solving this problem. To practice design thinking I followed the below process.
Understand
To kickstart the project effectively, our primary focus is on comprehending the existing challenges and devising innovative solutions. We aim to craft a robust design strategy and a viable business model, laying the foundation for successful execution.
Objective:
This project aims to seamlessly connect the realms of cooking and ingredient acquisition. The app facilitates direct purchases of recipe boxes containing pre-defined, ready-to-cook ingredients. Our focus is to empower users to select their preferred dishes from a diverse range of cuisines.
Target Audience:
Busy Working Professionals
Students residing away from home
Housewives
Cooking Enthusiasts
User Research Insigts
At the discovery phase of my project, I conducted few user interviews to understand better the needs, behaviour and motivations of the users. Couple of primary user group I identified through my research was bachelors who frequently orders food from outside and have passion for cooking but find it difficult to sort the ingredients and buy from shops.
Working professionals often struggle with limited time for meal preparation, lack of energy after a long day at work, and the need to balance cooking with other responsibilities. Additionally, they find it challenging to plan meals, shop for ingredients, and follow recipes accurately.
Individuals typically source recipes from a variety of sources, including cookbooks, online platforms like blogs and recipe websites, and social media. They may also rely on recommendations from friends and family. Challenges in this process include finding recipes that suit dietary preferences or restrictions, deciphering complex instructions, and ensuring availability of ingredients.
Common barriers include time constraints, lack of confidence in cooking skills, and perceived difficulty in following recipes. Additionally, they struggle with meal planning and finding inspiration for new dishes.
Individuals look for recipe-related apps or delivery services that offer convenience, variety, and reliability. Key features are user-friendly interfaces, customisable preferences (such as dietary restrictions) clear and concise recipes, ingredient delivery options, and customer reviews or ratings.
Unfamiliarity with cooking techniques or ingredients, time constraints, and the need to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. Simplifying the cooking experience can involve providing step-by-step guidance, offering pre-measured ingredients, and incorporating time-saving tips and tricks.
User Persona
Analyse
Here are two potential business models for the app:
Food Ordering Model: Users can order recipe boxes directly through the app, similar to other food ordering or e-commerce platforms. They can browse through various cuisines, select their desired recipes, and have the pre-defined ingredients delivered to their doorstep.
Subscription Model: Users have the option to subscribe to the service, receiving recipe boxes on a regular basis. By collecting user preferences, including likes, dislikes, and allergies(if any), the app tailors the recipe boxes to meet individual dietary needs. Boxes are delivered according to the user's chosen days and times, ensuring a convenient and personalised cooking experience.
Wireframes
User Interface Design
Conclusion
Through this case study, I realized that while cooking is an essential skill for modern professionals, the current process of learning and preparing meals remains cumbersome and time-consuming. Despite the availability of resources like YouTube for recipes and delivery apps for ingredients, the fragmented experience presents challenges for users, especially those with busy schedules or limited culinary knowledge.
My exploration into this problem highlighted the need for a more integrated and streamlined solution that simplifies the entire cooking journey-from discovering recipes to acquiring ingredients and preparing meals. This understanding has driven my design decisions to focus on creating a more cohesive and user-friendly experience that reduces friction and makes cooking more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.