Story

Foodie is a mobile app that helps seniors find the restaurant they want. The features of Foodie include a recommendation list, restaurant information, reserving a table as well as upcoming party reminders.

The UX case presents the process of reserving a table based on user’s scenario. I demonstrate an easier and user friendly approach to engage users.

UX Case | Mobile Design

Challenge

How to make reservation easier and accessible for seniors?

Design Research

Using specific research methods, such as Benchmark Analysis and PACT Analysis, I was able to determine the basic ‘pain-points’ of seniors. The results of the analysis helps me create a persona which presents the character of the main users.

Competitor Product Analysis

After identifying the target audience, I analyzed similar mobile apps such as OpenTable and HostMe. The results were that these types of applications could shorten the reservation process, but lacked the user-friendliness for seniors. Seniors usually have a lack of technology skills when compared to other groups of people. So the process has to be very simple in order to keep them from receiving an information overload.

Design Goals

Clear

Build a better architecture system for seniors to make this app more user-friendly and understandable.

Simple

Foodie simplifys the steps needed to make a reservation. The way this is done is through splitting complicated operations into smaller steps.

Repetition

Repeat contents to remind users to check key information, therefore reducing the potential risks of error.

Ideation + Validation

After doing the design research, I made my initial concept. Firstly, I made high-fidelity wireframes, which would help me know each step users would take on the path of using this app.

Next, I tested my idea with The Sheridan Center of Elder Research to understand the sustainability and viability of my app idea.

User Testing

Testing was focused on the “reserving a table” process, which is the key function of the service. All of the participants were given a set of tasks to perform in order to help me understand how real users interact with the service.

Critical Analysis & Feedback

After user testing, there were a few areas of attention I felt I needed to address:

Finding the “Back” button was difficult to find at first glance.

Saving the information of users before going to the next step was not necessary and caused unneeded complications.

The time selector was not a good way to choose a time, since you needed to tap on average 4 to 6 times in order to get the time you wanted.

Final Prototype

After receiving the feedback from users, I decided this time during the second round wireframe to find a smarter and more automatic design capability for the reserve a table function. I highlighted the “Back” button to make it more visible, changed the form of the time selector and used a set of diverse micro-interactions to refine the prototype.

The Restaurant Page

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Quick Reserved Feature

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Select a Date Page

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Select a Time Page

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The Special Requests Page

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The end.

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