background
For my thesis project, I chose to explore the intersection of cuisine, culture, and climate by positing the question: how do cuisines develop over time based on geography and sociocultural factors? To narrow the scope, I focused on Chinese cuisines due to rich diversity across regions and climates.
research
During my initial research, I realized that there is no central, engaging platform for users to explore the richness of global cuisines. Sites like TasteAtlas provide extensive information, but lack meaningful interaction beyond letting users rate dishes and cuisines. This led me to explore a solution that would make food exploration educational, interactive, and user-friendly.
personas
I created two personas to guide my user experience.
problem statement
Existing recipe platforms either focus on convenience or cultural information, but users need an experience that combines both. Users need a way to explore global cuisines that combines cultural learning with everyday usability.
goals
Help users discover unique recipes from around the world.
Connect dishes and cuisines to their cultural and climatic origins.
Introduce users to new ingredients and how to use them.
Make global cooking accessible to everyday users.
Expand users' culinary horizons.
information architecture
I mapped key features based on user needs and goals.
wireframes
I prioritized a minimal layout to emphasize photos, avoiding cognitive overload for the user.
design
My initial design used pixel art and bright colors for a retro-inspired look. After testing with peers, I received feedback that it felt too childish.
So for my final design, I opted for a monochromatic design with a red accent colour, monospace headers for clarity, and removed the borders from photographs for a cleaner look. I abandoned the pixel art idea in favour of transparent images.
solution
The final product, Dished, is a mobile app that helps users explore food on a meaningful level with seamless navigation between cuisines, dishes, ingredients, regions, and climates to maximize discovery. Dished helps users:
Discover new dishes and cuisines based on their tastes.
Learn the history and cultural context of what they consume.
Find recipes using existing pantry items.
Generate grocery lists for easy cooking.
lessons learned
Dished was a great example in how prioritizing research helped me create a better-informed final product. In the beginning, I had a few issues with the practicality of Dished but constant feedback helped me reiterate both the design and user experience of the app for a stronger end result.
works
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