Qreel
Designing a mobile app to connect food enthusiasts through shared dining experiences, from concept to prototype.
Role
UX/UI Design Intern
Industry
Food & Beverage
Duration
3 months

Stage 1. Market research and analysis
Initiated the project with comprehensive market research, analyzing competitors and identifying gaps in the social dining app market. Conducted surveys and focus groups with potential users to understand their needs, preferences, and pain points regarding dining out and socializing.
Synthesized research findings to develop a clear value proposition for the app, focusing on unique features such as group dining options, personalized restaurant recommendations, and event planning capabilities.
Stage 2. Concept development and user flow design
Led the conceptualization phase, brainstorming with the design team to generate innovative ideas that align with user needs and project goals. Developed user personas and scenarios to guide the design process and ensure a user-centered approach.
Mapped out user flows for key app functionalities, including account creation, restaurant browsing, event creation, and social interactions. Prioritized simplicity and intuitiveness in the navigation structure to enhance user engagement.
Stage 3. UI design and prototyping
Created detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes using Adobe XD, focusing on crafting an inviting and user-friendly interface. Selected a warm and inviting color scheme and typography that reflects the app's social and culinary focus.
Developed high-fidelity prototypes that showcased the app's core features, including a dynamic home feed, detailed restaurant profiles, and an integrated chat system for planning dining events. Conducted iterative design reviews with the team to refine the prototypes.

74%
of divorced couples have communication issues
68%
68% of kids experience emotional pain after divorce

Complex Info Entry Hinders Efficiency
Generating a topic related to children requires filling out a substantial amount of information

Miscommunication due to improper expression
The emotional tone of messages can be misinterpreted, leading to defensiveness and escalation

AI Capabilities Confined to Chat Interface Only
AI access is limited to the chat interface, restricting instant information queries
40%
is the percentage of mistakes made by users while performing the main task
100%
of people cannot complete tasks without prompts
150%
of the expected time was taken by users to complete the main task
60%
of users are satisfied with the main functionality

User needs and pain points
Understand users's needs in scheduling, communication, and collaboration, along with key challenges in similar apps.

User experience feedback
Collect user evaluations of the app's interface, interaction flow, and overall experience to identify areas for improvement

Feature prioritization
Gather user insights on KidsFirst's existing features to inform future development, prioritize enhancements.

Perceptions of competing products
Accumulate user opinions other apps and reasons for their choices to inform KidsFirst's unique design


















































Emotional responses
72% of people exhibit emotional reactions during communication


















































Parenting stress
64% of people feel that their parenting responsibilities are overwhelming


















































Response pressure
67% of mistakes made by users while performing the main task

"I want to care for my kids, but i no longer want to interact with the other parent."
87% of the separated parents share the same sentiment.

Lisa Thompson

"I hope we can communicate better for our child's stability."
Lisa Thompson, 35, is a marketing manager recently divorced, sharing custody of her 8-year-old daughter, Emma.
GOALS
Clearly communicate with ex-husband about daughter's needs and schedule
Effectively manage son's activities and responsibilities
Receive personalized reminders and updates
FRASTRATIONS
Lack of effective communication with her ex-husband on important decisions.
Difficulty coordinating Emma's schedule and activities
Anxiety about how to provide kid with a stable environment
Mark Johnson

“My kids come first, and I'll do whatever it takes to support them.”
Mark is an IT consultant who co-parents his two children, aged 10 and 12, with his ex-partner, focusing on stability and minimizing conflicts.
GOALS
Synchronize calendars to track children's activities and important dates
Communicate directly with ex-partner about children's needs within the app
Reduce conflict when communicating with partner
FRASTRATIONS
Struggles to keep track of his two children's different schedules and activities.
Experiences challenges in communication with his ex-partner.
Struggles to coordinate kids' activities with a busy schedule

Communication is a key challenge for divorced families
Misleading language is a common communication barrier for divorced families, which can lead to further misunderstandings and distrust.

Co-parenting tasks often present challenges for divorced parents
Shared responsibilities, such as scheduling, financial contributions, and decision-making, often present challenges for divorced parents.

Flexible shared calendars are essential for divorced parents
Divorced parents desire the ability to flexibly share and coordinate schedules related to their children.
Requiring users to input too much information
More manual input increases error risk.
EXISTING TOPIC INITIATING PAGE

Lack of flexibility to skip irrelevant options
Consolidating all information onto a single page increases cognitive load for users.


BEFORE

AFTER





Well-defined functional areas
The homepage is clearly structured with three main sections: "What to do," "Upcoming Events," and a bottom navigation bar, allowing users to easily locate the required functions.

Employing default values and autofill
By minimizing the information required from users upfront, the burden of form completion is reduced, thus encouraging topic initiation and communication.

Multi-step forms
Child-related information, including scheduling, location, and specific details, is presented in a step-by-step format to prevent information and reduce user stress.

Using AI for language polishing
This feature is particularly useful for divorced families, as it helps users express themselves more politely and accurately when dealing with potentially sensitive topics.


BEFORE

AFTER








Concise & effective topic management
Tasks are organized by date and time for easy tracking and schedule management. "✔ Done" marks show task completion status, allowing users to monitor progress.

Agreement Options, Free to Choose
Following agreement, the initiator will offer a selection of times, locations, etc., enabling easy selection, faster decisions, and clear communication.

Quick Overview, Rapid Replies
Key information is highlighted with formatting, color, and labels (e.g., "High Priority"). "Agree/Disagree" buttons enable quick responses to health check-ups.

Instant Confirmation & Archiving
When the recipient confirms agreement, the sender is immediately notified, easing any concerns about the response, and the related topic is properly archived for future reference.



BEFORE

AFTER






Provide ready-to-use templates
Templates are designed to address common situations, like taking kids to the doctor, throwing birthday parties, planning holidays, and discussing educational plans.

Existing templates are editable
Users can choose a template and adapt it to their child's specific circumstances, including modifying pick-up/drop-off times and locations, and adding any special notes.

One-click task assignment
For co-parents, rapid task assignment and instant notifications streamline communication and facilitate quicker agreements on shared responsibilities.

Syncs with your calendar
By syncing task assignments with calendars, both parties can view health check-up details and times and set reminders, preventing missed appointments.
















Reflections
This project was an invaluable opportunity to apply UX/UI design principles in a real-world setting, contributing to a product that promotes social connectivity and culinary exploration. It challenged me to think creatively about how to meet user needs and preferences, enhancing my skills in research, design, and collaboration. The experience underscored the importance of user feedback in the design process and the impact of thoughtful design on user engagement and satisfaction.
Other projects

KidsFirst
Designing a mobile app for divorced parents to co-manage communication and children's tasks.

MeowMate
Designing a mobile app to connect food enthusiasts through shared dining experiences, from concept to prototype.

BetterMe
Elevating the user experience of a renowned fitness tracker app through a strategic.
Copyright 2024 by Giselle Zhang