Improving Lives Through Allergy Awareness Design

Digital solution designed to help people with allergies find allergy-friendly restaurants

Role

UX/UI Designer

Duration

Sep - Dec 2022

Context

The Problem

People with food allergies often face challenges when trying to find restaurants that can accommodate their conditions , leading to high levels of anxiety and frustration. Additionally, the burden of ensuring a safe dining environment frequently falls solely on them, transforming an enjoyable situation into an overwhelming task.

The Solution

Developing an application that would enable people with allergies to easily discover restaurants that cater to their specific needs , offering access to customized menus and reviews from others with similar dietary needs.

Research

Quantitative Research

In the initial phase of our exploration, we engaged 26 participants , all of whom either have food allergies or are closely acquainted with someone who does. They provided valuable responses to critical questions, offering insights and sharing their personal experiences with dining out.

Click on the images to expand it!

Quantitative research intro text explaining the survey purpose and the project

41.1% of participants said they dine out or order food a few times a month. 27.6% said they do it a few days a week and other 27.6% said they do it only on occasion. 3.7% said they never dine out or order food.

48.3% of participants said they do online research before going to a restaurant. 34.5% said they only eat at familiar restaurants. 27.6% said they don't take any precautions before dining out and just show up. 10.2% said they call the restaurant and ask questions regarding allergies. And 3.4% only eat familiar dishes.

79.3% of participants said price is the most important things they consider when dining out. 65.4% said their allergy concerns are the most important thing. 44.8% said it's convenience. 13.8% said it's time. 10.2% said it's quality. And 3.4% said it's the restaurant atmosphere the most important thing.

User Flow

As an app for quick use, prioritizing simplicity and efficiency was the main goal. By crafting an intuitive and straightforward flow, users can easily find relevant information without unnecessary complexities.

Design

Wireframes

Focusing on flow agility , the wireframes present interface elements designed to accelerate the input of information, so users can get the most appropriate restaurant listing based on their needs.

Usability Testing 01

In-lab usability tests were conducted with 8 participants who either have food allergies or are closely acquainted with someone who does.

To help participants better visualize the final product, I created mid-fidelity prototypes by incorporating images for restaurants and dishes, as well as colour and copy.

For the filtering process, participants informed they need to know what fields are mandatory before clicking on "Explore". To make this more clear, I added an asterisk on the mandatory fields and made the "Explore" button disabled until they fill out the mandatory fields.

For the restaurant's info section, participants wanted to see more information about the restaurant, such as address, contact info and a link tot heir website. Also, they would like to have buttons to make a reservation, order online and get directions.

For the restaurant's menu section, participants would like to have buttons to make a reservation and order online. Also, they expressed the need to see more information about each dish.

For the restaurant's review section, participants would like to see the number of reviews the restaurant has to understand its popularity

2nd Iteration

Following the initial round of usability testing, the second iteration addresses identified pain points and enhances overall usability. This iteration involves optimizing elements and adding new interactions to align more closely with user expectations and preferences.

Second iteration displaying more screens and the additional information identified on the usability testing

Usability Testing 02

The second round of usability testing focused on optimizing the experience . Participants were prompted to quickly locate a safe restaurant for their allergies and share their thoughts.

As a result, they expressed interest in saving their preferences , eliminating the need to input allergy information each time they use the app.