product design
Role
Product Designer
UX Researcher
team
Solo Project
Product
Conceptual Design
time
2020 Q4
During the pandemic, when dining out was not an option. I embarked on a passion project called 'Oh Food!' to address the challenges of cooking at home. Like many, I grappled with effectively storing fresh produce and determining its edibility after extended periods. This spurred the creation of a tool to effortlessly recognize the freshness of produce, catering to the newfound demand for home cooking.
Amidst the pandemic, managing fresh produce became a daily challenge. The short storage time meant that every trip to the grocery store was a gamble, with fruits and vegetables often spoiling before they could be used. This not only led to wasted food but also to financial losses and a sense of guilt over contributing to food waste.
To create a tool that provides estimated freshness and storage guidance, organizing and reminding users to consume food at its peak freshness. This tool aims to cultivate healthy eating habits and reduce food waste.
reasons
As the pandemic forced more people to work from home, daily cooking and eating habits changed dramatically. With individuals cooking at home almost every day and stocking up on groceries more than usual, managing fresh produce became increasingly challenging. This new routine made it difficult to consume all fresh produce at its peak, leading to a rise in unintentional food waste.
opportunities
This tool is ideal for newcomers to cooking, especially when it comes to shopping for fresh produce, which can be tricky for those with less experience. Additionally, it can have a positive impact on the environment by encouraging people to choose fresh produce over processed foods.
I conducted a survey with 55 individuals who expressed an intention to consume more fresh produce or cook more frequently. Additionally, I conducted in-depth interviews with 10 survey participants to gather further insights.
82%
78%
cooks at home at least 4 times per week.
75%
cooks small portion (for one or two people).
Currently, smartphone cameras lack the ability to detect the ripeness, freshness, or shelf-life of food. However, ongoing research shows promise in addressing this limitation. ImpactVision, for example, is developing hyperspectral imaging technology that may enable smartphones to determine food freshness. For the purposes of this case study, we will assume the functionality of this technology.
"Hyperspectral imaging is coming to a smartphone near you soon. When this time comes, you will be able to walk into a supermarket, snap an image of an avocado and find out how many days until it's ripe. Food quality will be assessed in real-time as hyperspectral imaging enables us to see beyond the borders of human vision. "
https://www.impactvi.com
Disclaimer:
This case study is unrelated to any organization. The research only proves the possibilities of this design concept.
A handwriting font is utilized for headlines to inject a sense of playfulness and emphasis into the food management routine.
For the main body text, a clean sans-serif font was chosen for its readability and simplicity. This choice provides a neat contrast to the handwritten headlines, ensuring the overall text remains easily readable.
Designing based on motivations, rather than creating flows for specific scenarios or personas, offers greater flexibility to the overall experience. This approach focuses on delivering a tool that helps users achieve their goals with minimal constraints and limitations.
While this project began as an MVP to organize users' fresh produce inventory, it holds significant potential for further development. Future iterations could include: