TasteBud
Connecting students through vibrant recipes and community, reducing food waste with a touch of cultural diversity.
User Research, UI/UX Design, IxD Design, Product Design, Design System
Fall 2023 ( 2 months )
Nicole, Redwana, Beam
Figma, Miro, Adobe Illustrator, AfterEffects, Photoshop
TasteBud is a community-driven app that helps college students reduce food waste and manage meal planning through a community-focused platform that streamlines sharing, tracking, and recipe generation.
With TasteBud, foster community engagement while reducing food waste and simplifying sharing.
Managing ingredients and meal planning in a shared college dorm kitchen often leads to significant food waste.
During my first two years of college, living in an apartment-style dorm with shared kitchens, I noticed significant food waste. We established a routine to clean out our fridge every 15 days, often discarding items because they were hidden at the back of the fridge or I couldn’t figure out what to cook with them. This experience highlighted the challenge of managing ingredients and meal planning effectively.
Grocery Management
Food items were often discarded because they were hidden at the back of the fridge or forgotten, leading to unnecessary waste.
Leftover Utilization
Leftovers from meals were frequently wasted due to lack of planning or difficulty incorporating them into future meals.
We did some general research online and came across some startling statistics.
The NRDC reports that college students waste around 142 pounds of food per person annually, adding significantly to overall food waste.
The USDA estimates that 30-40% of U.S. food is wasted, including a significant portion from shared living situations like college apartments.
The Food Waste Reduction Alliance found that college students waste about 40% of the food they cook, mainly due to large portions and forgotten leftovers.
We conducted interviews with college students to understand their food consumption habits and patterns.
Difficulty Managing Ingredients and Leftover
College students struggle with keeping track of ingredients and leftovers, leading to waste due to forgotten or expired items.
Uncertainty About What to Cook
Students frequently spend a lot of time figuring out what to prepare, leading to frustration and indecision, which can result in wasted food and missed meals.
Limited Access to Cultural Ingredients and Recipes
Finding specific cultural ingredients and recipes can be challenging, making it difficult to replicate or try new cuisines seen on social media.
Before starting the design phase, we analyzed three food management apps to understand how they addressed these issues.
Based on our research, we developed a persona to represent our target users, guiding the design and functionality of the app.
Yigit is a 22-year-old international student living in a shared apartment with three other students. Adjusting to life away from home, he finds it challenging to manage food and meal planning in a new environment. Yigit enjoys cooking but often feels overwhelmed by the variety of ingredients and recipes. He misses his home cuisine and struggles to cook meals that remind him of his culture. The experience of managing shared kitchen space with others adds to his stress.
Introducing TasteBud, where we tackle food waste by building community and embracing diverse cultures among college students.
To address these issues, we developed four key features.
Expiry Tracking & Recipe Generation
Monitor grocery expiration and get recipes based on leftover ingredients.
Community
Interaction
Post food offerings and host events like potlucks; view and request ingredients from other users.
Recipe
Sharing
Share your recipes with friends and request ingredients from others.
Cultural
Ingredients
Locate nearby stores and online sources for purchasing cultural ingredients.
Based on the key features we mapped out where the main categories & subcategories should be located on the app & how they need to be connected.
In the early visual design phase, I turned research and ideas into design prototypes, focusing on layout, colors, and typography to establish a clear visual direction.
After completing the initial visual design, I conducted user testing and identified a few areas for improvement. I made adjustments based on this feedback to refine the user experience.
Track the expiration dates of ingredients to manage your kitchen effectively, and generate recipe suggestions based on the ingredients you have. Use up items before they expire and create meals from what’s on hand.
Share leftovers, request ingredients, and host or join events. Foster connections with friends and celebrate cultural diversity through food-related activities.
Browse curated recipes from the web and those shared by friends. Find new meal ideas and engage with your community through shared culinary experiences.
Locate nearby stores and online sources for unique cultural ingredients. Discover and purchase ingredients to enrich your cooking with diverse flavors.
The style sheet defines the visual language of the app, including color schemes, typography, and component styles, ensuring a consistent and cohesive design across all interfaces.
Tight Deadlines, Big Lessons
This was my first time handling a full design cycle, including research and branding, on such a tight schedule. Despite the pressure, it was an invaluable learning experience.
User Engagement and Testing
I would love to engage more with users in future projects. Conducting usability testing and journey mapping would have provided stronger insights and helped refine the design further.
Expanding the Scope
I see potential to broaden the project. I focused heavily on the main feature but would love to give equal attention to other aspects, ensuring they’re integral to the experience, not just afterthoughts.
Exploring Beyond the Obvious
The problem seemed straightforward, but I realize that exploring more ambiguous spaces could lead to innovative solutions. I’d like to tackle this with a broader approach and deeper research.
