WHAT I LEARNED-

Over the course of the Flavor Flux project, I gained experience with a design process that was much more researchdriven than a typical graphic design approach. obtained a detailed understanding of the target audience by implementing a user screener survey to identify key users and conducting interviews to uncover their needs and emotions throughout the restaurant discovery journey. Having always gravitated toward a research-driven creative process, I recognized the value of interacting with the target audience before beginning the design phase.

Synthesizing qualitative research findings through empathy mapping, user stories, and thematic analysis helped me develop a thorough understanding of user needs and truly empathize with the users. This detailed insight provided a blueprint for the product development process, starting with user flows and a site map during the information architecture stage, then evolving into thumbnail sketches and wireframes in the low-fidelity design stage. While my experience as a graphic designer has given me extensive practice with thumbnail sketching and low-fidelity mockups, I had no prior experience developing functional prototypes. Adding this skill to my creative toolbox was incredibly exciting.

WHAT IT SOLVED

Developing the Flavor Flux app solved the root problem of the restaurant discovery process by enabling users to identify restaurants with the flavors they craved and any potential food allergies users might have, without having to carefully analyze the menus of each dining option. By creating flavor and allergy profiling, all search queries were automatically filtered based on these preferences, providing targeted, user-centered suggestions that significantly reduced the effects of choice overload.

VIEW FLAVOR FLUX CASE STUDY >