SnackEase
Elevate Your Snacking Experience, One Bite at a Time.
SnackEase is a mobile app designed to simplify the snack-ordering experience at movie theaters. This project aimed to create an intuitive and efficient app that would revolutionize how moviegoers order snacks, making it more convenient, enjoyable, and tailored to individual preferences.
Date
August 2023 - September 2023
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team
Kimberly Wang
Deliverables
User Research
User Persona
User Journey Map
Wireframes
Prototypes
High-Fidelity Mockups
Style Guide
{ The Problem }
The problem SnackEase aimed to solve was the inconvenience and frustration experienced by moviegoers when ordering snacks at the theater. By providing a user-friendly app for pre-ordering snacks, it sought to streamline the ordering process, reduce waiting times, and enhance the overall movie-watching experience.
{ Project Goal }
The goal of the SnackEase project was to create an intuitive and efficient mobile app that would revolutionize the way moviegoers order snacks at theaters. By offering customizable snack options, a family-friendly section, and a hassle-free checkout. The focus was on convenience, enjoyment, and personalization, catering to each individual's preferences without the need for a loyalty program.
{ User Research }
In my user research, I used a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to understand moviegoers' needs when ordering snacks. Initially, I made assumptions, expecting users to prioritize convenience, snack variety, and efficient checkout. However, surveys, interviews, and usability testing revealed that family-oriented users valued age-appropriate content and easy order management. These findings challenged some of my assumptions, leading me to create a dedicated family-friendly section in the app and refine the user interface to accommodate different preferences. The research validated some assumptions while uncovering unexpected insights, resulting in a more user-centric and inclusive SnackEase app.
Pain Points
Time
Long waiting times at the theater's snack counter, lead to potential delays in catching the movie.
Usability
Difficulty finding kid-friendly snacks and complicated app navigation.
Security
Technical glitches, insecure payment options, and unclear communication during the ordering process.
{ Target Audience }
Our target audience consisted of movie enthusiasts of all ages who frequent theaters. We sought to accommodate diverse preferences, dietary restrictions, and moviegoing habits.
{ Personas }
{ User Journey Map }
A user journey map for Emily Davis was created based on the available information and it is presented as follows.
Goal: Pre-order snacks for a smoother and enjoyable movie experience.
{ Paper Wireframes }
Taking the time to draft iterations of each screen of the app on paper ensured that the elements that made it to digital wireframes would be well-suited to address user pain points. I prioritized a quick and easy browsing process for the home screen to help users save time.
{ Digital Wireframes }
As the initial design phase continued, I made sure to base screen designs on feedback and findings from the user research.
Ensuring easy access to the product page was a primary user requirement to focus on in the designs, alongside optimizing the app for compatibility with assistive technologies.
{ Low-Fidelity Prototype }
The low-fidelity prototype connected the primary user flow of customizing and ordering snacks, so the prototype could be used in a usability study with users.
View the SnackEase low-fidelity prototype.
{ Usability Study - Findings }
Round 1 findings
Users express satisfaction with the speed of order processing.
Users find it convenient to save favorite orders.
Find it hard to navigate back after choosing the product page.
Round 2 findings
Concerned about the availability of snacks that cater to her dietary restrictions.
Nice to have the price showing when adding the product to the cart.
Users are concerned about accidentally deleting products from the cart too quickly.
{ Mockups }
Initially, users encountered difficulties when attempting to navigate back after selecting a product. Following the usability studies, I enhanced the navigation flow to make it more user-friendly. Additionally, I addressed concerns regarding dietary restrictions by incorporating icons to represent product suitability. This visual approach allows users to quickly identify snacks that align with their dietary preferences, enhancing their overall browsing experience.
Users expressed concerns about accidentally deleting products from the cart too quickly. To address this, I implemented a 'Confirm Delete' popup, ensuring that users have an extra step to prevent unintentional removal of items from their cart. This enhancement enhances user confidence and prevents accidental deletions.
{ High-Fidelity Prototypes }
The final high-fidelity prototype streamlined user flows, improving the journey from app entry to order completion. It successfully accommodated user preferences for both pickup and delivery options, along with enhanced customization features.
View the SnackEase high-fidelity prototype.
{ Accessibility Considerations }
Provided access to users who are vision impaired through adding alt text to images for screen readers.
Used icons to help make navigation easier.
Incorporated icons to simulate seating arrangements, facilitating user navigation and seat selection.
{ Style Guide }
{ Final Deliverables }
{ Takeaways }
Impact
The app demonstrates a strong commitment to catering to users' snacking preferences and convenience, leading to a positive user perception.
One quote from peer feedback:
“I found SnackEase to be incredibly convenient and versatile for satisfying my snack cravings. This app has definitely become my go-to choice for quick and delightful snacks at the movies.”
What I learned
In the process of developing SnackEase, I gained valuable insights into the iterative nature of app design. Usability studies and user feedback played a pivotal role in shaping each iteration, emphasizing the importance of user-centered design principles in creating a seamless snacking experience for moviegoers.
{ Next Steps }
Conduct another round of usability studies to validate whether the pain points users experienced have been effectively addressed.
Conduct more user research to determine any new areas of need.