.png)
A chance meeting on a plane sparked this project idea. Chatting with a vegan passenger, we discussed a Yelp-like platform for their community. Seeing it as a thrilling challenge, I saw a chance to tackle a big challenge and gain valuable experience for my first project.
Vegans know the struggle: finding restaurants that truly cater to their lifestyle. Existing apps might say they're "vegan-friendly," but options can be slim, leaving you frustrated. Honestly, most vegans rely on whispers (word-of-mouth recommendations) to find reliable spots.
Holus steps in to solve this by providing a seamless and trustworthy platform for vegans to discover and enjoy restaurants that cater to their dietary needs, as current options are either inadequate or require significant effort to utilize.
To kick things off, I figured I needed to get a better handle on the problem. So, I dove into some initial research to gauge whether there was a genuine need for this platform.
I pondered: Do vegans actually crave something like this? And is there a big enough audience to make it worthwhile? As I delved into the research, it became clear that veganism is on the rise, with more and more folks embracing the lifestyle.
Seeing a gap in the market, I analyzed existing platforms. They all had their strengths, but none nailed it for vegans. Frustrated users dealt with both pros and cons. So, the strategy was to develop a standalone product, providing the freedom to select the best features without the drawbacks.
Additionally, I observed user confusion when vegan and veg-friendly options were conflated, leading to disappointment. To keep things clear and avoid disappointment, Holus focuses solely on verified vegan restaurants.
Excited to explore qualitative data alongside our statistics, I spoke with three vegans and one person unable to go vegan due to health reasons. I then used the notes to create an affinity map, revealing recurring themes and user behavior patterns.
I identified 3 key challenges users faced
Therefore, Holus must:
One hurdle during the ideation phase was deciding between a website and an app. Building both seemed time-consuming, so I consulted my interviewees. Three out of four expressed a preference for a website due to its larger screen, which bolstered my confidence in decision-making.
After outlining the user flow for Holus to ensure an intuitive design, I jumped into sketching rough drafts on paper. Shortly after, I shared these initial designs with three additional vegans and their feedback indicated the design allowed for quick and easy usability, but it was missing elements of trust and community.
This spurred further development, leading to the addition of another feature for social interaction.
Inspired by RateMyProfessors.com's tagging system, I envisioned incorporating a similar feature in Holus. This would equip users with quick restaurant summaries, streamlining decision-making and potentially opening the door for AI-powered recommendations.
Furthermore, I explored sustainable options for Holus, like a newsletter promoting restaurants, offering discounts, featuring vegan products, and showcasing blog content. This approach not only enhances user experience but also fosters community engagement and opens revenue streams through targeted advertising.
Through data-driven surveys and extensive user testing, we achieved a remarkable 77% increase in user satisfaction and an impressive 80% trust rating, affirming the effectiveness of our design in enhancing user experience and reliability for Holus. Our final iteration not only resolved identified pain points but also provided innovative solutions, even addressing non-vegan concerns, ensuring a comprehensive and satisfying user experience.
While striving for perfection is admirable, I've come to appreciate the importance of continuous improvement. Reflecting on the process, time management emerged as a key takeaway for future design projects. This means prioritizing user needs by focusing on essential components that solve their core problems. Avoiding unnecessary complexities, like overly intricate filters that didn't serve the project's purpose, will be key moving forward.
Thanks for taking a ride through my design journey! :)
