Cooking has become more focused on convenience than the creativity and satisfaction it brings. Many individuals seek a community where they can exchange knowledge and experiences in cooking, particularly those that highlight traditions and techniques that were handed down. Fortunately, the Last Course app offers a platform for chefs and home cooks to work together, hone their abilities, and flourish as cooks, all while experiencing a sense of community.
problem
Cooking apps have become increasingly popular among home cooks and food enthusiasts, providing them with an easy and convenient way to access a variety of recipes and culinary knowledge. However, there are some common problems associated with existing chef apps. These contain limited personalization options, lack of community engagement, and reliance on calorie counting and diet fads instead of emphasizing the art and techniques of cooking.
problem statement
How might we create a resource that allows chefs and home cooks of all levels to share, teach, and experiment with recipes while building a community that values the art of cooking?
Develop an interface that is easy for chefs and home cooks to use, where they can share recipes, cooking techniques, and tips with each other.
To enhance user communication, it is recommended to include features like video tutorials, and recipe sharing.
Focus on building a community that values traditional cooking techniques and generational knowledge over diet fads and calorie counting.
Provide users with a platform to experiment with new recipes and cooking techniques while encouraging them to share their creations.
Collaborate with nearby grocery stores, markets, and specialty food stores to boost the use of locally grown ingredients and assist small businesses
concept & solution
target audience
These people are new to cooking or enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes at home. They may seek inspiration, guidance, and a community to share their experiences.
home cook
chef
People looking for basic or complex recipes and tips to help them improve their skills.
partners
Partnering with popular food bloggers, grocery stores, and cooking influencers can also help reach the target audience.
research
market analysis
competitors
interviews chef
quote
"I started barbecuing before there was the Internet. It was like pulling teeth to get anyone to get here any information at all. Even if they shared a recipe I wouldn't use it anyway, because it wouldn't be mine. But in my opinion, what would be nice is especially for aspiring young chefs, to have those tools to say, well, this is what the ingredients are used."
key takeaways
users start research for recipe with Google
users are open to sharing recipes
users process to creating/ reiterating a recipe is the similar chef to chef
not every chef is willing or has time to teach
storing recipes needs to be streamline & simple
resources and articles are important for learning
would be willing to teach with advertisement of restaurant
trends & patterns
start research for recipe with Google
chefs are open to sharing recipes
chefs follow similar process to creating there own recipe
recipes do not alway get passed on due to them being written down or shared
chefs will put there own flair to recipes
interviews home cook
quotes
"I really would like to get better about actually recording, increments, process."
"Recipes from our family are written down but not exact. We will use whatever is around."
key takeaways
start research for recipe with Google
users are open to sharing recipes
family recipes are important
all levels of experience
knowledge and skill set is different between each user
some users have more knowledge in certain areas of cooking
trends & patterns
start research for recipe with Google
compares multiple websites
loss of information and family recipes due to lack of writing down or sharing
users tend to have a family that cooks as well
recipes change generationally
home cooks like the discovery process of cooking
personas
ideation
competitors
The flow charts mapped two possible routes chefs and home cooks can take when using the app.
flow charts
chef
home cook
journey maps
We have created two journey maps to guide both chefs and home cooks through the process of developing a new recipe. The first map is for chefs who will not be using the Last Course app, while the second one is for home cooks who will use the app and consider possible scenarios. These journey maps were developed by analyzing the actions and emotions of both types of users.
An affinity map is a visual tool that groups similar ideas and insights from user research and interviews into related themes or categories. This helped me analyze qualitative data, identify patterns and trends, and develop design solutions that meet user needs and preferences.
affinity map
I made a cooking app for cooks to connect, share recipes, and learn cooking techniques. The app focuses on tradition and community, not diets. It's user-friendly and visually appealing, intending to promote cooking and preserve traditions for the future.
Originally my idea was to focus solely on connecting a community of chefs from Anthony Bourdain's point of view. Later my inspiration grew from watching Next Level Chef, where they incorporate home cooks, influencers, and all cooks from different levels.
concept
Recipe Search, Discovery, & Organization
Cooking Instructions
Share & Suggest - track modifications of recipe
Recipe & Ingredient Generator Click and order
Tutorials on cooking techniques
Virtual Cooking
Voice command with Siri to add notes to cookbook
features
visual design
wireframes
high fidelity
prototype
home cook - flow
chef siri - flow
chef - flow
outcome
challenges & reflections
Understand home cooks' and professional chefs' needs and pain points.
Accommodation of users of all skill levels, with features that enable them to create, discover and share recipes, cooking techniques, and culinary experiences.
User interface should be intuitive and user-friendly.
Continually encouraging community among its users to engage, share knowledge and learn from each other.
It is essential to constantly evaluate the app's user experience through user testing and feedback and improve accordingly.