FoodCourt

Currently
Product Design
Mobile, Desktop

Designing a digital menu platform for restaurants that streamlines the ordering process, improving customer experience, and provides valuable data for restaurant owners.

Overview

The aim of this project was to create a digital menu platform for restaurants that would replace traditional paper menus with a more efficient, interactive, and sanitary solution. The platform would be accessible to customers via their smartphones, allowing them to browse the menu, filter options based on dietary preferences, and make their selections before the waiter comes over. The project's goals were to make the ordering process more efficient for both customers and restaurant owners, gamify the restaurant experience, and reduce the environmental impact of paper menus. The platform would also provide restaurant owners with valuable data and insights, such as customer ratings and preferences, which they can use to improve their business.

Goals

The goal is to create a digital menu platform for restaurants that replaces paper menus with an efficient, interactive, and sanitary solution accessible to customers via smartphones. The platform aims to make the ordering process more efficient, gamify the restaurant experience, reduce the environmental impact of paper menus, and provide restaurant owners with valuable data and insights.

User

The primary challenges in creating the digital food court platform were to balance the needs of both customers and restaurant owners, ensure the platform was user-friendly, and that it could be implemented easily with minimal staff training. The target users were restaurant owners and customers who were interested in using technology to enhance their dining experience.

Research

To understand the needs and behaviors of the target users, we conducted online surveys and in-person interviews. The online surveys included a sample size of 100 respondents for each group, including customers and restaurant owners. The in-person interviews were conducted with a smaller group of 10 restaurant owners to gain a more detailed understanding of their concerns and needs. These research methods allowed us to gather both quantitative and qualitative data on the attitudes and preferences of our target users.

Starting the Design

Our final product was a digital menu platform that addressed the key pain points and needs of both customers and restaurant owners. It provided customers with the ability to view menus, filter items based on dietary restrictions or preferences, and find the best restaurants in their area for a particular cuisine. For restaurant owners, it provided an easy and cost-effective way to update menus, reduce printing costs, and enhance the customer experience. Our iterative design process, which involved brainstorming, prototyping, and usability testing, allowed us to create a solution that is tailored to the needs of our users and provides a good user experience. To design a solution that meets the needs of both customers and restaurant owners, we began by sketching out ideas and creating wireframes to visualize the user experience. We then created prototypes of the digital menu platform and conducted usability testing with a small group of users to gather feedback on the design and functionality. Based on the feedback from usability testing, we made several changes to the design, including adding a filter for dietary restrictions, improving the data metrics, and incorporating a rating system for menu items. Our final product was a result of incorporating user feedback and continuously improving the design based on user needs.

Wireframe

Design

Mobile Screens

Menu Builder

Reviews

Insights

Based on the research and observations, we found that customers liked the idea of viewing the menu on a digital platform, filtering menus based on dietary restrictions and preferences, and seeing what the best restaurant in an area is for a particular cuisine or type of food. Restaurant owners liked the idea of quickly changing menu items, saving money on printing costs, and reducing the environmental impact of paper menus. However, they were concerned about the cost of implementing a digital menu platform, staff training, and customer adoption.

Assessment

I followed a user-centered design process to design a solution that meets the needs of both customers and restaurant owners. I began by sketching out ideas and creating wireframes to visualize the user experience. I then created prototypes of the digital menu platform and conducted usability testing with a small group of users to gather feedback on the design and functionality. Based on the feedback from usability testing, I made several changes to the design, including adding a filter for type of cuisines and incorporating a rating system for menu items. These changes were based on user feedback and were aimed at improving the user experience and addressing the needs of both customers and restaurants.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this project was a resounding success in meeting the needs of both customers and restaurant owners. The research and design process resulted in the creation of a user-friendly digital menu platform that offers valuable features and functionality, which was positively received by users. The project will continue to be successful in the future, as ongoing efforts are being made to improve the platform and user experience through further refinements and new features. I am looking forward to conducting additional usability testing and improving the look and feel of the user interface to provide an even better experience for users.

SD