“Who even knows what all these fancy coffee names mean?”
Imagine a coffee that adapts to your life and mood, not the other way around.
95% of our interviewee could not imagine the taste of coffee by its name
“For me, coffee is not just a drink, it's like... a survival tool.”
For many people, coffee is both a beverage and a tool, helping them to either perk up or unwind.
Introduction
Looking for a coffee that truly understands you? This project introduces a groundbreaking app designed to personalize the coffee experience by matching user mood and taste preferences with the perfect brew.
Focus Area
User Research
UI/UX Design
Product Ecosystem
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Photoshop
Timeline
Sep 2021-Dec 2021
14 weeks
Coffee Customized to Your Mood
01
Customize your coffee based on your current mood, ensuring each cup aligns perfectly with how you feel.
Your Coffee, Anywhere
03
No matter where you are, enjoy specially customized coffee recipes tailored to your taste each day with our unique flavor profile system.
Unique Coffee Taste Profile for Every User
02
By integrating a free coffee tasting welcome pack for new users at our partner cafes, we capture your preferences for taste, sweetness, and strength.
Energized
01
Make concentration coffee
Spoons of
COFFEE
2
Mix with iced milk
02
Soothed
Relaxed
Creative
FInal Design
Swipe left to see UI
How we create personalized coffee taste profiles for our users？
Pre-Input Information
01
Users enter basic information in the app, such as allergies and caffeine sensitivity.
Offers a hands-on tasting experience, gathering detailed preference data for each user.
Welcome Package
02
Users can book a coffee tasting session at a partner cafes through the app, trying various flavors and providing feedback.
Offers a hands-on tasting experience, gathering detailed preference data for each user.
Flavor Matching
03
Combines user's current mood and goals with their established taste profile to recommend coffees, continually refining the taste profile based on order data.
Provides personalized recommendations, enhancing the taste profile with each selection.
User Feedback
Users provide satisfaction feedback on the app after enjoying their coffee.
Collects user feedback to further adjust and improve the personalized recommendation algorithm and taste profile.
04
1.1 Project Planning (Wk1)
Expected Outcomes
Enhance existing coffee service concepts by integrating personalization and technology elements to meet modern consumer needs.
Design a prototype to demonstrate the final solution
The project will focus on concept generation and design.
The project requires initial consideration of branding, promotional strategies, and market collaboration tactics.
Timeline and Milestones (14 weeks)
WK1
WK2-3
WK4-6
WK7-10
WK14
WK11-13
Project Planning
User Research
Ideate
Prototype
Validate
Recap
Scope Delimitation
Research & Design
Stage 1
Define Problem
Stage 2
Design Solution
Stage 3
Validate Result
Design Process
Key
Takeaways
1.2 User research (Wk2-3)
Target User Groups
What do users seek in their ideal coffee experience?
User Interview
Coffee drinkers and coffee shop employees
95% of our interviewee could not imagine the taste of coffee by its name
For many people, coffee is both a beverage and a tool, helping them to either perk up or unwind.
Name
“Who even knows what all these fancy coffee names mean?”
Pain Points
User Persona
Emily Johnson
Occupation
Graduate Student
Feels intimidated by the variety of coffee options available.
Uncertain about what different coffee names and terms mean.
Wants to explore different flavors but is hesitant to order something she might not like.
Needs
A way to understand and explore different coffee flavors without feeling overwhelmed.
Guidance on what to order based on her taste preferences.
An easy and approachable way to learn about coffee.
Tech Savvy Level
Moderate
Age
24
Persona 1: The Coffee Explorer
Name
“For me, coffee is not just a drink, it's like... a survival tool.”
Pain Points
David Smith
Occupation
Software Engineer
Often finds coffee at regular cafes not meeting his high standards.
Frustrated by the inconsistency in coffee quality when traveling.
Desires a more personalized coffee experience.
Needs
Access to high-quality, artisanal coffee blends no matter where he is.
A consistent coffee experience that aligns with his refined palate.
A platform to track and rate his coffee experiences.
Tech Savvy Level
High
Age
45
Persona 2: The Coffee Connoisseur
User Journey Map (Existing Buying Scenarios)
Direction Refinement
“Our mission is to transform coffee drinking into a personalized and satisfying experience, tailored to each user's unique taste and mood.”
“Our vision is to be the leading platform for personalized coffee experiences, enabling everyone to enjoy their perfect cup anytime, anywhere.”
Design Challenges
01
How might we simplify the coffee selection process to help users easily find a coffee that matches their taste and mood?
02
How might we ensure that users can enjoy a consistent coffee experience, even when they are in different cities or coffee shops?
03
How might we create an engaging and educational experience for users who are exploring different coffee flavors and brewing methods?
Awareness and Decision
Opportunity Area
Selection and Purchase
Experience and Consumption
Feedback and Reflection
1. Feels like having coffee and considers visiting a nearby cafe.
2. Browses the cafe menu or online options, feeling confused and unsure.
3. Randomly picks a coffee that seems fine.
4. Tries the purchased coffee.
5. Sometimes satisfied, but often disappointed due to the taste not meeting expectations.
6. Contemplates whether to try something else next time.
7. Hesitant about revisiting the cafe.
Introduce an easy-to-use app that quickly suggests nearby cafes offering personalized coffee experiences based on user's mood and preference history.
Implement AI-driven recommendations within the app to help users easily navigate and choose from a variety of coffee options that align with their taste profile.
Provide a feature for users to rate their coffee experiences, which the app uses to further refine future
Develop a loyalty program within the app to encourage repeat visits and experimentation with different coffee styles, flavors, and cafes, turning uncertainty into an exploration journey.
2.1 Ideate (Wk4-6)
2.2 prototype (Wk7-10)
Stage 1
Define Problem
Stage 2
Design Solution
Stage 3
Validate Result
Design Process
Low-Fidelity Prototyping & User Test
Building on feedback from the first round, we continued to enhance the user experience in the Low-Fi Prototype testing. Users were highly interested in the ability to record their taste preferences and receive daily customized coffee recipes based on those preferences. Specifically, they appreciated that our system could use AI to formulate user taste data, enabling them to enjoy consistent coffee flavors. Additionally, we introduced a feature that recommends coffee based on users' current moods, further deepening and broadening the personalization of our service.
Feedback Summary
Brainstorming
Our user experience map revealed several key pain points: users often feel confused and uncertain when faced with a multitude of coffee options, worried they won't find a coffee that truly matches their personal taste and mood.
My concept revolves around creating a personalized coffee recommendation app that not only provides suggestions based on users' taste preferences but also considers their current mood and emotional needs. I realized that by integrating users' taste preferences with their emotional state, we could offer a more customized coffee experience, directly addressing the uncertainty and confusion users face during the selection process.
Innovation Highlights
Core Feature Information Architecture
Paper Prototyping & User Test
In the first round of Paper Prototype testing, users showed great interest in the initial concept of a personalized coffee experience. They were particularly focused on how to intuitively select and understand different coffee flavors. To address this, we introduced the "Welcome Package" in collaboration with local coffee shops. This strategy not only added depth and interactivity to the user experience but also allowed us to accurately capture users' taste preferences through actual coffee tasting events, simultaneously increasing exposure for our partner brands.
Feedback Summary
Mood board
High-Fidelity Prototyping
01
How might we simplify the coffee selection process to help users easily find a coffee that matches their taste and mood?
02
How might we ensure that users can enjoy a consistent coffee experience, even when they are in different cities or coffee shops?
03
How might we create an engaging and educational experience for users who are exploring different coffee flavors and brewing methods?
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Want to learn more?
Lets talk
ssheng3@inside.artcenter.edu
Your Ideal Coffee
COFFEEL
Stage 1
Define Problem
Stage 2
Design Solution
Stage 3
Validate Result
Design Process
3.1 Validate (Wk11-13)
3.1 Recap (Wk14)
What I’ve learned
01
Learned the critical role of iterative design and user feedback. Initial assumptions were often challenged, highlighting the need for continuous testing and adaptation.
02
Realized the necessity of breaking down the broad goal of personalizing the coffee experience into more specific objectives. Transparency in how we communicate personalized choices to users is key.
03
Discovered the importance of offline experiences in strengthening brand loyalty and user satisfaction. Managing these activities to complement our online platform is challenging.
What I should do next
01
Focus on data-driven decisions and incorporate more quantitative methods to refine our approach.
02
Further detail our objectives and introduce user education to build trust in our personalized recommendations.
03
Seek efficient methods and partnerships to expand and improve our offline and online experience integration.
Sample UI
Clear Step Display: I now show steps and clear goal milestones, reducing uncertainty and guiding users smoothly through the process.
Simplified Choices: I've streamlined user options to minimize decision fatigue, making it easier for users to make choices without feeling overwhelmed.
Button Style Selections: Switching to button selections simplifies user interactions, enabling more straightforward and efficient choices.
Enlarged Confirmation Button: An enlarged confirm button is designed to encourage user action, making it more inviting and noticeable.
Before
After
Cropping Technique: I use cropping to suggest more content is available by showing icons cut in half by the screen edge, hinting users to explore further.
Swipe Interaction: I've introduced a left-to-right swipe mechanism to simplify navigation, making it easier for users to discover new content.
Intuitive Product Language: I use more direct and intuitive descriptions to guide users, ensuring clarity in communication.
Unified Illustration Style: By adopting a consistent style for illustrations, I highlight the functionality and key features of the 'Daily Coffee Recipes,' making it the focal point of the page.
Before
After
