The Challenge
Mixology has been a topic of interest for some time, and with COVID-19 that interest has only increased. I took this opportunity to design a cocktail recipe mobile application that focused on the novice mixologist. My main goal was to create a collection of recipes and recommendations brought together in one convenient location. Throughout the case study, I successfully designed solutions to the problems discovered through user interviews and put together an interactive prototype for further testing.
The app provides a list of popular cocktails that require little to no experience, serving as a great jumping off point for the novice mixologist.
During user interviews, a common pain point was having to compare what they already have with they needed. I added the ability to conveniently see which items were missing and to quickly add them to their shopping cart for later.
As a novice, not knowing where to begin can be paralyzing. Pairing with the “Discover” section, the app gives the ability to filter recipes based on the user’s preferences to limit decision fatigue.
Users with more experience tend to experiment with new recipes. Once they find a combination they like, they’re able to create and add their own recipes to the database for future use.
Mix what you already have
Based off of the data gathered from user interviews and user comments from similar applications, a pain point that stood out was finding recipes based off of the ingredients the user already had. This was tedious and caused them to lose interest. To solve this problem, I implemented the ability to add ingredients to the “Bar” section while also providing recommendations based off of what they have.
Users have easy access to all of the ingredients they have on hand with the ability to add or remove, all in one convenient location.
Each ingredient has a dedicated page that gives the user a chance to expand their knowledge on the ingredient while also learning about popular brands to choose from next time they are in the store.
Equipped with a search function, the user is able to sift through a large database of cocktails and ingredients that covers more than just the basics.
After adding the ingredients they already have into the “Bar” section, the user can scroll down and discover new recipes within the convenient “Cocktails you can make” section.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I gained a lot from this case study. I accomplished my goals and successfully found solutions to the problems at hand. Throughout the process, I learned a lot of technical skills, how to gather and cypher through data, and to implement what was useful all while creating a cohesive design. I hope to expand off of this experience and continue learning with every iteration.
