Catering Allergic Appetites: Introducing the Allergy Profile Feature on Swiggy
Catering Allergic Appetites: Introducing the Allergy Profile Feature on Swiggy
My Role
Research
Ideation
User Interface
User Experience
Duration
5 weeks
Industry
Food Delivery
Project Overview
Project Overview
This UX investigation deepens the understanding of enhancing Swiggy's current app with an innovative inclusion—an Allergy Profile. The goal is to flawlessly incorporate this element, improving not only the comprehensive user experience but also promising a stress-free food ordering journey for users.
This transformative UX journey puts design thinking at the forefront, redefining how users engage with Swiggy for a more tailored and safe ordering experience. Welcome to a progressive phase of UX evolution in the domain of effortless food ordering.
This UX investigation deepens the understanding of enhancing Swiggy's current app with an innovative inclusion—an Allergy Profile. The goal is to flawlessly incorporate this element, improving not only the comprehensive user experience but also promising a stress-free food ordering journey for users.
This transformative UX journey puts design thinking at the forefront, redefining how users engage with Swiggy for a more tailored and safe ordering experience. Welcome to a progressive phase of UX evolution in the domain of effortless food ordering.
The Inspiration
The Inspiration
The inspiration for this project stemmed from a personal experience. Following a visit to the doctor, I discovered I had allergies to over 10 food items. That evening, while trying to order food through Swiggy, the realization of my allergies made the process challenging and time-consuming. Spending 45 minutes searching for allergen-free options, I eventually abandoned the effort and opted to cook noodles. This experience prompted the idea for the Allergy Feature—a solution to simplify and streamline the process of identifying allergen-free food options.
The inspiration for this project stemmed from a personal experience. Following a visit to the doctor, I discovered I had allergies to over 10 food items. That evening, while trying to order food through Swiggy, the realization of my allergies made the process challenging and time-consuming. Spending 45 minutes searching for allergen-free options, I eventually abandoned the effort and opted to cook noodles. This experience prompted the idea for the Allergy Feature—a solution to simplify and streamline the process of identifying allergen-free food options.
Design Process
Design Process
I decided to stick to the standard design process, which really helped me get my tasks organized as I embarked on my first redesign case study. While using this approach was beneficial for task management, I soon discovered that incorporating flexibility into the process is crucial to avoid stifling the flow of ideas and problem-solving. This led to some back-and-forth within the process as I adopted agility to a certain degree.
I decided to stick to the standard design process, which really helped me get my tasks organized as I embarked on my first redesign case study. While using this approach was beneficial for task management, I soon discovered that incorporating flexibility into the process is crucial to avoid stifling the flow of ideas and problem-solving. This led to some back-and-forth within the process as I adopted agility to a certain degree.
I.DEFINE
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
The current user experience on Swiggy lacks a tailored solution for customers with specific dietary needs and allergies. As a result, users face uncertainties and concerns while ordering food, impacting their overall satisfaction and confidence in the platform.
This underscores the need for a comprehensive and user-centric feature, such as an Allergy Profile, to be integrated into the existing app. The absence of this functionality poses a significant hurdle to providing a seamless, worry-free food ordering experience for a diverse user base. Addressing this gap is crucial to enhancing overall satisfaction of existing Swiggy users.
The current user experience on Swiggy lacks a tailored solution for customers with specific dietary needs and allergies. As a result, users face uncertainties and concerns while ordering food, impacting their overall satisfaction and confidence in the platform.
This underscores the need for a comprehensive and user-centric feature, such as an Allergy Profile, to be integrated into the existing app. The absence of this functionality poses a significant hurdle to providing a seamless, worry-free food ordering experience for a diverse user base. Addressing this gap is crucial to enhancing overall satisfaction of existing Swiggy users.
The How Might We?
The How Might We?
The question that then arises is — "How might we gain the confidence of current Swiggy users with specific food allergies, ensuring a reassuring food ordering experience?"
The question that then arises is — "How might we gain the confidence of current Swiggy users with specific food allergies, ensuring a reassuring food ordering experience?"
II.EMPATHISE
User Research
User Research
The next step was to empathise with people like me. I engaged with 3 other users I knew who had certain food allergies and tried to understand their pain points through user interviews.
For the interviews, I prepared a list of questions and topics that I wanted to discuss and gain feedback on their online food ordering process. Here is a list of some of the questions:
Can you briefly share your experience with food allergies and any specific dietary restrictions you have?
How often do you order food through platforms like Swiggy?
Can you describe the process you currently follow when ordering food online, considering your food allergies?
What challenges do you typically face in finding allergen-free options on food delivery apps?
Can you share any memorable positive or negative experiences while using Swiggy with your dietary restrictions?
How much time, on average, do you spend searching for suitable food options?
What improvements or additional features would you suggest to enhance the experience for users with food allergies on Swiggy?
What incidence led you to minimise the use of food delivery app?
The next step was to empathise with people like me. I engaged with 3 other users I knew who had certain food allergies and tried to understand their pain points through user interviews.
For the interviews, I prepared a list of questions and topics that I wanted to discuss and gain feedback on their online food ordering process. Here is a list of some of the questions:
Can you briefly share your experience with food allergies and any specific dietary restrictions you have?
How often do you order food through platforms like Swiggy?
Can you describe the process you currently follow when ordering food online, considering your food allergies?
What challenges do you typically face in finding allergen-free options on food delivery apps?
Can you share any memorable positive or negative experiences while using Swiggy with your dietary restrictions?
How much time, on average, do you spend searching for suitable food options?
What improvements or additional features would you suggest to enhance the experience for users with food allergies on Swiggy?
What incidence led you to minimise the use of food delivery app?
User Personas
User Personas
After concluding my interviews, I formulated two user personas. This was due to a notable disparity in the intensity of allergies displayed by the users.
After concluding my interviews, I formulated two user personas. This was due to a notable disparity in the intensity of allergies displayed by the users.
The Challenges
The Challenges
The interviews gave enough context on what challenges the current design poses to a user navigating through the app while keeping in mind their allergic diet restrictions. Here are the main challenges that every interviewee touched upon.
The interviews gave enough context on what challenges the current design poses to a user navigating through the app while keeping in mind their allergic diet restrictions. Here are the main challenges that every interviewee touched upon.
User Flow Limitations
User Flow Limitations
I made one user use the app in front of me. This was more like a live tree testing. I asked the user to navigate through the app to order food taking into account their allergies.
I made one user use the app in front of me. This was more like a live tree testing. I asked the user to navigate through the app to order food taking into account their allergies.
Challenges
Challenges
Overall User Emotions
Overall User Emotions
Value Propositions
Value Propositions
Taking into consideration the challenges and feelings of the user an ideal food delivery application will require following functionality to promote a worry-free food ordering experience.
Taking into consideration the challenges and feelings of the user an ideal food delivery application will require following functionality to promote a worry-free food ordering experience.
III.IDEATE
Feature Brainstorming
Feature Brainstorming
With a lot of context gathered from the interviews I began jotting down a few of ideas to tackle the food ordering challenge. Here's a sneak peek into the ideation process: I initially captured every idea that crossed my mind and subsequently sifted through them, choosing the ones that could seamlessly integrate into the app's existing design.
With a lot of context gathered from the interviews I began jotting down a few of ideas to tackle the food ordering challenge. Here's a sneak peek into the ideation process: I initially captured every idea that crossed my mind and subsequently sifted through them, choosing the ones that could seamlessly integrate into the app's existing design.
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
Keeping these ideas in mind, the next step was to understand the areas where can the current design be improved. Thus, I drafted the existing information architecture of the Swiggy app. I detailed out the main ‘doorways’ wherein I aimed at improving the user journey and experience with the addition of the allergy profile and it’s associated features. I then added the main and the sub features in the flows ‘Food’ and ‘Profile’ denoting them by a star sticker in the IA.
Keeping these ideas in mind, the next step was to understand the areas where can the current design be improved. Thus, I drafted the existing information architecture of the Swiggy app. I detailed out the main ‘doorways’ wherein I aimed at improving the user journey and experience with the addition of the allergy profile and it’s associated features. I then added the main and the sub features in the flows ‘Food’ and ‘Profile’ denoting them by a star sticker in the IA.
Finalised Features
Finalised Features
After drafting the IA, it got clear to me as to potentially which screens and elements need to be added to the existing design. There were mainly 2 broad additions:
Main Allergy Profile - This was a set of new screens altogether that allow the user to edit their allergens. This data then gets stored in their profile.
Components - Certain components like that allergy friendly sticker, allergen-free label, and the allergen-free toggle for filtering out were added.
After drafting the IA, it got clear to me as to potentially which screens and elements need to be added to the existing design. There were mainly 2 broad additions:
Main Allergy Profile - This was a set of new screens altogether that allow the user to edit their allergens. This data then gets stored in their profile.
Components - Certain components like that allergy friendly sticker, allergen-free label, and the allergen-free toggle for filtering out were added.
IV.DESIGN
Wireframing
Wireframing
With a complete idea of the solution, I started sketching with my pen and paper. Since there were 2 new screens to be added I initially set out to draft the LO-FI wireframes as an initial visualising exercise. Here are some snippets of my wireframes!
With a complete idea of the solution, I started sketching with my pen and paper. Since there were 2 new screens to be added I initially set out to draft the LO-FI wireframes as an initial visualising exercise. Here are some snippets of my wireframes!
Visual Designing
Visual Designing
Adding the components meant designing them from scratch! I particularly enjoyed this activity as I had never designed any graphic before. I first drew rough sketches in my book and then used Figma to finalise these components. I designed a couple of options before I finalised the elements.
Adding the components meant designing them from scratch! I particularly enjoyed this activity as I had never designed any graphic before. I first drew rough sketches in my book and then used Figma to finalise these components. I designed a couple of options before I finalised the elements.
Final elements
Final elements
Final Results (UI Design)
Final Results (UI Design)
I designed 13 screens in total. I also opted to design every screen and every element from scratch. This helped me understand Swiggy’s Design system and also honed my design skills in Figma.
I designed 13 screens in total. I also opted to design every screen and every element from scratch. This helped me understand Swiggy’s Design system and also honed my design skills in Figma.
User-Allergy Profile Screens
User-Allergy Profile Screens
Allergy-friendly restaurants
Allergy-friendly restaurants
Allergen-free meal selection
Allergen-free meal selection
Allergen-consisting meal customisation
Allergen-consisting meal customisation
V.TEST
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
I asked one of the interviewees to run the prototype on the Figma app on my mobile. They were able to navigate between the screens and provided feedback. The tasks that I prompted the interviewee to complete were:
Try updating your allergy profile.
Order food using the allergen-free toggle.
Check the allergen in one of the meals.
Customise your meal based on your allergies.
The feedback that I received was regarding the flow of the process once the item has been added to the cart. Since it was not a part of my redesigned flow, the user suggested to add those screens in order to get one last confirmation of their allergy preferences being taken into account.
I asked one of the interviewees to run the prototype on the Figma app on my mobile. They were able to navigate between the screens and provided feedback. The tasks that I prompted the interviewee to complete were:
Try updating your allergy profile.
Order food using the allergen-free toggle.
Check the allergen in one of the meals.
Customise your meal based on your allergies.
The feedback that I received was regarding the flow of the process once the item has been added to the cart. Since it was not a part of my redesigned flow, the user suggested to add those screens in order to get one last confirmation of their allergy preferences being taken into account.
Allergen-free meal selection
Allergen-free meal selection
Allergen consisting meal selection
Allergen consisting meal selection
If I had more time…
If I had more time…
There were certain steps to the ordering process that can be added to complete the entire user flow of ordering food through the allergy profile feature:
UX Writing: Add necessary UX writing to the 'View Cart' and 'Payment' screens to ensure the user that their allergy preferences are taken care of through the order.
Restaurant Rating: Add necessary review screens to restaurants wherein users can check what others have to say about the restaurant serving their allergy-free food.
Onboarding Screens: With the addition of a new feature, I could add the onboarding pop-ups that lead the user to familiarise themselves with the process of ordering food while suffering from allergies. This could include the flow of the allergy profile screen and familiarisation of the new components and elements through an information CTA denoted by 'i'.
There were certain steps to the ordering process that can be added to complete the entire user flow of ordering food through the allergy profile feature:
UX Writing: Add necessary UX writing to the 'View Cart' and 'Payment' screens to ensure the user that their allergy preferences are taken care of through the order.
Restaurant Rating: Add necessary review screens to restaurants wherein users can check what others have to say about the restaurant serving their allergy-free food.
Onboarding Screens: With the addition of a new feature, I could add the onboarding pop-ups that lead the user to familiarise themselves with the process of ordering food while suffering from allergies. This could include the flow of the allergy profile screen and familiarisation of the new components and elements through an information CTA denoted by 'i'.
Scope
Scope
Though the count of people possessing substantial food allergies remains minor in India, the suggested Allergy Profile feature's potential extends beyond this issue to address other user difficulties.
Dietary Avoidance: There are times when individuals, even if temporarily, refrain from certain food items. They might not necessarily be allergens, but the approach detailed in this case study could still cater to such requirements.
Dietary Restrictions: Individuals who adhere to globally recognized specific diets such as vegan, gluten-free, or non-dairy can also benefit from slight tweaks in the same procedural flow of the proposed solution.
International Food Apps: Countries like the USA & Canada harbour a larger fraction of the populace plagued by severe food allergies. The allergy feature could hence be incorporated into food delivery applications like DoorDash, UberEats, and the like.
Though the count of people possessing substantial food allergies remains minor in India, the suggested Allergy Profile feature's potential extends beyond this issue to address other user difficulties.
Dietary Avoidance: There are times when individuals, even if temporarily, refrain from certain food items. They might not necessarily be allergens, but the approach detailed in this case study could still cater to such requirements.
Dietary Restrictions: Individuals who adhere to globally recognized specific diets such as vegan, gluten-free, or non-dairy can also benefit from slight tweaks in the same procedural flow of the proposed solution.
International Food Apps: Countries like the USA & Canada harbour a larger fraction of the populace plagued by severe food allergies. The allergy feature could hence be incorporated into food delivery applications like DoorDash, UberEats, and the like.
You can reach out to me at areen.dsn@gmail.com
Copyright
2024 Areen Deshmukh
You can reach out to me at areen.dsn@gmail.com
Copyright
2024 Areen Deshmukh
You can reach out to me at areen.dsn@gmail.com
Copyright
2024 Areen Deshmukh