Recipes Made Simple
CONTEXT
RESEARCH
While many recipe apps exist, they tend to assume a level of prior knowledge overwhelming users with jargon-filled instructions and complex techniques. To address this gap, I set out to create a supportive, step-by-step experience with visual guidance and simple instructions.
I explored six unique personas to reflect the diversity of users who might engage with a recipe app: Beginner Bella, Fast-Track Frank, Gourmet Gabriella, Nutrition Nate, Party Pete, and Seasoned Sally. Each represented different cooking motivations, skill levels, and priorities.
With that being said, I prioritized Beginner Bella—a new home cook seeking guidance, simplicity, and confidence in the kitchen. I chose to focus on Bella not only because her needs aligned closely with the app’s goals, but also because I personally relate to her experience.
To better understand the first-time cooking experience, I created a user journey for Beginner Bella. It traced her path from discovering Plated to completing a recipe, revealing pain points like confusing instructions and fear of mistakes.
Simplicity
Accessibility
Personalization
DEVELOPMENT
I began the design phase with rounds of task and function sketches to explore key features and user actions. This helped identify essentials like recipe filtering, ingredient-based searches, and personalized recipe recommendations. Sketching early clarified how to simplify tasks for beginners and laid the groundwork for wireframes and prototypes.
I created use case diagrams to visualize how users interact with Plated’s core features, mapping goals like cooking a meal, finding new recipes to try, or creating a grocery list. This process helped validate functionality, identify edge cases, and ensure a flexible, user-focused experience.
I created an input-output mapping to connect user actions with meaningful feedback. From ingredient searches to serving size adjustments, each input triggered helpful outputs such as recipe suggestions, grocery lists, and nutrition info—making the app more intuitive and supportive for beginners.
Inputs
Ingredient search
Dietary preferences & restrictions
Serving size selection
Weekly meal plan
User-submitted recipe
Outputs
Personalized recipe suggestions
Filtered recipe results
Adjusted ingredients
& nutritional breakdown
Auto-generated grocery list
Community feedback & reviews
During the wireframing phase, I shaped the app’s structure to support a smooth, beginner-friendly experience. Low-fidelity prototypes helped visualize key flows like browsing recipes, saving favorites, and viewing step-by-step instructions, allowing for quick feedback and iteration before moving to high fidelity.
TESTING
After creating wireframes and low-fidelity prototypes, I conducted a paper prototype usability test to evaluate interactions within the app’s core flows. This early-stage testing method helped identify usability issues, gather initial reactions, and validate whether the layout and navigation felt intuitive.
The usability test focused on three key tasks: searching and filtering recipes, adjusting serving sizes, and creating a recipe. These tasks were chosen to reflect common beginner needs and evaluate how well the low-fidelity design supported them.
During the paper prototype test, I observed how a user completed three key tasks and gathered feedback. The participant shared what they liked, suggested improvements, asked questions, and offered new feature ideas—giving insight into how real users experience the design.
Likes
Serving size adjuster
Ingredient substitution
Filter
Navigation
Clear direction & labels
Improvements
Account login
Preset filter options were confusing
Necessary equipment list
Questions
Is there a way to sign into the app?
If I'm allergic to something, where is the substitute list?
Ideas
Add equipment list in addition to ingredients list
Cooking history tracker
Skill-level specific tips
FINAL DESIGN
The final designs brought Plated’s visual identity and core user flows to life, translating early sketches and paper prototype feedback into a polished, interactive design. Insights from the initial usability test directly informed layout, navigation, and feature clarity, which were then evaluated in a second round of remote, unmoderated testing.
SURVEY
To gather feedback on the overall user experience, I conducted an unmoderated usability survey. It began with a short demographics section to understand participants’ age, profession, and experience with recipe apps. The survey then explored reactions to typography and visual design, and included a brief A/B test comparing different layout and interface options. Based on the responses, I identified several key takeaways from the survey results.
Typography
Corner Styling
Recipe Card Layout
LOOKING AHEAD
Designing Plated gave me the opportunity to explore how thoughtful UX can support and empower beginner cooks. From early research to testing visual layouts, each step reinforced the importance of clarity, simplicity, and encouragement in the kitchen. This project helped me better understand how to translate user needs into intuitive design decisions—making cooking feel less intimidating and more accessible.