EatOut

My team participated in a competition where we had to design a solution for our clients: Two Igloos. Two Igloos presented us with some information about the restaurant industry and how restaurants are suffering. Restaurants are becoming increasingly difficult to run, and it’s becoming harder to maintain customers. From this, my team and I were given this direction: to figure out how we might be able to help restaurants maintain their business, while providing a unique experience for the customers.

With this in mind I conducted user research through preparing interview questions and interviewing customers. After conducting the research I led a meeting with my team where we gathered the information from the interviews and organized it using the affinity mapping technique. After grouping the information we decided to organize it by impact and feasibility.

Looking at the information helped my team to come up with an idea for an app. the EatOut app is an experience that takes restaurant dining to the next level. First, the land/home owner can put up their land or space for rent, it can be an indoor or outdoor venue, depending on the resources of the owner and the needs of the restaurant. Next, the restaurant can view the available spaces and choose a location where they can host an event. Having chosen and booked the location, and organized the event, the customer can search for an event that fits their needs, and book their spot accordingly. Just think of it as the airbnb of the restaurant industry.

My next step was taking this idea and making it a reality, this led me to create many rough sketches and compile a list of requirements for the app. From the rough sketches I designed screens for the prototype. I then tested the prototype through a think-out-loud technique and made the necessary changes.

After redesigning the prototype I was able to make a design guide as well as design screens for the final version of EatOut. My team presented the final version to our clients and they were very impressed. Overall my team placed second in the competition.