CORA
Community Outreach &
Resource for Allergy &
Dietary Needs
CORA is a community centered platform that is designed to assist those with allergies and dietary restrictions find safe and reliable dining options.
CORA provides users with easy to filter information about restaurants, menus, and allergy compatibility, while connecting individuals with their local allergy friendly community.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
There is not a comprehensive source of information on allergy friendly restaurants or products, forcing individuals to rely on multiple sources for information and spend a lot of time doing their own research.
The Solution?
By creating an inclusive and reliable source of information that combines professional knowledge with personal experiences from community members, we believe we can create a platform that will allow users to feel more confident in their dining options and spend less time conducting personal research.
Role:
I worked alongside two other designers to conduct research & identify users needs. My main focus was in feature prioritization, navigation, and visual prototyping.
Tools:
Figma, InVision, Miro,
Adobe Illustrator
Timeline:
Two weeks
The Process
Empathize
Ideation
Testing
Iterating
Prototype
Empathize
Insights + Survey + User Persona + Competitor Analysis
Research & Interviews
Over 10% of Americans are diagnosed with food related allergies and must adhere to a safe diet. This percentage does not include individuals who have other dietary restrictions that may not be allergy related, but due to religious or preferential reasons.
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To kick off our research, we conducted five user interviews; all of whom either have or have a family member who has an allergy or dietary restriction.
Key Takeaways
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Individuals with allergies often feel unsafe or like an inconvenience when dining out.
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Interviewees say they spend a ton of time researching safe options.
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There is often unreliable or out of date information on Yelp and Google.
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Many people are only trusting of others who understand the severity of their allergy situations.
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Different blogs and Facebook groups have become a main source of information about allergy friendly restaurants.
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Users will return to the same safe dining options instead of taking a chance on a new experience.
I have to trust other people's reviews and experiences. That's probably 95% of what will lead me towards choosing certain options.
Survey Results
We distributed a short survey that reached 153 respondents, where we asked about their experiences with allergies or other dietary restrictions, and how they navigate information when finding safe options for themselves or loved ones.
Do you have any dietary restrictions?
63%
Over half of respondents either have an allergy, or have someone in their household who does.
How do you research safe dining options?
Call restaurant directly
Rely on Yelp & Google
Allergy related Facebook Groups
41%
43%
53%
Affinity Diagram
We compiled our findings from each interview into an affinity diagram to start better understanding our users needs.
User Persona
Geoff Stark is quite the outdoorsman, exploring all that Oregon has offer while living near his family in Bend. He is a talented rafting and fishing guide and you'll never catch him without his camera. Geoff has to navigate his gluten and dairy allergies while on adventures with friends. They love scoping out new gluten free breweries together in their travels.
Greetings,
Geoff Stark
Age: 32
Location: Bend, OR
Occupation: White Water Rafting Guide
Fishing Guide
Freelance Photographer
Goals & Needs:
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Gluten Free & Dairy Free
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Always has to plan ahead
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Likes to eat local & organic
Pain Points:
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Restaurants have limited allergy information.
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Researching is time consuming.
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Concerned with his safety when dining out.
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Doesn't want to miss out on dinners with friends.
Competitor Analysis
Discover allergy friendly restaurants & hotels
Community based
Customizable by allergy
Not widely used or up to date in all areas
Only one allergy profile can be created
Scan food labels to verify if it is allergen safe
Customizable by allergy
Partnered with many different companies
Brand approved data & clinically validated
Only features products, no dining
(indirect)
Grocery store that offers many allergy friendly products & some dining options
Can shop & place orders online
Shopping on app can be filtered by allergy
Only applicable to Whole Foods & the products they carry
Ideation
Feature Prioritization + User Flow + User Scenario + Sketches
Feature Prioritization Matrix
Based on our research, we learned that some of the most trusted and valuable information comes from the experiences of others with similar circumstances. We knew that creating a community platform with the ability to review restaurants and connect with others in your area would be an important feature. We also wanted to focus on the ability to create multiple allergy profiles, so filtering options for friends and family should be a simple task.
User Flow
Our user flow focuses on a simple, streamlined landing page that directs the user to local, personalized dining recommendations, blog posts, and opportunities to connect with the community.
User Scenario
Geoff is planning a trip with his friends. Let's see how it's going!
Sketches
In our early sketches we focused on personal allergy profile creation, restaurant detail screens, and explored different ways to filter search results based on restrictions and users.
Testing
Wireframes + Testing + Feedback
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Usability Testing
The Plan:
We tested our low fidelity prototype with four different users.
Our main objectives throughout testing were to:
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Confirm that the user understands the purpose of the app.
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Identify pain points or screens where the user might get stuck.
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Find out if information is easy to access.
We gave our testers three tasks to complete:
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Sign up and create a personalized allergy profile.
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Locate "Beryl's Burgers" and view their menu.
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Start a new thread on the local chat feature.
Lo-Fi Prototype Testing
Feedback:
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Testers were able to complete all three tasks.
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Testers felt that the green background was too dark.
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The purpose of the app was not clear upon first interaction.
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Users liked the ability to create more than one allergy profile.
Iterations
Mid-Fi + Style + Iterating + High Fidelity Prototypes
Mid Fidelity Screens
Style Guide
We wanted CORA to feel inviting and reliable. We used soft corners and an earthy green in our buttons to ground the experience. Familiar iconography throughout the navigation helps to guide the user, and simple information cards provide enough context without being overwhelming. We used SF Pro throughout the application for its neutral qualities and readability.
Iterations from Mid to High Fidelity
While working through our design rounds, we put a huge emphasis on navigation. While our initial prototype does not have a ton of features, the opportunities for expansion of the application is quite vast. With room for growth in mind, we added an main navigation bar along the bottom and included more features available from the hamburger menu.
Browsing Restaurants
CORA's goal is to become ​your go to search engine for safe and reliable dining options. Since CORA will first recommend restaurants based on location, we introduced a map view to the search screen, with the option to toggle between the map and list views.
Map View
List View
Personalization
Search Filters
Filters to Fit Your Needs
CORA has a unique feature that allows you to add multiple user profiles. By creating multiple profiles, you can select all allergens or dietary restrictions that pertain to individuals in your life. You can then quickly adjust your search results to accommodate those dietary needs, making it simple to include all of your friends and family.
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Color coded profile icons appear along with search results so you can see which options are ideal for each individual at a glance.
Opportunities & KPI's
Future Opportunities
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Partnerships with restaurants to share their menus & the ingredients in dishes.
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Menus searchable by allergen​
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Reward features that encourage users to post reviews and add new dining options to grow the platform.
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Online ordering & delivery partnerships.
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Host community events or retreats.
KPI Tracking
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Increase in App sign-ups
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Increase in referrals
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Increase in reviews & positive reviews confirmed by other users
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Increase in desired partnerships & cooperation from restaurants & other businesses
more to explore.
Trader Joe's Delivery App
Fences for Fido
Creative Work
