Role: UX/UI Designer (Google UX Certification)
Duration: 6 Weeks
Tools: Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop
Platform: iOS & Android
Usability Study: View Full PDF
Overview
Bean Buzz is a mobile application for a fictitious local coffee shop chain that allows customers to pre-order drinks and pastries up to one day in advance for single orders and up to one week in advance for large/catering orders. The goal was to reduce in-store wait times, streamline large event orders, and enhance customer loyalty through a seamless ordering experience.
The Challenge
Regular customers often experiencing:
- Long morning lines leading to late arrivals at work
- Inconsistent availability for large catering orders
- Lack of order scheduling options for future pickup
From the business side:
- The coffee shop was losing potentially large orders due to poor advance-order handling
- Staff faced order management confusion during peak hours
The Opportunity
Design a user-friendly mobile app for the coffee shop that makes it effortless for customers to schedule coffee orders more than a few hours in advance while helping staff better prepare and fulfill orders.
Goals & Objectives
Target Users
Primary Users
- Daily Commuters
- Remote workers picking up coffee at specific times
- Employees ordering for meetings or gatherings
Secondary Users
- Casual Weekend Customers
- Tourists wanting to order before arriving
Design Process
Research
- Customer interviews: Spoke with 8 people who order coffee online or get coffee at least 3 times a week and 4 people who order catering for meetings or gatherings in an office setting
- Competitive analysis: Reviewed Starbucks, Dunkin’, Filament Coffee + Tea, and The Habit
- Findings: Users wanted quick ordering of ‘usual’ drinks,large-order customers wanted the ability to place custom orders up to 2 weeks in advance
Wireframing & Low-Fidelity Prototypes
Low-fidelity sketches focused on:
- A prominent “Quick Order” button on the home screen
- A calendar selector for scheduling
- Add-on options in the cart
- The checkout screen and order confirmation
Visual Design
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- Color Palette: Warm browns and cream tones to echo coffee beans and foam/milk/creamer, along with pale yellows for energy
- Typography: Energized with sharp corners and boldness
- Iconography: Simple coffee-themed icons
- Imagery: High-quality product photography to encourage cravings
Lessons Learned
User research and interviews revealed that while advanced ordering is highly valued, trust is built through clear pickup times and timely reminders. The checkout experience makes choosing a payment method simple and gives user the opportunity to add additional items easily.