Why make a recipe app?
Recipe books have existed for a long time and everyone has seen one in their childhood. Though the recipes looked exciting and mouth-watering, there was always one issue, we don’t have these things at home and finding some specific things in market were always a hassle. This resulted in these books biting dust in the store rooms.
The app makes it easier to prepare meals in everyday life. People who use it can cook a large range of dishes according to their choice. They start eating varied meals and don’t need to go shopping for ingredients as app’s in-house store will deliver the missing ingredients or the whole package to create their dish of choice.
Problem Statement
The brand wants to create a vast database of culinary videos from known and upcoming chefs for the customer to choose and help the customer by providing them all the ingredients in the best way possible.
Market Research
Market Size:
The recipe app market is growing rapidly, with an estimated worth of $4.2 billion by 2026. The market is driven by increasing demand for healthy and convenient meal options, rising awareness of international cuisines, and the proliferation of smartphones and tablets.
Market Segmentation:
The recipe app market is segmented based on the platform, type of recipe, and revenue model. Platform-wise, the market is divided into iOS, Android, and web-based apps. Recipe-wise, the market is segmented into vegetarian, non-vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and others. Revenue-wise, the market is categorized into subscription-based, freemium, and paid apps.
User Demographics:
Recipe app users are typically millennials and Gen Z who prefer healthy and convenient meal options. They are tech-savvy and use their smartphones extensively to search for recipes and cooking tips. They are also interested in international cuisines and look for recipes that cater to their unique dietary preferences.
Emerging Trends:
The recipe app market is evolving, with the emergence of new trends such as AI-powered recipe recommendations, voice-activated assistants, and smart kitchen appliances. These trends offer a personalized and convenient cooking experience for users and are likely to drive the market’s growth in the coming years.
Survey
A survey was conducted within 20 people and here are the results from the asked questions:
User Personas
After undergoing primary and secondary research, I came up with two user personas as primary users of my app.
User Journey Map
I created a user journey map to help identify pain points and opportunities through his thought process.
Branding
Once the research was done, I started with the design part. I started with the brand identity and came up with the name “Angithi” for the brand. Angithi is the old traditional stove every house used to have. I wanted the branding to be homely but minimal and niche. The logo is a skewer with meatballs on top of the word “Angithi”.
Primary Colours
Typography
Information Architecture
Information architecture (IA) for a recipe app like Angithi involves organising recipes by cuisine, course, ingredients, and dietary preferences. This makes it easy for users to find and filter recipes based on their specific needs. The IA could also include a grocery store section where users can purchase the ingredients needed for a recipe. Overall, the IA is designed to prioritise user needs and preferences to make it easy for them to find and discover new recipes that match their tastes and dietary restrictions.
Wireframes
I created wireframes of the complete app first. I made a prototype and run it through my survey group to identify missing items and improvise the final design.
User Interface
Welcome to Angithi, the recipe app that brings the world of cuisine to your fingertips! With over 33 screens designed to provide a seamless and delightful user experience, Angithi is the perfect companion for anyone looking to discover new recipes, learn from expert chefs, and purchase high-quality ingredients from the comfort of their own home.
App Icon and Splash Screen
Login/Signup
Sign up page is fairly easy to use with a video playing on top showing exactly what kind of recipe app this is.
Onboarding
From the moment you sign up, our onboarding process guides you through the app’s features and functionality, making it easy to get started right away.
Homepage
Our homepage provides a stunning showcase of different cuisines and dishes, and chef channels. You can also access search and profile page from here.
Categories
Our categories section makes it easy to browse recipes by type, course, or dietary preferences.
Search
The search function allows you to quickly find recipes based on keywords, ingredients, or specific dietary requirements
Chef Channels
Our chef channels feature expert cooks from around the world, providing insider tips and techniques for creating amazing meals in your own kitchen.
Explore
Can’t decide what to make? Go through our Explore section. You can watch different recipe video previews just by swiping up and select what you want.
Dish Page
Each dish page provides a detailed overview of the recipe, along with step-by-step instructions and beautiful imagery to inspire you along the way.
Store
Users can buy ingredients directly by clicking button on the recipe page, all ingredients required get display in user’s cart and user can select or deselect items as per his/her needs and proceed to payment checkout.
Profile
User can go to the profile page and change food preferences, access settings, add/edit addresses, track previous payments and refunds. User can also go to Help and get answers if any problem via FAQs
What did I learn?
Here are some key learnings from building a recipe app like Angithi:
User research is essential:
Understanding user needs, preferences, and pain points is critical when designing a recipe app. This information helps to guide the information architecture, user interface, and features of the app to ensure that it meets user needs and is easy to use
IA should prioritise user needs:
The information architecture should be organised in a way that prioritises user needs and preferences, such as by cuisine, course, ingredients, and dietary preferences. This helps users find and filter recipes based on their specific needs.
Search functionality is critical:
The search function is essential to allow users to quickly find recipes based on keywords, ingredients, or specific dietary requirements.
Onboarding should be intuitive:
The onboarding process should guide users through the app’s features and functionality in an intuitive way, making it easy to get started right away.
Chef channels can add value:
Expert chefs can provide insider tips and techniques for creating amazing meals in your own kitchen, adding value to the app and helping users improve their cooking skills.
User interface should be visually engaging:
The user interface should be designed to be visually engaging and easy to navigate. High-quality images and videos can be used to showcase the beauty and complexity of each dish, making browsing and discovering new recipes a delightful experience.
In-App purchases can be beneficial:
Providing a grocery store section where users can purchase the ingredients needed for a recipe can be a beneficial feature that adds value to the app and enhances the user experience.
Final Thoughts
Overall, building a recipe app requires a deep understanding of user needs and preferences, as well as a commitment to creating a visually engaging and intuitive user interface. By prioritising user needs and preferences, recipe apps like Angithi can provide a delightful user experience that makes cooking fun and accessible to everyone.
Do check out the visual case study on Behance and interactions on Dribbble. Show some love. 👏
