Larissa Oh
•
Chefie
Larissa Oh • Chefie
—>
A recipe AI that saves money and time for health, eco-friendly individuals • Chefie
Product Designer
3 weeks • End-to-end iOS app design
Concept • UX • UI
By recommending recipes based on available ingredients, Chefie reduces food waste, leading to fresher meals, a positive impact on the environment, and less money spent on groceries. Additionally, the easy-to-use image recognition saves users time on recipe selection. Chefie is targeted to
⬇ 80% food waste at household level
⬇ 80% time to select ingredients
Food is inevitably a major part of our lives. For those who are fortunate, they eat a wide variety of foods, multiple times a day. However, for those unfortunate individuals, food can sometimes be a luxury. There are millions and millions of people suffering from hunger and undernourishment every year. Food waste is not just an environmental issue, it is a societal problem.
For young adults like myself, who are often navigating newfound independence and budget constraints, minimizing food waste becomes a personal challenge too. We strive for healthy, cost-effective home cooking, but good intentions often clash with reality.
Through interviews with young adults, I discovered a common theme, inconsistent cooking skills and poor planning resulted in frequent food waste and feeling guilty. 6 out of 6 participants reported throwing away ingredients at least once a week due to impulsive purchases, bulk buying, and forgetfulness, and sometimes, just the spontaneity of life.
Tools with recipe finders, meal planners, and pantry trackers are everywhere. However, young adults need a flexible tool that adapts to the ingredients they already have at home. No more strict meal prep or unnecessary grocery trips. What if they can simply take photos of the ingredients with their phone and instantly get recipe recommendations?
By introducing personalization and image recognition to a recipe tool, users save time and effort getting tailor-made recommendations that fit their taste buds while also using every last bits of their available ingredients, ultimately, reducing food waste. This combination not only makes cooking more sustainable but also more enjoyable and convenient.
Chefie’s design language reflects the guiding principles of fun and excitement for a mobile app, and green for a sustainability solution. The app boasts a bright, playful color palette with cheerful illustrations throughout. This creates an inviting and engaging experience for young adults, making sustainable cooking feel less like a chore.
During usability testing with young adults, Chefie made a strong first impression. Users found it fun and easy to use, particularly appreciating its intuitive interface and image recognition technology. They recognized the tool’s value in helping them reduce food waste and discover new recipe ideas. However, some suggested adding onboarding tips for first-time users and enhancing the interaction of specific components for a more engaging experience. These feedback were incorporated into the next iteration.
Chefie is an AI-powered tool that scans users’ fridge and pantry, suggesting suitable dishes based on their exact ingredients. No more wasted groceries or endless recipe searches. With each use, Chefie learns the users’ preferences, recommending dishes they will enjoy.
While the MVP focuses on the recipe finder, the product roadmap includes additional features to further improve the user experience. Considering the user feedback in the initial testing, I will likely explore and prioritize incorporating cooking demo videos and recipe ratings and reviews and introducing Mix, an online community for Chefies to connect, share recipes, and possibly cook together.