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Donations Only

Food Truck Ordering Application

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

La Borreguita is a food truck that seeks to spark social change. It runs on donations and features a mobile app that lets customers place orders and donate if they wish. Owner Kim Holt has given free rein to create the product, and a strategy for product development is in the works.

We created a sample group to represent our target population and carefully planned out our research timeline, which took seven weeks to complete. From analyzing the qualitative data, two important points emerged: (1) The importance of organizing community gardens and farms in collaboration with nonprofits; and (2) Ensuring access to healthy food and education for all, regardless of socioeconomic status.

In our second week of research, we found that no mobile apps exist for donating to food trucks. To gather user data, we used screener questions, interviews, and audio recordings, then analyzed it with empathy maps and affinity diagrams. We created personas and used journey maps, storyboards, and annotated wireflows to make the user path intuitive. With prototyping and feedback, we enhanced the functionality and visual design. After a few revisions, we created an interactive product with two user journeys.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

EXPERIENCE DESIGN

My creative process depended largely on following the project plan and sprint schedule precisely. There were long night and days of wearing many hats and composing deliverables for meeting deadlines. Each week presented new challenges and learning opportunities. Learning all of the detail in the UX process and being to apply them, to the best of my ability. The intricate process of wire framing, connecting art boards, and pattern recognition in Adobe XD, taught me lessons in interaction design and information architecture that I had very little prior knowledge of. 60 hour per week were spent working on this project. Client meetings and seeing what the other teams were producing, guided this experience.

In designing La Borreguita’s user experience the focus was on simplicity of use and intuitive navigation. Clear messaging about the movement and its mission to serve were articulated in the choice of words and its call to action. User research interviews were conducted yielding insights, goals and ideas for branding voice and tone. Also, the establishment of user scenarios and stories were used to construct a task flow for selecting food items, tipping, and payment processing. A thorough analysis of data research findings allowed me to derive two main types users (donor and and volunteer) and four main features for the application: 1) food truck locator; 2) food ordering; 3) donation platform, and; 4) payment processing. Personas, affinity diagrams, empathy maps, story boards, and wire-flows shaped the design layout for the application. All of the artifacts produced from user research aided in visualization of user interaction, possible pain-points and changes in emotional user state throughout the journey.

RESEARCH TRENDS

T1: All participants agreed that the mobile application should have a live truck location feature. T2: All felt that the truck

should feature local farms and gardens. T3: Five out of six participants said that they would donate money to the organization.

T4: Five out of six said they would volunteer their time. T5: Four out of six said that food insecurity exists across different

socio economic communities. T6: Four out of six said that the government should provide solutions to food insecurity. T7: Five out of six believe that a mobile application would be useful for this concept. T8: Everyone thought that community gardens are important in addressing issues related to food security. T9: Again, all participant thought that student performance is impacted by poor nutrition. T10: All interviewees said that there is a correlations between poor nutrition and lack of access to quality grocery stores.

Clearly, research findings indicate a positive response for a mobile application with a live truck location feature. Study participants saw a need for the organization of community gardens without government intervention. They felt that a

non-profit food truck should feature protein from local farms and produce from local gardens. Everyone interviewed in this study, expressed a sincere interest in donating time and money. Also, research interviews uncovered overwhelming support

and positive feedback for this idea, as a possible solution to the problem of food insecurity. Additionally, with proper

structuring, a mobile application, and foundational funding, this concept, would be scalable on a local, regional, state, national and global level. Naturally, certain geo-localities would have to take into account, adaptations to the model, accommodating

for: language, culture, religion and diet.

Tanya, while visiting her aunt sees a food truck with vibrant colors and a crowd of people. As she approaches the scene, aromas fill the air and a melody sets the mood. The folks standing in line are excited, talking among themselves, and joyful. A sign reads, “ Go toN www.laborreguita.org for info about the movement.Tanya, accesses the La Borreguita website and learns about the concept, date of inception, non-profit mission statement, volunteer opportunities, goals for the future, and looks at the menu.

At a glance, Tanya sees a list of foundations and other sponsors that support the organization, and out of curiosity, Tanya wants to sample the food. Using the “La Borreguita” online ordering application Tanya chooses a food truck location and selects three tacos. Then chooses corn tortillas, white rice, black beans, and lamb. She adds guacamole, sour cream, salsa, and an horchata drink. Next, she confirms her order.

Scenario Two: Placing an Order & Donating

Scenario Three: An Invitation to Lunch

FINANCIAL

AID

A colleague invites Donald to have lunch at La Borreguita. Donald’s friend explains to him what the non-profit food truck movement is all about, and the communities that are served. Donald’s initial response to his friend’s information is apprehension. Donald and his friend head over to the food truck for lunch, where they access the La Borreguita application to place their order. Donald uses the app to individually customize three tacos and adds a water.

Scenario Four: Tipping & Order Pick-Up

FINANCIAL

AID

Donald confirms his order and selects “not today” on the “support the movement” screen. Instead, he leaves a tip for the volunteers. Donald receives a text notification that his order is ready for pick-up. Donald proceeds to the pick-up window where he gets his food. Donald and his colleague eat their meal and head back to the condo association meeting.

PERSONA DEVELOPMENT

PLACING A FOOD ORDER JOURNEY MAP

Tanya, a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts from Maryland, earned an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Doctorate of Dental Surgery (DDS) from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. As a dentist, she sees many dental issues in her patients, largely due to a sugar and carbohydrate-rich diet lacking in fruits and vegetables. While visiting her aunt in Deanwood, Tanya discovered a food truck called "La Borreguita" with

a modern branding. She learned about the organization's mission, menu, and made a donation, and was pleasantly surprised when customers queued up to order via the LB website. Tanya loved the food and volunteered the next day to help the non-profit food-truck to deliver fresh, wholesome food to underprivileged areas.

PERSONA DEVELOPMENT CONT’D

PLACING AN ORDER JOURNEY MAP

Donald, from Bethesda, MD, lives in a quiet Silver Spring-Chevy Chase border neighborhood. Donald practiced condominium conversion law in Washington, D.C. An Anacostia condo association board member invites him to lunch one afternoon.

A colleague tells Donald about "La Borreguita," a low-income nonprofit. Donald never donates to charities or organizations because he thinks the government should solve hunger. He doesn't want to eat at a soup kitchen with the homeless after

a long day. The smells, sounds, and atmosphere captivate Donald as they approach. He orders via the "La Borreguita" app, according to the food truck sign. Donald orders one taco online. Brown rice, red beans, lamb, guacamole, and flour tortilla.

Two more tacos and water. Donald orders, tips volunteers,

and picks up.

Flow Chart

Creating a visualization of the concept is an instrumental guide in detailing the framework of interactions and decision points within the application.

Annotated Wires

Wire Review Feedback

These images are the before and after landing screens. They had elements that were confusing. The terms appeared more like hyperlinks, rather than mission statement.

Wire Review Feedback (cont'd)

Above are the confirmation screens, both before and after. The main issue brought to my attention by the client was that the before screens “confirmation” button and “start over” button did not look like navigational elements.

Wire Review Feedback (cont'd)

The client stated that messaging was unclear and that user may not know how to order or go about making decision. I was advised to inspect other food ordering applications and incorporate a more functional design into the product.

Thank You

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