Cookin' Cubby (in progress)

Cookin’ Cubby

Case Study

March 2024 - Current

Deliverables: Web App in development

Project Overview

Many people struggle with deciding what to cook based on the ingredients they already have at home. Traditional recipe sites often require users to search manually, leading to frustration, wasted time, and unnecessary food waste. Additionally, food insecurity is a growing issue among students and low-income households, making meal planning an even greater challenge

To address these problems, Cookin’ Cubby was developed as a smart recipe search engine that allows users to:

• Find recipes based on available ingredients at home

• Filter recipes by dietary restrictions, price range, and cuisine type

• Discover and bookmark recipes for future reference.

• Engage in a community forum to share and discuss recipes.

• Receive smart shopping and substitution tips for missing ingredients

  
  

By simplifying meal planning and reducing food waste, Cookin’ Cubby helps users save time, money, and ingredients, while also fostering a supportive cooking community.

My Contributions

Role: Lead Product Designer / Researcher

• Conducted survey analysis to identify common cooking habits and food waste issues

• Created the brand kit and design system

• Designed the high-fidelity web app prototype in Figma

• Created an intuitive ingredient-based search system with smart filtering options, utilizing data gathered during research

• Led usability testing, refining the interface based on user feedback.

  
  

The Problem

1. Users struggle to decide what to cook with the ingredients they have at home

2. Food insecurity problem for households and college students

3. Traditional recipe websites require manual searching, making it time-consuming and frustrating, and not beneficial depending on what the users have at hand

4. Ingredient waste is common, as people often forget or don’t know how to use their remaining ingredients.

   
   

   

   
   

The Solution

Cookin’ Cubby simplifies cooking decisions by allowing users to input available ingredients and receive personalized recipe suggestions.

🔍 Ingredient-Based Recipe Search

• Users can input multiple ingredients to generate recipes using what they already have.

• Smart filters for dietary restrictions, price range, and cuisine type

📌 Recipe Discovery & Bookmarking

• Users can browse trending recipes and bookmark favorites for later.

• Popular ingredient suggestions help inspire new meal ideas.

🛒 Smart Shopping & Substitution Tips

• Ingredient substitution suggestions for missing items.

• Shopping list feature with estimated prices for missing ingredients.

💬 Community & Social Interaction

• Forum for users to share recipes, tips, and cooking advice.

• Recipe rating and reviews for community-driven recommendation

🎨 Intuitive & Accessible UI

• Simple, clean design for easy navigation.

• Dark mode for a comfortable viewing experience.

  
  

The Process

User Research & Survey Analysis

A survey was conducted to understand users' cooking habits and common frustrations. Key findings included:

• Top purchased ingredients: Eggs, rice, chicken, milk, bread

• Users want a quick way to find recipes using what they already have

• Filters for price, dietary restrictions, and missing ingredients were highly requested

  
  

Wireframing & Prototyping

Designed a high-fidelity prototype in Figma, ensuring a clean, structured layout for ease of use.

• Search System: Ingredient input with real-time recipe suggestions.

• Discover: Recipe search and discover page like traditional recipe apps, users get personalized recommendations.

• My Cubby: users can save recipes they like or upload their own

• Community Forum: A space to share recipes and discuss cooking techniques

Some of the prototype that is in progress

Usability Testing & Feedback

Tested with college students and home cooks, leading to key refinements:

• Users wanted clearer navigation → Improved layout and filter design.

• Some struggled with search results → Added ingredient substitution suggestions.

• Dark mode was a popular request → Implemented for accessibility.

Results

📈 Increased user engagement – Positive feedback from students and budget-conscious home cooks.

🛒 Enhanced food sustainability – Helps reduce food waste and supports affordable meal planning.

💡 Scalable for future development – Potential integration with grocery stores for ingredient pricing.

This project successfully simplifies home cooking, reduces food waste, and supports budget-conscious users, making meal planning effortless and accessible.