Poke Spots App

What Is Poke Spots?

Poke Spots is a mobile poke ordering app created for my Google UX Certificate. I designed it end-to-end, applying research, ideation, and UX principles.

Project Limitations

As my first UX/UI project, I navigated a steep learning curve with Figma and UX processes, but leveraged my Industrial Design background to apply strong user-centered problem-solving skills.

• Covid-19 restrictions limited direct access to the store owner.
• Adapted by conducting interviews through phone call with store owners and direct with housemates.

Date
2019

My Roles
UX Designer

Tools Used
Pen & Paper, Figma

Deliverables
Wireframes, Low/High Fidelity Mockups, User Interview Results, Prototypes

Industry
Food Ordering

Time Period
1 Month

The Problem

Problem Statement

A restaurant owner needs a way to translate their dine-in quality to digital ordering because even small drops in satisfaction can hurt reviews and revenue.

The Solution

Gamifying the experience. 

This will benefit shops by...

attracting customers to frequently shop at their desired poke restaurant.

Increase shop ratings and revenue by meeting customer expectations.

The Research

Persona 1 - Shopper

Kristy Lane

Meet a 26-year-old art student, new to the world of poke but loving it despite being a picky eater. Her busy schedule means she orders online, having plenty of cafe apps to satisfy her coffee cravings.

"Price and benefits really matter."

"Mobile ordering should be like ordering in person."

About Her

• Picky eater
• Busy art student
• Can't cook
• Self expressive
• Dietary restrictions
• Loves coffee

Pain Points

• A picky eater that needs to visualize her orders.

• She misses the in-person experience but can't afford the time to wait due to her hectic schedule.

• Has tons of food-ordering apps.

Persona 2 - Owner

Kenji Tanaka

Kenji is a 50-year-old small business owner who runs a local poke shop. His store thrived pre-COVID thanks to its customizable bowls, friendly clerk interactions, and vibrant in-store atmosphere. After COVID, much of his business shifted online, where generic delivery platforms stripped away the personal touch his once provided.

“Before COVID, people came here for the vibe as much as the food. Now, delivery makes every poke shop look the same.”

“The personal touch used to set us apart. Now, I feel invisible behind the delivery platforms.”

About Him

• First generation immigrant running a family store
  
• Values freshness, authenticity, and community relationships
  
• Relies on delivery apps like UberEats and DoorDash.
  

Pain Points

• Delivery apps don't represent the customization he offers in-store and this causes low ratings. 
  
• He can't differentiate his store from competitors within delivery apps, since every poke shop looks the same on delivery apps.

Market Research

Overall in the market...

Poke’s niche lies in local shops, unlike the widespread sandwich chains.

Well-known shops have a more established app compared.

No app has shown any effort to resemble their in-person shopping experience virtually.

Key Pages

Customization

Poke Spots' character customization fosters inclusivity and allows users to express themselves through skin color and clothes.

Food Ordering

Ordering from Poke Spots replicates the in-person experience with customizable quantities and details.

Home Page

4 out of 5 participants preferred the app's simple language, AAA accessibility score, and complementary colors.

Quick access to points, the store, and the closet drives purchases, supporting both users and businesses.

"Everyday English words and phrases, that's good."
Participant D

Entering A Store

This small animation detail helps give the "in-person" and gamifying experience.

Design Changes

Avatar Skin Colors

Problem

5/5 participants were overwhelmed by the variety of skin color choices.

Solution

By averaging similar tones, the 50 skin shades were simplified to 6.

Ordering

4/5 participants struggled with the "ABC 123" format, making it a critical issue.

I incorporated the "ABC 123" format into the top table, expanding the text box area for clear display of ingredients.

Home Page

Users found the text size too small; adjusting it affected the overall application design.

Using realistic values and prioritizing the main goal of an in-person ordering experience led to a redesign.

Quicksand Typeface

Quicksand font's rounded corners offer a welcoming feel.

Colors & Icons

Limited color use to 3, mainly derived from the store's icons.

App Logo

App graphic inspired by popular poke bowl ingredients.

Recieved Feedback

Adjectives Used

Fun, Seamless, Different, Informative, Visual

Overall Score: 4/5

"It's like a tailored Doordash for Poke."

Participant S

"I liked how the table at the top got updated whenever I ordered just in case if I forget the previous food. In person I can see what I chose, but it's different online."

Participant S

"This app is better than my usual in-store ordering experience because the steps are really clear and no time pressure."

Participant D

Looking Back

What I Did Well

Crafted a distinctive, unmatched app concept with no counterparts in the market.

Validated assumptions through successful user testing.

Delved deeper into potential users and identified issues.

What I Can Do Later

Create an application focused on the enterprise side (Poke stores).

Research poke shop issues and solve them in the app.

What I Would Do Differently

Interview diverse individuals with varied poke experiences across age groups.

Expand avatar customization with more options from hats to shoes.