FoodBadger

FoodBadger: Revolutionizing Food Takeout with Social Connection
Takeout and social media wrapped into one. FoodBadger transforms the traditional food ordering experience by letting you see where friends eat and what they order, bringing trust and connection to every meal.
Project Overview
The Challenge
Design a B2B2C application for a Germany-based food delivery startup that would revolutionize takeout ordering by integrating social media features, allowing users to see friends' eating habits and even gift meals.
My Role
As UX consultant, I led research, user flows, wireframing, visual design, and prototyping efforts for the restaurant-facing side of the application.
Timeline
The project spanned 6 weeks, with multiple iterations of wireframes and prototypes, culminating in 27 final screens and two rounds of user testing with 10 participants.
The Problem Space
Obsolete Ordering Methods
Traditional takeout ordering through phone calls or in-person visits has become outdated in today's digital world.
Market Saturation
Existing takeout applications all provide similar basic functionality without meaningful differentiation.
Missing Social Element
Current food delivery platforms lack the social validation and connection that influences dining decisions.
Complex Restaurant Management
Restaurants needed an intuitive system to manage incoming orders and menu availability.
What Makes FoodBadger Unique
Social Integration
Users can see where friends are eating and what they're ordering, creating a layer of trust and discovery in the food ordering experience.
Gift Purchasing
The platform enables users to surprise friends by purchasing their favorite meals, creating a unique social gifting experience not available on other platforms.
Streamlined Restaurant Tools
Restaurant owners and staff benefit from intuitive menu management and order processing tools designed for various technical skill levels.
Understanding Our Users
Diverse Technical Skills
From tech-savvy teens to older business owners
Fast-Paced Environment
Need for quick, efficient interactions
Visual Organization
Preference for accessible, well-laid-out interfaces
Our research revealed that restaurant staff span a wide age range with varying technical abilities. The system needed to be intuitive enough for those with limited tech experience while efficient enough for busy restaurant environments.
Research Insights
Keep It Simple
The interface must be accessible to users of all technical abilities, from digital natives to those less comfortable with technology.
Lay It All Out
Having options visible rather than buried in menus allows for faster interactions in the fast-paced restaurant environment.
Organize By Type
Clear categorization of order types and statuses helps staff quickly find and process what they need without confusion.
Prioritize Speed
Every interaction should be optimized for rapid completion to accommodate the busy restaurant setting.
User Flow Development
1
Client Requirements
Began with the client's draw.io file to understand their vision and expectations for the application flow.
2
Research Integration
Incorporated findings from industry analysis and restaurant staff interviews to refine the proposed flows.
3
Order Management Flow
Designed a streamlined process for restaurants to receive, approve, prepare, and complete customer orders.
4
Menu Management Flow
Created a system for toggling item availability and managing modifiers within regulatory constraints.
Menu Management Challenges
Infrastructure Limitations
Working within FoodBadger's technical capabilities
Regulatory Constraints
Adhering to food service regulations
Editable Elements
Determining which menu aspects could be modified
Designing the menu management system required careful consideration of what restaurant staff could safely modify themselves versus what would require company approval. We focused on creating toggle controls for availability while maintaining food safety compliance.
Feature: Needs Approval
Order Preview
Staff can quickly view the details of incoming orders to assess whether they can fulfill them.
Proposed Pickup Time
The system displays customer-suggested pickup times, allowing staff to evaluate if the timeframe is feasible.
Time Adjustment
Restaurant staff can modify pickup times based on current kitchen capacity and order complexity.
Accept/Reject Controls
Clear buttons for approving or declining orders help staff make quick decisions during busy periods.
Feature: Scheduled Orders
View Future Orders
See all approved orders scheduled for later pickup
Time Remaining
Countdown until order becomes active
Order Details
Expand to see complete order information
Manual Activation
Move to "Preparing Now" when ready
Feature: Preparing Now
Active Orders Queue
All orders currently being prepared are displayed in a clear, organized list, showing the most urgent orders first based on pickup time.
Expanded View Access
Staff can tap any order to view complete details, including all items, modifiers, and special instructions to ensure accurate preparation.
Mark as Ready
Once an order is complete, a single tap moves it to the "Ready Orders" tab, updating the customer that their food is available for pickup.
Feature: Ready Orders
Completed Orders
List of all orders prepared and waiting for customer pickup, arranged by completion time.
Mark as Picked Up
Staff can confirm when customers collect their orders, moving them to order history.
Queue Management
Ability to reorder items in the queue if certain orders have been waiting for extended periods.
Feature: Menu Management
100%
Visual Menu Overview
Complete view of all menu items organized by category
1-Click
Availability Toggle
Instantly update item availability status
24/7
Real-time Updates
Changes reflect immediately in customer app
The menu management system gives restaurant staff control over what customers can order without requiring complex editing. When ingredients run out or specials change, a simple toggle makes items unavailable to customers in real-time.
Prototype Development
After finalizing wireframes and getting client approval, we developed interactive prototypes for user testing. Each screen was carefully refined through three iterations, with feedback incorporated at every stage to improve usability.
User Testing Insights
Order Flow Clarity
Users appreciated the logical progression of orders through each status.
Visual Organization
The tab-based system received positive feedback for its clear layout and visibility.
Speed of Use
Staff were able to complete tasks quickly after minimal orientation.
Availability Controls
The simple toggle system for menu items was intuitive for users of all technical abilities.
Design Metrics & Impact
Lessons Learned
1
Remote Collaboration
Working with a distributed team across different time zones taught valuable lessons about asynchronous communication and documentation.
2
Client Education
The importance of educating clients about UX best practices early in the process to align expectations and reduce revision cycles.
3
Communication Frequency
More frequent client communication, even when it seems redundant, leads to faster progress and fewer misunderstandings.
4
Timeline Management
Being more direct about deliverable timelines helps prevent getting stuck in feedback loops on early-stage work.
Project Outcomes
Improved Operational Efficiency
The streamlined order management system reduced time spent processing takeout orders by an estimated 40% compared to traditional methods.
Enhanced Menu Control
Restaurants gained the ability to instantly update item availability, reducing customer disappointment from ordering unavailable items.
Market-Ready Solution
The final design was approved for development and is scheduled for market release, positioning FoodBadger competitively in the European takeout space.
Future Considerations
As FoodBadger evolves, potential future enhancements could include advanced analytics for restaurants, AI-powered inventory management, voice control for hands-free operation in busy kitchens, and deeper integration with social features to leverage customer data.
Get in Touch
About This Case Study
This project represents my approach to solving complex UX challenges through thorough research, collaborative design, and iterative testing. While the client name has been changed for confidentiality, the process and outcomes reflect real-world application of user-centered design principles.
If you're interested in learning more about my design process or discussing potential collaboration, I'd love to connect.
Contact Information
Email: hello@designportfolio.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/uxdesigner
Portfolio: designportfolio.com
Services
UX Research & Strategy
Wireframing & Prototyping
UI Design
User Testing