Projects / Perfect Portions

Perfect Portions

A meal planning application designed by students for students to promote healthier eating habits

Role Business Strategist, UX Designer
Timeline 4 months
Tools Figma, Canva, Miro
Team Edison Lam, Lily Simunovic
Perfect Portions App

Project Overview

Perfect Portions is a mobile application that helps university students develop healthy eating habits by making meal preparation easier and more enjoyable. The app provides recipe recommendations based on ingredients users already have, while taking their busy schedules into account.

This case study outlines the development process, from identifying the problem to creating a solution that addresses the unique needs of busy university students.

The Challenge

Address poor eating habits among university students, who often rely on fast food and delivery services due to time constraints and lack of cooking confidence.

The Solution

A user-friendly meal planning app that works with students' schedules and existing ingredients to make healthy eating more accessible and sustainable.

Research & Discovery

Market Analysis

Extensive research was conducted into the current state of nutrition among Australian young adults, revealing concerning statistics:

  • Only 7% of Australians aged 18+ consume the daily recommended vegetable intake
  • Only 49% consume the daily recommended fruit intake
  • 70% of university students reported high or very high psychological distress
  • Studies showed a clear link between poor nutrition and decreased mental wellbeing
Nutrition Statistics

User Research & Persona Development

Through interviews and surveys with university students, we identified common pain points:

  • Lack of cooking confidence and motivation
  • Addiction to online food delivery services
  • Difficulty finding time to commit to meal preparation
  • Need for solutions that accommodate busy schedules

These insights led to the creation of user personas like "Mitch" - a 20-year-old student who struggles with cooking confidence and time management.

User Persona - Mitch

Problem Definition

Based on the research, several key issues were identified:

  • Students lack time to plan and prepare healthy meals
  • Existing meal planning apps don't account for busy student schedules
  • Many students don't know how to use ingredients they already have
  • Available solutions don't cater to varying cooking skill levels
  • The social aspect of food preparation is often overlooked

Solution Approach

Perfect Portions addresses these challenges through:

  • A recipe generation system that maximizes ingredients users already have
  • Schedule integration that considers class times and study commitments
  • Recipes tailored to varying cooking skill levels
  • Filtering options for cooking appliances, time constraints, and meal types
  • A value proposition focused on making healthy eating accessible to all students

Design Process

Market Positioning & Value Proposition

We analysed the competitive landscape to identify an opportunity area that was both accessible and focused on meal planning for students. Our value proposition was built around three core principles:

  • Why: Healthy eating is a right, not a privilege
  • How: Making food preparation easy and enjoyable
  • What: A free, intuitive app that works with students' schedules
Value Proposition Map

Interface Design & User Flow

The design evolved through multiple iterations, focusing on simplicity and accessibility. Key features included:

  • Ingredient-based recipe finder
  • Calendar integration for meal planning
  • Shopping list generation
  • Progress tracking for nutrition goals
App Evolution

Growth Strategy

I developed a three-horizon growth strategy for the application:

  • Horizon 1: Partnerships with food providers and cooking appliance advertisers
  • Horizon 2: Social component allowing users to share recipes and progress
  • Horizon 3: Premium service with enhanced content and features
Growth Strategy

Final Design

Recipe Generation System

The core feature that maximizes ingredients users already have in their pantry, with filtering options for cooking appliances, time limits, and meal types.

Recipe Finder

Calendar Integration

Allows users to plan meals around their schedule, set reminders, and view their weekly meal plan alongside other commitments.

Calendar View

Accessibility Features

Designed to be accessible to users of all backgrounds, with multi-language support, dietary restriction filters, and mobile optimization.

Dietary Filters

Outcomes & Learnings

Success Criteria

The Perfect Portions app successfully met all three of our key criteria:

  • Schedule Integration: Accommodates student timetables and commitments
  • Accessibility: Works across devices, languages, and dietary needs
  • Engagement: Makes healthy eating enticing and manageable

Key Learnings

Throughout this project, I gained valuable insights about:

  • The importance of understanding user context when designing lifestyle applications
  • How to balance business goals with a social mission
  • The value of a clear, focused value proposition
  • Techniques for designing for varied technical capabilities and preferences
Project Outcomes

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