The Problem
Most restaurant discovery platforms rely on maps, ratings, and text-heavy reviews, making it difficult to quickly find places that match users' preferences. As a result, people often switch between social media and map apps for inspiration and information, while existing platforms provide little incentive to contribute content.
The challenge was to design a more engaging, community-driven experience that simplifies restaurant discovery and encourages long-term participation.
What I Did
I conducted the UX research and end-to-end product design, defining user journeys and designing key features.
UX Research
The project began with understanding how people discover restaurants and make dining decisions. Through surveys and user interviews, I identified 3 key pain points:
Choosing between restaurants,
Accessing essential information without leaving the app,
Maintaining an active community.
These insights shaped the product strategy, leading to a visual-first experience where authentic food photos, short reviews, and social interactions help users discover restaurants more naturally and confidently.
UX Design
To streamline the decision-making journey, I designed restaurant pages that integrate opening hours, locations, menus, recommended dishes, and community reviews into a single experience, eliminating the need to switch between multiple apps.
To encourage long-term engagement, I introduced a gamified reward system featuring contributor levels, public recognition, and restaurant collaboration opportunities.
The Solution
Foodie combines visual storytelling, restaurant discovery, and community engagement into one seamless experience. Users can explore authentic dining content, make more informed decisions, and share their own experiences with others. By encouraging meaningful contributions, the platform fosters an active community where discovering great food becomes a shared social experience.
Outcome
User testing showed significant improvements across the restaurant discovery journey.
85% of participants found discovering restaurants faster and more enjoyable, while 75% made dining decisions more efficiently.
Direct access to restaurant information increased click-through rates by 55%, and 80% of users reported greater motivation to contribute through the platform's community rewards.
Overall, restaurant decision-making time was reduced by 40% compared with using social media and map apps separately.
