CupScout: Connecting Coffee Lovers Through Shared Experiences

 

In this 6-week solo project from July to August 2021, I designed CupScout, a platform aimed at connecting coffee enthusiasts with local cafes and fostering creativity within the coffee community.

Timeline

July – August 2021 (6 Weeks)

My Role:

UX Strategy, Research, Design, Architecture (Solo Project)

The Challenge

With a large percentage of Americans consuming coffee daily and many looking to perfect their coffee-making skills, there was a clear need for a platform to connect users with local cafes and inspire growth in the coffee community.

    The Solution

    CupScout was designed to:

    • Connect home baristas with cafe counterparts

    • Enable cafe discovery and personalization

    • Provide personalized drink recommendations

    Research and Insights
    To validate the market need, I conducted foundational research including:

    • Analysis of coffee consumption trends
    • Competitive analysis of similar apps
    • Survey of 25 users

    Key Findings

    • 62% of Americans consume coffee daily (National Coffee Association)
    • 76% tried to perfect their coffee drink during quarantine (OnePoll)
    • Users desire personalized experiences and the ability to contribute content

    Design Solution

    Inspiration and Ideation

    • Browsed designs on Mobbin and Dribbble for coffee app inspiration
    • Conducted a Crazy 8’s exercise for rapid low-fidelity layout ideation

    Brand Identity and Visual Elements

    • Created a basic style guide for visual consistency

    • Defined brand imagery and identity elements

    • Utilized gradients for background elements to create visual interest

    • Incorporated large, appealing product imagery to showcase coffee drinks

    • Designed clear call-to-action buttons for key user actions

    User Testing and Iteration

    Five users tested the high-fidelity prototype using Lookback. Key feedback included:

    • Need for consistent data representation
    • Desire for more options in favoriting drinks
    • Request for easy access to cafe menus

    Looking Forward

    With more time, future iterations of CupScout will focus on

    • Further refining the design based on user feedback
    • Implementing WCAG AAA standards for improved accessibility
    • Expanding features to drive deeper insights and community engagement

    Key Takeaways

    • Visual Clarity: Uniform design and dynamic feedback significantly improved the user experience.
    • Motivation Through Gamification: The rewards system effectively encouraged user engagement.
    • User Empowerment: Keeping users informed of their progress in the setup process motivated them to complete their profiles.
    • Iterative Design: User feedback was crucial in refining and optimizing the final design.