Chowser A Community Chowser FoodShare Application Food Sharing Application Prototype (Adobe XD) DePaul University 2020 Lead Roles: UX/UI Wireframing, Prototyping and Implementation, Primary Research, User Testing, Design Strategy, Organization, Documentation Additional Contributions: Photography and Copywriting Chowser is a FoodShare service application that allows users to function as “Neighbors” by donating food to local pantries or compost facilities. Participants may also sign up as “Drivers” who transport provisions from their neighborhood to community storehouses. Overview: In the winter of 2020, as part of a user centered design course at DePaul University, I led a team in creating the prototype for an application that helps stem food waste in the United States. At the project’s outset, we were unsure of what solution we could provide, but knew two things for certain: 30-40% of our nation’s food makes its way into trash bins every year and the members our community remain eager for an alternative. Our guiding initial principle was getting food to those most in need by working with local restaurants and food pantries. To account for expired goods, past the point of consumption, we considered a sustainable composting solution. A digital marketplace was also proposed as a place to buy and sell unused grocery items within a confined radius to neighbors. To gauge our potential user’s interest, we devised an extensive survey that was distributed via e-mail to 17 active participants. The results were clear, people were most comfortable with a service that would pick-up and Project Overview Project redistribute unused food from their homes that operates on a digital platform. Chowser is a FoodShare service With this information, we conducted a competitive analysis for companies operating in the market sector and began mapping out the core functionality of application that allows users to our system. function as “Neighbors” by donating food to local pantries or From our research, we discovered our users were interested in both donating food and contributing to a volunteer service. Taking this into account, our compostfacilities. Particpants may application works in tandem by allowing users to donate food while also also sign up as “Drivers” who providing them with the opportunity to schedule hours, on a weekly basis, to transport provisions from their deliver food within the local community. neighborhood to community Throughout the design process we continuously polled users to ensure our storehouses. design remained viable. This meant cutting core components, like the (P2P) marketplace to make the application more feasible and boosting particular features such as user analytics to increase desirability. This feedback was actualized through formal controlled (scripted/recorded) user testing as well as continuous informal trials of various iterations by friends, family, industry professionals and classmates. [Supporting Materials] – Following the classroom’s project completion, I took the information collected in our primary research, competitive analysis and multiple presentations and authored the infographics for digital and print contained within this page. In the United States, 30-40% of the nationwide food supply goes to waste every year. The Food and Agricultural Organization estimates annual global food waste volume is at1.3 Billion tons. Competitive Analysis As a group we set out to survey our community’s interest in combat- Food Waste : ting this world wide problem, in order to help devise a solution thats Across the globe, food share applications remain sparse. The handful that operate vary in together viable, desireable and feasible for reducing our carbon selection, scope, implimentation, and revenue. The best share a compelling interest in food footprint. Primary Research redistribution and currently service narrow, predominately interational, regions. Our team’s To begin our explorator, we conducted a survey via google forms, that research focuses on OLIO (UK) Flash Food (Canada) and Food For All (Boston). we sent out via e-mail to participants. The following are the results. Brand Purpose Style Value Proposition Tagline Core Products & Services Inclusive Colorful and Modern Hyperlocal food sharing Share More Items offered at no cost. General Resourceful Basic but busy through a network of Waste Less Volunteer based pick up Residence Technology ambitious Poor copy neighbors and local shops and devlivery system. Save time and money Illustration Heavy Helps grocers sell soon to Save money while Users purchase items 17 Reduce GHG Emissions Trendy and Clean expire items at a deep reducing food waste through application for Participants 100% asdf Minimalist discount to consumers in-store pick up. Access to quality and Urban sensibility Prevent meals from going Delicious meals Food sold at reduced cost 18-34 convience Tech oriented to waste by making quality should be tasted, to consumer, while gener- not wasted. Years of Age Reduce waste Minimalist food available to public. ating income for buisness. Digitally Fluent City Suburbs SmartPhone Users Platform Marketing Channels Strengths Weaknesses Platform Distinction Mobile Application Volunteer, LinkedIn, Free items, Food Saftey Lacks income Volunteer Based Website YouTube, Instagram, Management System, opportunity for Donation Only Behavior $ Facebook, Twitter Environmental and Social businesses P2P Sharing Impact Reports. Expenses $150 per week on food $ Mobile Application YouTube, Instagram, Localized Business, Mobile application Grocers sell to consumer at $ Facebook, Twitter Discounted Purchases, exclusivity a discount Cooking All Prepare food at Home Rewards/Loyalty Program Mobile Application YouTube, Instagram, Largest Food Surplus Consumer selection Restaurants sell to Dining Out 2-3x per week: bring left-overs home Website Facebook, Twitter Marketplace, limited to partner consumer at a discount Restaurant Partnerships restuarants. Food Disposal 75% surveyed throw away uneaten food 2x or more a month Community Technology Benchmarks Lyft Activites Smart Phones Technological fluency is key to our application’s Majority involved in education, 100% of those suveryed have success and because the average spritual and Local volunteering. web enabled mobile devices. participant is familiar with a variety of ride and Pro-Sustainability Social Media home share programs, we chose to Uber, Lyft All intersted in waste reduction Involvement 95% of respondents are active in and enviromental impovement digital social spaces and AirBnB as best in pactice examples. Sched- uling will prove key to the programs’ success. so Uncertainty Useage While participants want to No strangers to the internet. we took cues from Thumbtack. To further cater improve their communites, half Partipants reported spending an to the digital marketplace, we reviewed Offer are unsure of how to help. average of 4hrs online per day. Up. Recycling e-Commerce 82% have recycling in their Most view the web as a viable Map Activity Report homes, and half would like an Share Culture market place. 82% purchase or alternative form of food disposal All particpants reported the use of ride and sell items through online. rental share applications. With an over- whelming support for recurring use and AirBnB Thumbtack OLIO 100%positive experiences. Majority comfortable with service that Solutions 80% Donate picks up unused food items from Peer to Business home and transports for donatation. Survey participants were provided with three key alternatives to trash disposal. More than half interested in offering Respondents were overwhelming inter- 53% Share grocery items to neighbors at no ested in dontating food. Whereas, there Peer to Peer charge for local pick up. was little interest in selling items and almost none in purchasing groceries 1/3rd are interested in generating from neighbors. 30% Sell income from unsed food items. Peer to Peer 80% would not buy neighbor’s food. On Boarding Scheduling Side Navigation News Feed User Personas Documentation Ideation User Survey Alex Sam Age: 31 years old Age: 22 years old Location: Uptown, Chicago Location: Ukrainian Village, Chicago Education : Masters Degree in Communications Student Informed Education : Bachelors Degree in Political Science Profession: Fundraising Development Specialist Profession: Barista Interests: Environmentalism, Education, Public Interests: Journalism, Social Media, Music Health and Human Rights Sustainability Advocate “Preserving our planet’s future “Staying informed is the first through community service ” step towards progress” Goals: Alex wants to find easy ways to support issues she cares about Lower income college student. most, while simultaneously contributing to what she already does as a volunteer and philanthropist. Although Sam’s schedule keeps him too busy to volunteer or have many extra curricular activities, he’s very informed on global issues and wants Frustrations: Finding easy ways to encourage her peers to commit to to get involved. environmental sustainability. Sam is interested in politics and is very liberal. He always supports Sketch Wireframes Digital Wireframes Key Opportunities: Platform for Alex to easily contribute to food waste policies that address climate change, health care, and the wealth gap. elimination and promote ways other people can become active volunteers/donors. Very tech savvy and is highly active on social media, especially Twitter. Channel Engagement Channel Engagement WEB WEB SOCIAL SOCIAL PERSON-TO-PERSON