For this project, I took a different approach to user research, focusing deeply on a specific user to ensure the app worked for both average users and niche cases. Mo’s halal requirements were particularly important to consider in a shared environment, especially when the food he consumes is not always purchased directly by him.

I conducted a deep dive into Mo’s life, journey, and pain points, which were consistently referenced throughout the app’s design process. An article on religious food choice among British Muslims by Owais, Patel, and Abbott (2024) revealed that important factors to consider for British Muslims when buying food are trusting infamiliar food providers, verification of halal authenticity, and abiding by Islamic Jurisprudence. This is important to consider in a shared environment, especially if the food he eats is not always bought directly by Mo himself.

To map out the necessary screens, I plotted a golden path highlighting all key stages of Mo’s user journey. This effectively served as a site map, encompassing every screen required for the app.

Using the Crazy Eights process, I generated multiple interface sketches showcasing different layouts and features. These were then dot-voted by other designers and potential users to identify the most suitable concept.

The interfaces underwent several iterations (the image above shows three key stages), with user testing at each stage to ensure concerns were addressed early in the design process.

Colours, typeface, and typographic hierarchy were carefully considered throughout. Nunito was chosen for its clean geometric structure and rounded terminals, keeping the app modern and sleek while remaining warm and approachable.

The images above showcase each interface, designed specifically to address one of Mo’s pain points, making it the ideal solution for users like Mo and other students living in shared accommodation.