Skills Portfolio: Seed N Salt UX & App Design
https://sites.google.com/mtroyal.ca/quinn-info-1610-001/home
This capstone project was a deep, end-to-end exploration of the user-centered design process. The goal was to identify a real-world problem at a local café—Seed N Salt—and design a digital solution that genuinely enhanced the customer experience, from discovery to a tested prototype.
Problem?
Through initial research, I discovered that Seed N Salt's customers, primarily busy professionals and health-conscious individuals, valued quality but were often frustrated by wait times and a lack of personalized, efficient ordering options during peak hours. The existing process couldn't scale to meet demand without sacrificing the warm, community-focused brand identity.
Solution?
The solution was a user-friendly mobile app designed to streamline the ordering process. The app featured a "Quick Order" function, a integrated loyalty program ("Seed Balance"), and clear pick-up/delivery options. This directly addressed the core need for speed and personalization, while features like order tracking and detailed customization maintained the brand's commitment to quality and customer care.
Process
This project was a practical application of the entire design lifecycle:
Research: I conducted ethnographic interviews with both employees and customers, and distributed surveys to gather qualitative and quantitative data.
Synthesis: I translated research into actionable insights using affinity mapping, Point of View (POV) statements, user personas, and journey maps.
Ideation: Rapid brainstorming techniques, like "30 ideas in 30 minutes," led to concepts that were visualized through storyboards.
Prototyping & Testing: I built a high-fidelity wireframe for the app and validated it through social media polls and targeted questionnaires with previous research participants, achieving a 97% usability satisfaction rate.
The project was executed using a suite of tools: Adobe Illustrator for the synthesis mindmap, Adobe InDesign for layout and documentation, Figma for the app wireframe structure, and Canva for polishing the final prototype visuals and presentation materials.
Project Details
Project: Seed N Salt UX & App Design
My Role: UX Researcher, UI Designer, Project Lead
Key Skills Demonstrated:
End-to-End UX Process
Ethnographic Research & Synthesis
Wireframing & Prototyping
Usability Testing & Analysis
Visual Design & Brand Alignment
Software & Tools Used:
Figma (Primary Wireframing)
Adobe Illustrator (Mindmap)
Adobe InDesign (Documentation)
Canva (Presentation & Polish)
Key Outcome:
A validated app prototype that received 97% positive feedback for usability and brand alignment, with actionable insights for future development.