I was involved in the pivotal upgrade of Menu Maker, aimed at alleviating the complexities restaurant chains were facing due to the rise of order aggregators like Uber, Grubhub, and more. Our users needed a solution to efficiently manage their POS and delivery menus without the hassle of duplication. The product evolution I contributed to focused on integrating functionality that would sync with these aggregators, streamlining the menu management process, and significantly reducing the manual effort previously required. This enhancement was crucial in ensuring Menu Maker remained a competitive and valuable tool for our users in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Team Structure
I had the opportunity to work under the mentorship of a lead UX designer who headed our dynamic team of three. In Team Charmander, as a designer from the Common Capabilities, within our project roadmap, I led a particular set of feature designs connecting with product management and engineering. This experience was pivotal for me as a junior UX designer, providing insight into the complexities of large-scale product development and the nuances of cross-functional teamwork.
User Research in Sprints
I was actively involved in bi-weekly user research sessions that were instrumental in refining our design. Our process involved hands-on usability studies where we would interact with a prototype and a test subject—often an internal team member not closely familiar with the project—to observe and document any usability challenges and gather feedback on the design's effectiveness. This iterative approach emphasized the importance of user feedback in shaping user-centric design solutions.
User Research in Sprints
I was actively involved in bi-weekly user research sessions that were instrumental in refining our design. Our process involved hands-on usability studies where we would interact with a prototype and a test subject—often an internal team member not closely familiar with the project—to observe and document any usability challenges and gather feedback on the design's effectiveness. This iterative approach emphasized the importance of user feedback in shaping user-centric design solutions.
Revamping Restaurant Menu Management
The Menu Maker project embarked on a deep dive into the restaurant industry to ensure the app's design and functionality perfectly aligned with the fast-food chains’ needs. This crucial phase involved working closely with clients to marry the current application's capabilities with the vision of providing a streamlined menu management solution.
As a junior UX designer on the project, I delved into online menu systems, analyzing their structure to inform our approach. Our collaborative design process was punctuated by regular whiteboarding sessions, fostering a shared understanding across our multi-disciplinary team.
As part of the UX team, I witnessed the evolution of MenuMaker through iterative prototyping and feedback sessions, culminating in a tool that elegantly simplifies menu management for medium-to-large restaurant chains. I learned about team synergy, the scoping of design work, and navigating the shifting sands of product requirements.
Conclusion and Lessons Learned
The team's original design workflow, centered around Sketch and Plant, presented significant challenges. These challenges included a lack of efficient collaboration channels and a robust feedback mechanism. Upon my arrival, it became evident that these constraints were impeding our velocity and affecting the overall quality of our output. Change, especially in a well-established environment, is often met with apprehension. However, the imperative to elevate our design operations was clear, and the potential for improvement was undeniable. With this in mind, I proposed a shift to Figma, drawing on my positive experiences with the platform's collaborative nature and streamlined processes.
After careful consideration and discussions with the UX lead and management, we collectively decided to transition to Figma. This move was strategic, aimed at harnessing Figma's real-time collaboration features and its ability to integrate feedback directly into the design workflow. The switch marked a significant milestone in our project's journey, enhancing our team's productivity and setting a new standard for professionalism and efficiency in our design practices.
By persistently championing user needs, our team managed to keep intricate user needs from complicating the user interface. This project was both challenging and complex, yet it proved to be an incredibly enriching learning opportunity, enhancing my understanding of balancing technical functionality with user-centric design.
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