I recently had the chance to enroll for the Google UX certification course and as a part of the course I was required to solve a problem by creating an app for users that would make it easier to order food from food trucks.
User experience design user interface design
App for food trucks
August 2021
I recently had the chance to enroll for the Google UX certification course and as a part of the course I was required to solve a problem by creating an app for users that would make it easier to order food from food trucks.
The problem
With the ease in pandemic norms in the post covid era, people are once again starting to crave their favorite foods, be it from fancy restaurants or road side food trucks.
Hundreds of local food truck owners are back on the streets selling food and trying to reach out to a large number of people to grow their business. Even the people are out to grab a bite from their favorite food trucks while still wanting to be safe from covid by avoiding huge crowds.
These new age users need a newer way to order their favorite food to solve the new and a few older problems:
1. Long Queues
People usually prefer food trucks when they are in a hurry and need to grab a quick bite. This gets difficult if the truck is crowded. Waiting in long queues to place orders and then collecting them. These queues also brings up the risk of contracting the corona virus. (Image Source)
2. Accessibility
Food Trucks are generally parked on side walks or sometimes even further away from the road which reduces accessibility for the physically challenged. Their counters are also usually at a height too high for people in wheelchairs. (Image Source)
3. Drive-thru orders
Food Trucks generally don’t have the luxury of space to provide their customers with the option of drive-thru. It gets very inconvenient for the customers with cars to place their orders.
4. Tracking
Food trucks are usually moving and don’t have a fixed spot, which makes it difficult for the user to track them. Sometimes they also have limited supplies and close services when they run out of supplies for the day, which makes it difficult for a customer to keep a track of the operating hours. (Image Source)
User journey of a typical customer trying to order food from a truck.
How will this app work for the customers?
A customer needs to have the app installed on their phone. To begin with the app, the customer simply needs to sign up or log in to the app.
The design solution
1. Login screen
2. Discover food trucks nearby
3. Locate/ call/ Toggle between pickup or drive-thru and add items to order
4. Order confirmation screen for self pickup
5. Order confirmation screen for drive-thru with an option to input vehicle details or select pre saved vehicles
6. Order summary and confirmation screen upon successful payment