Eat Together
Connecting college students overshared meals and common interests
Iterative Design
Collaboration
Usability/Accessibility
Prototyping
Wireframing
Context
Eat Together is a student-run startup app launched in September 2023 at the University of Washington, designed to connect college students over shared meals and interests. The app promotes community building and social connections by focusing on shared values and activities. I joined the team in November 2023 as a UX Designer, where I contributed to improving the app’s design system, user experience, branding, and visual hierarchy.
Context
Eat Together is a student-run startup app launched in September 2023 at the University of Washington, designed to connect college students over shared meals and interests. The app promotes community building and social connections by focusing on shared values and activities. I joined the team in November 2023 as a UX Designer, where I contributed to improving the app’s design system, user experience, branding, and visual hierarchy.
Context
Eat Together is a student-run startup app launched in September 2023 at the University of Washington, designed to connect college students over shared meals and interests. The app promotes community building and social connections by focusing on shared values and activities. I joined the team in November 2023 as a UX Designer, where I contributed to improving the app’s design system, user experience, branding, and visual hierarchy.
UX/UI Designer
November 2023 - June 2024
Huy Mai, Pim Jitnavasathien,
Mumtaz Sheikhaden
UX/UI Designer
November 2023 - June 2024
Huy Mai, Pim Jitnavasathien,
Mumtaz Sheikhaden
Challenge + Design Problem
Challenge + Design Problem
Low User Engagement:
Many users expressed hesitations about creating or attending events, a result of weak social interactions and lack of information.
Inconsistent Interfaces:
The app faced inconsistencies in typography, colors, and spacing, resulting in poor information hierarchy and difficult navigation.
Redundant Components:
Multiple interface elements displayed the same information, adding unnecessary complexity.
Low User Engagement:
Many users expressed hesitations about creating or attending events, a result of weak social interactions and lack of information.
Inconsistent Interfaces:
The app faced inconsistencies in typography, colors, and spacing, resulting in poor information hierarchy and difficult navigation.
Redundant Components:
Multiple interface elements displayed the same information, adding unnecessary complexity.
Low User Engagement:
Many users expressed hesitations about creating or attending events, a result of weak social interactions and lack of information.
Inconsistent Interfaces:
The app faced inconsistencies in typography, colors, and spacing, resulting in poor information hierarchy and difficult navigation.
Redundant Components:
Multiple interface elements displayed the same information, adding unnecessary complexity.
Goals
Streamline interface components to simplify development and improve usability.
Establish a cohesive design system to improve the app’s visual consistency.
Improve user engagement by addressing pain points and hesitations around event creation and participation.
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
We ran a thorough analysis of user flows and looked at design and workflow inconsistencies.
We ran a thorough analysis of user flows and looked at design and workflow inconsistencies.
We ran a thorough analysis of user flows and looked at design and workflow inconsistencies.
User Research: Conducted 20–30 minute interviews and usability tests with 10 users.
User Research: Conducted 20–30 minute interviews and usability tests with 10 users.
User Research: Conducted 20–30 minute interviews and usability tests with 10 users.
Findings
Findings
Findings
Users couldn’t easily see who was attending events — creating hesitation around joining them
Users couldn’t easily see who was attending events — creating hesitation around joining them
Users couldn’t easily see who was attending events — creating hesitation around joining them
Desire for more personalized and engaging event recommendations
Desire for more personalized and engaging event recommendations
Desire for more personalized and engaging event recommendations
Typography: Established consistent font sizes and weights to create a clear hierarchy.
Colors: Simplified the app’s color palette, reducing redundancies and enhancing visual harmony.
Design System Development
Design System Development
Design System Development
Original
Original
Redesign
Components
Components
Original
Original
Redesign
Original
Original
Redesign
Original
Original
Redesign
Original
Original
Redesign
Pages
Pages
Outcomes
Addressed user hesitations by emphasizing social elements and simplifying workflows
Created a cohesive design system, improving the app’s branding and user experience.
Enhanced the app’s interface for better usability and development efficiency
Outcomes
Addressed user hesitations by emphasizing social elements and simplifying workflows
Created a cohesive design system, improving the app’s branding and user experience.
Enhanced the app’s interface for better usability and development efficiency
Outcomes
Addressed user hesitations by emphasizing social elements and simplifying workflows
Created a cohesive design system, improving the app’s branding and user experience.
Enhanced the app’s interface for better usability and development efficiency
Reflection
Working at Eat Together was an immensely valuable experience, letting me work with teams of strategists, designers, and developers. Using my skills to manage team meetings, balance individual and collaborative work, and mentoring other designers, I grew in a multitude of directions. As a plus, my programming background allowed me to communicate effectively with developers, making project handoffs seamless
Future Planning
Before my departure in June 2024, I finished up documentation to assist future design and development teams. Moving forward:
The development team will implement our design system for upcoming app features.
In Spring 2024, the team launched a cohort program using the design system to promote consistency in new features.
Future Planning
Before my departure in June 2024, I finished up documentation to assist future design and development teams. Moving forward:
The development team will implement our design system for upcoming app features.
In Spring 2024, the team launched a cohort program using the design system to promote consistency in new features.
Future Planning
Before my departure in June 2024, I finished up documentation to assist future design and development teams. Moving forward:
The development team will implement our design system for upcoming app features.
In Spring 2024, the team launched a cohort program using the design system to promote consistency in new features.
Reflection
Working at Eat Together was an immensely valuable experience, letting me work with teams of strategists, designers, and developers. Using my skills to manage team meetings, balance individual and collaborative work, and mentoring other designers, I grew in a multitude of directions. As a plus, my programming background allowed me to communicate effectively with developers, making project handoffs seamless
Reflection
Working at Eat Together was an immensely valuable experience, letting me work with teams of strategists, designers, and developers. Using my skills to manage team meetings, balance individual and collaborative work, and mentoring other designers, I grew in a multitude of directions. As a plus, my programming background allowed me to communicate effectively with developers, making project handoffs seamless
← Back to StayConnect
← Back to StayConnect
← Back to StayConnect
CerebralWire →
CerebralWire →
CerebralWire →
Typography: Established consistent font sizes and weights to create a clear hierarchy.
Typography: Established consistent font sizes and weights to create a clear hierarchy.
Colors: Simplified the app’s color palette, reducing redundancies and enhancing visual harmony.
Colors: Simplified the app’s color palette, reducing redundancies and enhancing visual harmony.
Design System Development
Design System Development
Original
Redesign
Components
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Original
Redesign
Pages