ToBag

Background

One day, while cleaning out the fridge and pantry, I realized that some ingredients and spices had expired because I had forgotten they were there. As I threw them away, I suddenly became curious about food waste.

What happens to this waste afterward? How much food waste do we throw away each year?

The topic of environmental protection seems to have been integrated into our daily lives for a long time, but have we actually made practical changes to achieve it...?

Research

Before starting the design, I want to gather data on food waste and identify the scenarios where it occurs the most.

General data research

-1.3 billion tons of food are wasted annually, while 783 million people face hunger worldwide.

-Food waste contributed 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (2010–2016).

-One-third of global food production (1.05 billion tons) is wasted annually.

Key PROBLEM

How to reduce food waste at home?

User Surveys

I tried to clarify why so much food waste occurs in households through a combination of general and targeted research.

Key insights

1. Food waste often results from poor shopping habits, including unnecessary purchases and overbuying.

2. Proper planning before shopping and cooking can help reduce food waste.

3. Food is often wasted because it gets forgotten in storage.

4. Simplifying and gamifying food planning and management can help users build lasting habits. 

Competitor Analysis

There are various market examples that help reduce food waste, either directly or indirectly. I analyze these apps as competitors to my product and refine my design by evaluating whether these brands have succeeded or failed.

Key insights

1. There is a gap in existing apps, as they do not combine shopping list creation and ingredient management.

2. It is necessary to find ways to avoid purchasing items repeatedly.

3. High customizability is important to adapt to different situations.

4. Find solutions for managing stored ingredients to avoid expiration.

Redesign Goals

1. Integrate both shopping list and home ingredient management features into the app.

2. The app should cross-check the wish list with existing ingredients to prevent unnecessary purchases.

3. (1) Users can upload their own recipes and the required ingredients. (2) The system recommends recipes based on user preferences.

4. Recommend recipes based on the remaining ingredients at home, encouraging users to use what they have first.

Persona

To better define which target users I want to serve, I created two personas with different orientations. The focus is on users' needs and pain points.

Iterative Prototyping

After the user tests, I made some improvements to the mid-fidelity prototype.

1. The structure of the homepage was changed to match the other pages.

2. The "Plan" navigation was added.

3. The relevance of the arrow assignments was improved.

4. The arrow display for horizontal scrolling was adjusted.

5. Categories were added for multiple pages.

6. The layout was optimized.

Brand identity

COLOR

For the color palette, I aim to use warm and bright tones to emphasize energy and warmth, complemented by soft transitions to enhance inclusivity and create a pleasant experience.

logo

I want to integrate the name "Tobag" into the logo, using rounded edges to create a more friendly and approachable look. Additionally, I will incorporate the predefined brand colors to maintain visual consistency.

Key Feature 1

Prompt users upon login to confirm whether they have used the planned ingredients and log the data into the system.

This feature increases user engagement and ensuring ongoing interaction with the app.

Key Feature 2

Use the camera to directly recognize ingredients stored in the inventory.

This feature enhances user convenience.

Key Feature 4

Generate a shopping list based on the wishlist and inventory to reduce food waste by avoiding duplicate purchases.

Reflection

During the design research phase, I strived to build as much understanding and connection with real users as possible. I relied on actual research and data to minimize personal biases from influencing the final design outcome.

Through this project, I also gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of thorough desk research and user-centered design.

Thank you for making it this far! If you're interested, you can explore the interactive prototype here.