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Digital Menu

A web app to replace the conventional paper menu in a restaurants as they are dirty and could be affected by the covid-virus.

A web app to replace the conventional paper menu in a restaurants as they are dirty and could be affected by the virus during the pandamic.

MY ROLE ; As a sole Designer

As the sole designer for the digital menu ,I collaborated closely with my manager and the restaurant team. My primary objective was to comprehend the fundamental challenges posed by the pandemic and devise a ‘digital menu’ solution that minimised direct interactions of customers with the restaurant staff. my primary role were as follows.

  • Join meeting with restaurant staff, & manager to understand the problem and a idea on how to solve it.
  • Conduct basic UX research - competitor analysis, user flow mapping etc
  • Create wireframes and prototypes.
  • Conduct usability testing & perform required iterations
  • Collaborate with developers to implement the design.
Role

UX/UI Designer (Sole)

TIME

2-week for Research & UX,
1-week for design

TEAM

Weiwen Huang (UX/UI)

The Problem

The Truth About Paper Menus

"Menus are among the most unsanitary surfaces in a restaurant. The bacteria count on menus can be as high as 185,000 per square centimeter – far more than found on a toilet seat, according to a study published by Cleaning & Maintenance Management in 2014.

Upwards of 95% of people fail to properly wash their hands after restroom use, according to statistics. That makes handling a restaurant menu before eating a health gamble." After COVID-19 broke out menus apart from being dirty could now have the covid virus. This is why digital menu was not a want but a need.

Target Audience

Fear of covid 19 & the opportunity.

The heightened fear surrounding the transmission of COVID-19, coupled with concerns about the hygiene of traditional paper menus in restaurants and the risk of coming in contact with the restaurant staff, paved the way for a significant opportunity in the market for digital menus. As people became more cautious about touching shared surfaces and sought contactless alternatives, the limitations and potential risks associated with conventional paper menus became apparent.

This shift in consumer behaviour accelerated the adoption of digital solutions, offering restaurants an innovative and safer way to present their menus. Digital menus not only addressed health and safety concerns but also provided an efficient and customisable platform for showcasing offerings, allowing businesses to adapt to the evolving needs of the post-pandemic world.

User Flow

Upon scanning the customer lands on the ‘Digital Menu Web App - welcome screen,

upon proceeding they are asked to confirm the table no. they are seated on.

after confirming the seat, The user can browse through the menu and order from the varieties of cuisines available.

User finds something they like

User Adds item to order. user is prompted that adding to order does not place a order

1

user places order from the order screen

shows the user that the order has been placed

the user returns to home page but this time they have an option to pay and call the waiter. by swiping left or right

when the user swipes towards the bill, he recieved the bill and can pay without any human contact

finally user is asked to rate and leave a review of the experience.

The problems restaurants faced
and how digital menu fixed it,

Problems Paper menu in a restaurant Digital Menu - How I fixed the problem
Food ordering method Has to talk to the waiter (Waiter could be affected) Has a feature to directly order from the web app, the waiter, as well as the kitchen, is notified along with the table number
Paper Menus are dirty. Extremely Dirty and could contain the covid-19 virus as menus are handled by multiple people. Used on personal mobile. Less risky.
Booking tables Most smaller restaurants do not have the booking table and time slots so people have to come and wait for the table Booking seats and time slots in restaurants is made easy peasy.
Coming to the restaurant is risky during covid times. Very risky - has to talk to the waiter, has to order through paper menus, payments may be handled through cash, receipts are paper Less risky - No talking to the waiter, No dirty menus, has online payment option, receipt is paperless and on the phone.
Ease of adding new dishes and daily specials from the menu. Very difficult to add daily specials and new dishes as all the menus need to be redesigned and printed which takes time and money New dishes and daily specials can be updated in a minute through the waiter side of the app.
Payment method Payments are through cash and card - both of which have physical contact and are risky Payment can be online directly through the digital menu. Without any physical contact.
Paper Receipt The receipt is paper, which could contain the covid virus. The receipt is on the phone and can be downloaded as a pdf. No more paper printing and lead-containing ink. Earth says thank you.
Service/Food Feedback No way for the user to give feedback on the food or the service. Has an option for the user to rate and give feedback on the food and service offered.

Sketch &
Wireframing

Started by sketching my ideas on paper, allowing me to quickly express my thoughts and map out a rough idea of the design. This initial step helped me to visualize the layout of the design, consider the placement of elements and features, and make modifications to the design as needed.

Designed carefully, for all age groups.

Impact ; The lifes saved.

Designing the digital menu stands out as one of the most impactful projects I've undertaken. The swift success of this initiative resulted in a significant influx of customers for the restaurant as the word of mouth spread, more people came to know about the restaurant

The seamless integration of the digital menu not only enhanced the overall dining experience but also minimised direct interaction between customers and staff, contributing to a more efficient and streamlined service.

The project's triumph extended beyond the confines of a single restaurant. The innovative digital menu concept was so well-received that it was swiftly adopted by 14 other restaurants, showcasing its scalability and adaptability. This rapid replication not only solidified the project's success but also positioned it as a benchmark solution within the industry, influencing how eateries approached their menus and customer interactions.