Bourbon Street Bakery App

What: Mobile app (iOS)

Why: Portfolio project

When: July-August 2022

Category: Food & Drink, Shopping

Role: Designer, Researcher

During July 2022, I decided to create a customization app for a local bakery. As a foodie, I love finding and trying new eateries, but the in-person ordering process can be a nightmare. In creating this app, customers can enjoy their favorite baked goods with the convenience of mobile ordering.

Competitive Audit

To gain a better understanding of environment, I downloaded three apps within the same niche and evaluated their app design in relation to the user’s ability to customize or personalize their experience.

Competitor type: Direct

Location(s): Hudson, NH

Benson’s Bakery

Competitor type: Direct

Location(s): Various locations in California

Boudin Bakery

Competitor type: Indirect

Location(s): Various locations in Florida

Foxtail Coffee Co.

The Good:

  • Use of contrast (menu options and buttons)

  • Able to add notes to items in your bag

  • Easy checkout process — adding payment methods, sign in/guest to checkout

The Bad:

  • Difficult for non-visual users to navigate

  • Inconsistent branding (button style, capitalization)

  • Lacking accessibility options (voice-to-text, indicators that a new category has been opened)

The Good:

  • Buttons are clearly marked (consistent use of red)

  • Menu categories clearly displayed

  • Consistent visual identity — modern and simplistic

The Bad:

  • Unresponsive design (awkwardly cropped on mobile)

  • Similar wording for buttons could cause confusion (ie. “Add to Basket” and “Buy Now”)

  • Confusing for users who might not want to log in or sign up before viewing the menu

The Good:

  • Able to plan events, order from the cafe, or buy other coffee products

  • High contrast between background and text

  • Consistent visual presence — classic and minimalist

  • Design communicates company ethos (timelessness)

The Bad:

  • Few options for families (children or non-coffee drinkers)

  • Lacking accessibility options (voice-to-text, indicators that the user is entering a new category)

Competitive Audit: Takeaways

1) Consistent design contributes to easier navigation — color palette, typeface, capitalization, imagery

2) Clear and concise wording

3) Areas of improvement include opportunities for the user to customize ordering/menu screens or the ordering process itself

Personas

To help me gain a better understanding of the types of users I would be designing for, I created two personas: Riya and Jacob

Storyboarding

Then, I created hand drawn storyboards to gain a visual understanding of the user’s experience. These storyboards also helped to understand how the user’s needs could be addressed through the app.