FlyingFoods

FlyingFoods aims to enhance the in-flight experience by offering a streamlined food-ordering process. With real-time menu updates and a personalized approach using PNR integration, the app ensures convenience and satisfaction for passengers.

Context

This is a conceptual project created as part of a design assignment. The challenge was to design an in-flight food ordering app for passengers to seamlessly browse, select, and order meals during their flight.

Role

Product Designer – responsible for research, wireframing, UI/UX design, and prototyping.

Problem Statement

Passengers face several challenges when ordering food during flights:

• Delays: Orders are taken manually, leading to longer wait times.

• Limited Information: Passengers don’t have access to detailed food descriptions or allergen information.

• Inefficient Process: The lack of a digital ordering option makes the experience time-consuming

Assumptions

• Wi-Fi Availability: All flights are equipped with Wi-Fi, accessible to passengers without extra cost.

• PNR Integration: The app can fetch flight-specific details (e.g., seat number, flight duration).

• Curated Menus: Food options are limited and managed by the airline, unlike ground-level services like Zomato or Swiggy.

• Delivery Constraints: Food must be delivered to passengers promptly, considering in-flight service limitations.

User Persona

Meet Ethan Carter: The tech-savvy traveler shaping the FlyingFoods experience.

Goals

• Simplify the in-flight food ordering process with intuitive navigation.

• Provide detailed menu descriptions, including nutritional information and allergens.

• Enable passengers to browse, select, and order meals quickly.

Design Process

1. Research & Insights

To better understand user needs and challenges, I analyzed:

• Zomato and Swiggy: For their food discovery, categorization, and streamlined checkout experiences.

• IRCTC Food Ordering: To study pre-ordering systems in constrained environments (e.g., trains).

• In-Flight Services: Observed existing issues in manual food ordering during flights, such as delays and limited food information.

2. Ideation & Rough Sketch

I mapped out the user journey and explored wireframes to focus on:

• A simple, step-by-step process to reduce cognitive load.

• Prioritized actions like adding items to the cart and completing orders with minimal effort.

  
  

  

  These rough sketches map out the FlyingFoods app’s user flow and key screens—please excuse my handwriting!

3. High-Fidelity UI Design

The UI design incorporates:

• Visual Clarity: Red-and-white branding for a clean, modern look.

• Accessibility: High contrast, readable typography, and intuitive layouts.

• Visual Flow: Clear visual hierarchy to guide users through the ordering process.

  
  

  

4. Prototyping & Testing

I created an interactive prototype to simulate key user flows and tested it on my own device (iPhone 14) to ensure functionality and usability:

• Ensured users could browse, select, and complete orders in under three steps.

• Iterated on button placement, navigation flow, and menu categorization based on feedback and observations during testing.

Solution Highlights

Onboarding

Personalized user experience with PNR integration.

Menu Browsing

Categorized options with high-quality images and detailed descriptions.

Order Placement & Confirmation

A seamless checkout experience enables users to review their cart, make payments, and receive a clear confirmation screen to ensure their order has been placed successfully.

Journey Map

Visualizing the user journey from awareness to post-order experience:

Results

The FlyingFoods app addressed key pain points and streamlined the in-flight food ordering experience. Here are the projected outcomes:

• Simplified Ordering Process: Reduced steps required to order food, making the process faster and more intuitive.

• Enhanced User Satisfaction: Provided detailed menu descriptions, enabling users to make informed choices effortlessly.

• Improved Workflow for Flight Crew: Minimized manual intervention by allowing passengers to order independently.

Reflection & Learnings

What Worked Well:

• A clear and intuitive user flow made the ordering process seamless.

• The visual design and color palette ensured accessibility and alignment with the app’s purpose.

Challenges:

• Limited access to real-world data for in-flight food ordering systems during the research phase.

• Designing within assumptions such as guaranteed Wi-Fi access and curated menus.

What I’d Do Differently:

• Conduct user interviews or testing with real passengers for further validation.

• Explore more accessibility options, like voice input for ordering or larger text modes.

Future Scopes

Looking ahead, the FlyingFoods app can be enhanced with additional features to provide an even better user experience:

• Pre-Order Meals: Allow passengers to place their orders before boarding the flight for added convenience.

• AI-Powered Recommendations: Suggest meals based on dietary preferences, previous orders, or popular choices on similar flights.

• “Explore” Feature: Help passengers discover nearby places at their destination, such as restaurants, tourist spots, and activities, inspired by services like Airbnb.

• Dark Mode: Introduce a dark mode to improve readability and reduce eye strain for passengers traveling at night or in dimly lit cabins.

Prototype

Explore the interactive prototype to experience the design in action:

View Interactive Prototype Here

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to explore my FlyingFoods case study. This project allowed me to dive deep into solving real-world UX challenges for in-flight experiences.

If you have any feedback, thoughts, or would like to discuss this project further, feel free to connect with me!