Kitchen: Testing the First Protoype
The purpose of Kitchen is to help CSA community members share produce that is either unwanted or at-risk of spoiling. The main features of the app allow Users to track what is in their kitchen and add anything they’d like to share to the “community kitchen,” a digital library of all produce Offers from community members. The most difficult aspect of this app was figuring out how to show/track in-coming and out-going items. For example, how/where do I show if the User wants to offer Carrots to the Community Kitchen, and claim Strawberries from the Community Kitchen? What’s the best way to set up the exchange between the Offerer and the Claimer — a list of dates/times to choose from, a text, an email? What happens when someone claims an item, but then never responds for pick up?
Through testing, some questions were answered, but others remain. One thing that became clear concerned the presentation of Claimed items and Offered items. My test subjects expressed that having separate tabs for “Claimed” and “Offered” was too cluttered and confusing. Accordingly, I combined them all in “My Kitchen” in a later iteration. Test subjects also suggested that Users should be able to click on members’ profiles and see all items offered by these members. I love this idea and am excited to add this feature.
Another test subject mentioned that many of the icons I used are too closely associated with Apple apps and therefore should be replaced. I don’t disagree, but this will take more time to design and test. I also received the comment that I should not fade out the “Claimed” and “Offered” items. This was originally done to signify that these items were “in flux,” but my subject opined that Users will enjoy their experience more if all images are colorful and vibrant.
Additionally, it was suggested that the Community Kitchen have a “List View” and a “Map View” so that Users can see how far they may have to travel to facilitate the pick up/drop off. Lastly, we determined that the default pick up/drop off place should be the location where members weekly pick up CSA items, but members can determine another time and place, if needed.
Many of these comments and ideas were incorporated in to the latest iteration here: https://marvelapp.com/29dgh26#7227206
Much more work to be done; looking forward to my meeting with Drew!