Making it easy to log a meal, set a goal that fits, and actually see your progress.
Team of 5
10 weeks
Figma · FigJam ·
OpinionX · Maze
Feature redesign · Research · Prototyping
Core-task completion
60%83%
of people finished the basics
System Usability Scale
74.577.5
from “fair” to “good”
Comprehension
6/6
understood every redesigned screen
Challenge
MyPlate had solid advice from the USDA, but you couldn't log a meal, the goals were the same for everyone, and there was no real way to see how you were doing. In our first test, 2 of 5 people got stuck on basic tasks.
Solution
I focused the redesign on what people asked for most: easier food logging, goals that fit the person, and progress you can check by day, week, or month.
My role
I was one of five on the team. I led the feature design, ran a survey with 38 people to rank features, built the prototype, and ran the concept test.
Redesigned meal logging
of participants failed to complete essential tasks in round-one usability testing, limiting the app’s ability to support consistent habits.
For a habit-building app, it wasn't helping anyone build habits.
Tap a method to see what we found.
“It doesn't feel like it accounts for my being vegetarian.”
Trust wasn't the problem
People trusted the USDA advice. 68% of reviews were still negative, and they were about the app, not the content. So we kept the guidance and rebuilt the experience around it.
Nobody asked for streaks
Badges, streaks, and social sharing ranked last in our survey. People wanted guidance and control, so we left gamification out.
“Personal” meant how you eat
“It doesn't feel like it accounts for my being vegetarian,” one tester told us. Goals had to fit someone's diet, not just their numbers.
Insight
People wanted an easy way to log what they actually ate.
Decision
Give people four ways to add food: pick the meal, snap a photo, search, or type in something custom.
Outcome
It works just as well for a packaged snack as for a home-cooked dinner.
Before
4 ways to log
Start by picking the meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks.
Insight
A generic list of goals didn't motivate anyone.
Decision
Walk people through three quick choices: what they want to work on, which food groups to focus on, and how they'd like to track it.
Outcome
People ended up with goals that felt like their own, and getting started was easier.
Before
Prototype walkthrough
A three-step flow built around what motivates each user.
Insight
It's hard to improve something you can't see.
Decision
Show progress for today, this week, and this month.
Outcome
People could glance at the dashboard and know what to do next.
Before
3 progress views
Immediate feedback: see how today's intake tracks to goals.
I tested the new flows with six people. The targets are where I want to get next, not results already hit.
Entry point found on instinct
5 of 6 people went straight to the meal selector.
Tracking-method step needs work
The “how to track” step confused 2 of 6 people. I'd reorder and relabel it, and allow more than one goal.
Progress read and acted on
The clearest flow (5.3/7). People could name their next step. Next I'd add reference ranges.
Our testers were younger and more tech-savvy than the people who actually use MyPlate. Before calling any of this finished, I'd test it again with a wider group.
What I learned
What I'd do next