Design Project: PLATEFUL - An app for reducing food wastage

Transforming campus dining sustainability with Plateful, a mobile app that bridges surplus food from restaurants to students through an intuitive, trust-driven UX.

Role

UX/UI Designer

Industry

Food and Health

Duration

3 months

Stage 1. User Research & Needs Assessment

Initiated the project with in-depth research to understand the food waste challenge and the needs of both students and participating restaurants. Conducted user interviews, surveys, and market analysis to identify barriers to trust, accessibility, and engagement. Key findings highlighted the need for a seamless ordering process, transparent food sourcing details, and stronger incentives for students to participate.

Stage 2. Design Strategy

Formulated a design strategy centered on building trust, promoting sustainability, and simplifying the user journey. Prioritised a streamlined order flow, clear visual communication of food origin and freshness, and gamified elements to encourage repeated use. Developed a design roadmap outlining quick wins for early adoption and long-term features for community building.

Stage 3. Prototype Development

Wireframing: Designed core app screens and flows to address identified pain points, ensuring intuitive navigation from food discovery to order confirmation. Integrated trust signals, such as restaurant ratings and freshness indicators, throughout the journey.

High-Fidelity Prototyping: Created detailed, interactive prototypes in Figma to visualise the app’s user experience. The design emphasised transparency, ease of use, and a welcoming aesthetic aligned with the sustainability mission.

User Interface Design: Crafted a clean, approachable visual identity using warm tones and clear typography to reflect community values. Added micro-interactions and clear CTAs to guide users while making the app engaging and accessible for first-time users.

Stage 1. User Research & Needs Assessment

Stage 2. Design Strategy

Stage 3. Prototype Development

Stage 4. User Feedback & Refinement

Conducted usability testing with students and partner restaurants to gather actionable feedback on the prototype. This process helped uncover minor navigation issues and assess the clarity of trust and sustainability features. Iterative adjustments were made to optimise the ordering flow, enhance visual hierarchy, and ensure a seamless, engaging user experience.

Stage 5. Implementation & Launch Support

Worked closely with developers to translate the final designs into a functional product, ensuring design integrity throughout the build. Provided design support during testing and pre-launch phases, resolving interface challenges quickly. Supported the launch by monitoring early user engagement and feedback, using these insights to shape upcoming feature updates.

a black cellphone with a white letter on it

Outcomes

Plateful’s redesign was met with strong positive feedback from both students and participating restaurants, with users highlighting its simplicity, trust-building features, and clear sustainability focus. The project deepened my expertise in user-centered design and demonstrated how thoughtful UX can drive engagement, foster community trust, and promote lasting behavioral change toward reducing food waste.