To enrich understanding of Davis history, I developed an interactive food guide website promoting local restaurants. Collaborating with the City of Davis, my project intersected with the Davis Centennial Seal, enhancing community engagement in downtown Davis.

Project Research

In order to enhance and broaden the scope of my food guide project, I conducted research on existing food guide websites.

Wire Flows

For competitive analysis, I examined a range of food discovery platforms, including popular apps and websites such as Yelp and TimeOut. Inspired by these platforms, I recognized the importance of incorporating user interactions, which led me to develop the image upload feature.

Visual Research

Throughout the development process, I found guides on healthy and vegan restaurants in Davis, served as valuable references for writing my food guide.

User Flows

I conducted 30 minute user interviews with a diverse group, comprising at least three participants who were both visitors to Davis and Davis college students. By actively listening to their varied insights and experiences with local restaurants, I  gained a deeper appreciation for the significance of local authentic restaurants.

Sketches

Visual Design

I used a consistent color palette throughout my website. To reflect the idea of sustainability and environmentalism, I used green and other natural tones. I chose Poppins font for my project because this sans serif font offers a clean and contemporary look. It also has excellent legibility, ensuring the text is clear and accessible to users.

Initial Design Comp

Examples of clickable icons for the interactive food map feature

User Testing

I conducted user testing on a series of paper prototypes, tasking participants to navigate them without instructions. Incorporating feedback, I integrated a section in my project elucidating its purpose and the functionality of the map. Here are some printed paper prototype examples.

After coding the actual websites, I conducted another user testing to evaluate user experience. In this usability testing session, I outlined a series of tasks for the users to complete. Participants were instructed to follow the steps in the provided notes sequentially. Users have expressed confusion regarding the "Connect to the Seal" feature. In response to feedback, I addressed issues such as improving animation transitions for a smoother website experience and resolving other design concerns.

Innovating on the Dine & Snap: Davis Food Trail website, I took a hands-on approach to website development, implementing an interactive map and image upload library using JavaScript. The integration of these features not only showcased my programming skills but also enhanced the website's functionality, making it a dynamic and user-centric platform for community engagement.