food donation app
Reducing shame in the food distribution process for low income families
My contributions: Research, user flows, prototyping, UX UI
Context
This project was part of the creative jam between Adobe and SoDA Agencies. The ask was to create an app that improve part of the chain of food collection and distribution.
Problem
Shame is a deterrent that prevents low income families from participating in public assistance programs
Solution
Potato is an app that connects food donors with low income families so that they can access foods digitally
Stigmatization is broken down into two categories: internal and external shame. They both discourage recipients from receiving government assistance.
Claudia Johnston
Target User
Claudia is from Senioa, Georgia. Daughter of two farmers. Growing up, her family struggled to make ends meet, often relying on government assistance. Education was not a priority and she could only acquire a high school education before having to take odd jobs to support her family.
Needs
Claudia needs a way to access her benefits digitally and be educated about her health
Designs
Potato helps reduce food insecurity, promote healthier choices, and connect users with nearby support networks like food banks, improving overall well-being.
For food insecure households, access to food isn't enough. Potato also educate users about the nutrition of their cart items against USDA recommendations for a balanced diet.
Further inside the Nutrition tab, Claudia can track her purchases over time. Leveraging her purchase data, Potato makes recommendations to help with her deficiencies.
Retro
Our team had a few days for this design challenge and looking back, there are a few things I would do differently:
Grocery app vs. public fridge. If shame is the problem we are solving for, I would have loved to create an experience that notify the users of available meals nearby. A grocery app didn't quite solve for the problem of shame.
Realign on the main problem we're solving. It felt like we've gotten a bit sidetracked by the details and potential features, losing sight of the initial challenge. This project has been a valuable reminder for me: clarity on the problem must always precede the solution.
