How might we help small food banks improve communication to obtain food information while enhancing logistics in Indiana State?
about the project
This project was initiated to leverage user research in addressing food waste and insecurity. Surprised to learn that grocery stores contribute significantly to food waste, the aim was to improve the coordination of surplus food distribution between grocery stores and food banks, raise awareness, and encourage efficient food rescue efforts.
team
4 designers
duration
3 months (oct - dec 2023)
project type
- user research
- product design
my role
- qualitative user interviews
- data-driven solution
- user testing iterations
[why this project?]
Grocery stores play a major role in food waste, so coordinating surplus food distribution to food banks is crucial for reducing waste and addressing food insecurity.
Motivation for this project arose from primary research revealing that the small food banks often operate with limited resources and that grocery stores contribute significantly to food waste.
We visited Kroger to learn how they manage food waste and coordinate with food rescue organizations.
This picture is from our primary research, where we interviewed second helping a small food bank to understand their food gathering and transport process.
[solution]
ResQMove streamlines surplus food donations from grocery stores to food banks. Stores notify nearby food banks of surplus, and if accepted, the nearest driver is assigned for transport.
[success metrics]
[features]
Scan & Post Surplus
Quick and easy donation posting
The task involves scanning surplus crates, noting pickup times, and posting on the portal
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Quick scanning
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Seamless posting
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Immediate confirmation
Accept & Manage Donations
Effortless donation management
The task involves reviewing, accepting, tracking donations, and viewing statistics on the dashboard.
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Simple review
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Easy acceptance
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Real-time tracking
Assign & Deliver
Smooth delivery management
The system assigns drivers, confirms donation trips, and manages deliveries.
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Trip confirmation
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Amazon Flex integration
[design process]
- Revisited transportation issue for better logistic options.
- Refined grocery store existing donation posting process for dashboard design .
- Iterated on the prototype 3 times, incorporating feedback and insights.
[research methods]
👀🗒️ 3 hours
contextual observation
🧑🏻💻 7 semi structured
user interviews
[contextual observation]
5 key activities related to surplus food donation and logistics were identified.
The team visited food banks and Kroger stores, where I focused on observing their food donation management, logistics coordination, and identifying challenges, all while maintaining a low profile to avoid disrupting their operations.
[user interviews]
2 main reasons behind the challenges were identified.
I led 3 interviews with food bank staff and grocery managers to better understand their food donation logistics. I then developed a concept map that guided our project’s direction and highlighted key areas for improvement in food distribution processes.
[findings]
finding #1
5 key donation logistics activities.
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surplus food identification
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notification process
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acceptance and coordination
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transportation logistics
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tracking and documentation
finding #3
Limited resources for small food banks
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food network operates hierarchically.
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higher levels have more resources.
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small food banks have fewer resources and limited networks.
finding #2
2 main challenges with the small food bank
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communication overload: users juggle multiple emails from large food banks, complicating the search for nearby surplus food.
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transportation issues: limited truck availability and reliance on volunteers make accessing surplus food unreliable.
Great, the problem is defined.
Now it’s time for brainstorming! 🌟
[ideas and insights]
The concept map helped identify the core problems and sparked brainstorming for solutions.
[insight iteration]
[brainstorming board]
[design direction]
Following a team vote, we explored 3 options and opted for surplus connect to address both the communication gap and limited transportation issues.
[how will it arrive?]
We revisited our research to address the transportation challenge in the distribution process.
During an interview I led with the transport manager at Gleaners Food Bank, they shared their use of Amazon Flex for deliveries, inspiring us to integrate it for faster surplus food transport.
By incorporating Amazon Flex, we can enhance delivery speed and efficiency. Additionally, donors using the service can receive tax rebates of up to 30% depending on the charity.
Awesome, we have the ideas!
Time to bring them to life! 💡
[design concept]
📦 Effortless
Simplify donation processes for a seamless user experience.
🌐 Connected
Use real-time data to keep users engaged and connected
📊 Informative
Offer clear details to help users make informed decisions
[task flow]
Flow one: Grocery store posting donation
Flow two: Food bank donation dashboard
Flow three: Amazon flex delivery app
[lo-fidelity prototype]
[testing + improvements]
Based on feedback from 4 stakeholders and our professor, I made 3 rounds of iterations with 3 major improvements
Improved navigation sidebar visibility for better user access.
phase 1
phase 2
Added more info to donation posts for better decision-making by food banks.
phase 2
phase 3
phase 1
Improved Amazon Flex food delivery design for better visual appeal and universal format
phase 1
phase 2
[design system]
[final design]
grocery store flow
food bank flow
amazon flex flow
[impact & future scope]
1. resqmove helps minimizes food waste and maximizes resource access for food banks
2. implement route optimization for more efficient food delivery logistics.
3. expand the platform to include more grocery stores and food banks across regions.
[my takeaways]
1. understanding stakeholder needs
Direct communication with stakeholders revealed the specific challenges and requirements of food banks and grocery stores. This understanding was essential in designing a solution that addresses real-world problems effectively and enhances the donation process
2. value of mvp approach
Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) allowed us to focus on core functionalities without adding unnecessary complexities. This approach ensured that the solution addressed the primary needs of users and provided a solid foundation for further development.
3. leveraging existing services
Integrating Amazon Flex as a transportation solution highlighted the benefits of utilizing existing services to address logistical challenges. This approach provided a practical solution for managing transportation and improved the overall efficiency of the donation process.