Personal Project
SmartMeal AI Planner Mealie
SmartMeal AI Planner Mealie
When talking with my friends, we all agreed that cooking was the hardest part of the day. Busy schedules, missing ingredients, and the pressure to eat healthy made meal prep stressful. That’s why I started working on Mealie, an AI meal planning app.
As the only UI/UX designer, I focused on the full journey: scanning fridge ingredients, getting personalized meal plans, and connecting to local grocery delivery. Together, these features helped busy families save time, reduce stress, and enjoy healthier meals.
Looking back, this project taught me how design can turn a daily struggle into a smarter and more joyful experience.
Role
UXUI Designer
Conducting stakeholder interviews and user research
Designing core features and user flows in Figma
Creating interactive prototypes and high-fidelity UI
Lterating on feedback
Role
UXUI Designer
Conducting stakeholder interviews and user research
Designing core features and user flows in Figma
Creating interactive prototypes and high-fidelity UI
Lterating on feedback
Role
UXUI Designer
Conducting stakeholder interviews and user research
Designing core features and user flows in Figma
Creating interactive prototypes and high-fidelity UI
Lterating on feedback
Tool
Figma
Photoshop
Tool
Figma
Photoshop
Tool
Figma
Photoshop
Problem
Problem
Problem
Solving Chaos in the kitchen
Many parents shared the difficulty of meal prep while raising kids, shopping across multiple stores, tracking fridge items, and ensuring nutritious meals felt overwhelming. These conversations led me to research further through interviews to uncover insights and define a solution.
Through UX research, I discovered that Cadillac represents American luxury, pursuing both traditional sophistication and future-oriented innovation.
To identify the technologies required for 2040 mobility, I studied lifestyle and found that time-saving emerged as the core value for future users.
Many parents shared the difficulty of meal prep while raising kids, shopping across multiple stores, tracking fridge items, and ensuring nutritious meals felt overwhelming. These conversations led me to research further through interviews to uncover insights and define a solution.
UX Research Findings
Time-consuming shopping – Visiting multiple stores (Asian markets, organic shops, Costco) takes significant time.
Time-consuming shopping – Visiting multiple stores (Asian markets, organic shops, Costco) takes significant time.
Time-consuming shopping – Visiting multiple stores (Asian markets, organic shops, Costco) takes significant time.
Inventory tracking issues – Hard to know what’s in the fridge, leading to waste or duplicate purchases.
Inventory tracking issues – Hard to know what’s in the fridge, leading to waste or duplicate purchases.
Inventory tracking issues – Hard to know what’s in the fridge, leading to waste or duplicate purchases.
Meal planning burden – Preparing balanced, nutritious meals for growing kids feels overwhelming.
Meal planning burden – Preparing balanced, nutritious meals for growing kids feels overwhelming.
Meal planning burden – Preparing balanced, nutritious meals for growing kids feels overwhelming.
High demand for solutions – Strong need for smarter, tech-driven meal planning support.
High demand for solutions – Strong need for smarter, tech-driven meal planning support.
High demand for solutions – Strong need for smarter, tech-driven meal planning support.
Persona
Persona
Persona
The Overwhelmed Working Mom
One of my friends, a nurse, struggled with this problem the most. Because she left for work very early, she had to prepare breakfast and lunch boxes in advance for her husband and two kids. After coming home from a long shift, she still had to cook dinner—so cooking never really ended. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were always waiting.
On weekends, shopping took over. To get everything she needed, she had to visit four different stores: the Korean market for Asian ingredients, Costco for affordable essentials, Whole Foods for organic produce, and Trader Joe’s for the frozen foods her kids loved.
She often asked me, “When do I get to rest? This is the most exhausting but necessary part of my day—why isn’t there a better way?”
One of my friends, a nurse, struggled with this problem the most. Because she left for work very early, she had to prepare breakfast and lunch boxes in advance for her husband and two kids. After coming home from a long shift, she still had to cook dinner—so cooking never really ended. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were always waiting.
On weekends, shopping took over. To get everything she needed, she had to visit four different stores: the Korean market for Asian ingredients, Costco for affordable essentials, Whole Foods for organic produce, and Trader Joe’s for the frozen foods her kids loved.
She often asked me, “When do I get to rest? This is the most exhausting but necessary part of my day—why isn’t there a better way?”
One of my friends, a nurse, struggled with this problem the most. Because she left for work very early, she had to prepare breakfast and lunch boxes in advance for her husband and two kids. After coming home from a long shift, she still had to cook dinner—so cooking never really ended. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were always waiting.
On weekends, shopping took over. To get everything she needed, she had to visit four different stores: the Korean market for Asian ingredients, Costco for affordable essentials, Whole Foods for organic produce, and Trader Joe’s for the frozen foods her kids loved.
She often asked me, “When do I get to rest? This is the most exhausting but necessary part of my day—why isn’t there a better way?”
Ideation
Ideation
Ideation
Solution Exploration Sketches
Through interviews, I learned about the real problems people face when preparing ingredients and cooking. I started looking for ways to solve them. Among many ideas, I studied AI and realized it could be a powerful tool to help busy, dual-income parents with these challenges.
The images below show some of my early sketches while exploring solutions. I used brainstorming, Crazy 8s, and storyboards to quickly generate ideas and map out possible directions.
Through interviews, I learned about the real problems people face when preparing ingredients and cooking. I started looking for ways to solve them. Among many ideas, I studied AI and realized it could be a powerful tool to help busy, dual-income parents with these challenges.
The images below show some of my early sketches while exploring solutions. I used brainstorming, Crazy 8s, and storyboards to quickly generate ideas and map out possible directions.
Through interviews, I learned about the real problems people face when preparing ingredients and cooking. I started looking for ways to solve them. Among many ideas, I studied AI and realized it could be a powerful tool to help busy, dual-income parents with these challenges.
The images below show some of my early sketches while exploring solutions. I used brainstorming, Crazy 8s, and storyboards to quickly generate ideas and map out possible directions.
Brainstorming
Initial rough sketches to capture diverse solution ideas.
Brainstorming
Initial rough sketches to capture diverse solution ideas.
Crazy 8s
Rapidly explored eight variations to refine possible directions.
Crazy 8s
Rapidly explored eight variations to refine possible directions.
Storyboard
Mapped the user journey to visualize interactions step by step.
Storyboard
Mapped the user journey to visualize interactions step by step.
Design Enhancement
Design Enhancement
Design Enhancement
Designing for Clarity and Care
The UI design focused on the needs of busy parents who often feel overwhelmed by meal prep, family, and work. It was built to give them emotional relief, clear guidance, and time-saving efficiency, so cooking could feel less stressful and more manageable.
The UI design focused on the needs of busy parents who often feel overwhelmed by meal prep, family, and work. It was built to give them emotional relief, clear guidance, and time-saving efficiency, so cooking could feel less stressful and more manageable.
The UI design focused on the needs of busy parents who often feel overwhelmed by meal prep, family, and work. It was built to give them emotional relief, clear guidance, and time-saving efficiency, so cooking could feel less stressful and more manageable.
Design Iterations
Design Iterations
Design Iterations
Design Iterations
Through user testing, I discovered where people struggled the most—small details that caused confusion, steps that felt too long, and moments where the flow didn’t feel natural. By listening to their feedback and iterating on the design, I was able to fix these pain points and make the experience clearer, faster, and more enjoyable for users.
Through user testing, I discovered where people struggled the most—small details that caused confusion, steps that felt too long, and moments where the flow didn’t feel natural. By listening to their feedback and iterating on the design, I was able to fix these pain points and make the experience clearer, faster, and more enjoyable for users.
Through user testing, I discovered where people struggled the most—small details that caused confusion, steps that felt too long, and moments where the flow didn’t feel natural. By listening to their feedback and iterating on the design, I was able to fix these pain points and make the experience clearer, faster, and more enjoyable for users.
Fridge Page
Meal Plan Page
Shopping List Page
Final Solutions
Final Solutions
Final Solutions
Fridge To Table
This app makes meal planning simple by bringing everything together—fridge scanning, AI-powered meal planning, and easy grocery ordering. With this flow, everyday cooking becomes smarter, faster, and far less stressful.
This app makes meal planning simple by bringing everything together—fridge scanning, AI-powered meal planning, and easy grocery ordering. With this flow, everyday cooking becomes smarter, faster, and far less stressful.
This app makes meal planning simple by bringing everything together—fridge scanning, AI-powered meal planning, and easy grocery ordering. With this flow, everyday cooking becomes smarter, faster, and far less stressful.
Step 1: Personalized Information Input
This step collects data to help the AI understand the user’s lifestyle patterns and preferences.
Family & Market Info
Preferences & Allergies
Meal Types
Step 1: Personalized Information Input
This step collects data to help the AI understand the user’s lifestyle patterns and preferences.
Family & Market Info
Preferences & Allergies
Meal Types
Step 1: Personalized Information Input
This step collects data to help the AI understand the user’s lifestyle patterns and preferences.
Family & Market Info
Preferences & Allergies
Meal Types
Step 2: Smart Meal Planning
AI turns your scanned ingredients into meal plans and smart shopping lists, tailored to your lifestyle.
Ingredient Recognition & Expiration Tracking
Meal Ideas, Just for You
Auto Shopping List
Shop Where You Go
Step 2: Smart Meal Planning
AI turns your scanned ingredients into meal plans and smart shopping lists, tailored to your lifestyle.
Ingredient Recognition & Expiration Tracking
Meal Ideas, Just for You
Auto Shopping List
Shop Where You Go
Step 2: Smart Meal Planning
AI turns your scanned ingredients into meal plans and smart shopping lists, tailored to your lifestyle.
Ingredient Recognition & Expiration Tracking
Meal Ideas, Just for You
Auto Shopping List
Shop Where You Go
Step 3: Quick Menu to Recipe
On the home screen, users can quickly see today’s menu and tap a dish to view its recipe.
Ingredient Status at a Glance
Quick Meal Preview
Recipe Access
Step 3: Quick Menu to Recipe
On the home screen, users can quickly see today’s menu and tap a dish to view its recipe.
Ingredient Status at a Glance
Quick Meal Preview
Recipe Access
Step 3: Quick Menu to Recipe
On the home screen, users can quickly see today’s menu and tap a dish to view its recipe.
Ingredient Status at a Glance
Quick Meal Preview
Recipe Access
Closing
Closing
Closing
Lessons Learned
Trust is the starting point
At first, I thought recipe recommendations alone would be enough. But I soon realized that what users really needed was confidence: “Does the app truly understand my ingredients?” Accurate scanning and clear expiration tracking became the foundation of trust and without that trust, recommendations held little value.
Experiences must connect
Designing recipes, shopping lists, and market suggestions taught me that features on their own aren’t enough. What truly matters is the flow that connects them. When every step feels seamless, from scanning the fridge to shopping at the local market, users finally experience real convenience.
Users are co-designers
Incorporating family preferences, health goals, and daily habits showed me that the app isn’t a finished product, it’s something that grows with its users. Feedback loops and continuous adjustments allowed both the UX and the AI to evolve together, making the system smarter and more human over time.