The final design, "Prepared," consists of an app, matching lunch boxes, and a transport bag to support meal prepping. The app automatically combines recipes, assists with planning, and optimizes grocery use by suggesting meals based on purchases.

Ingredients can be swapped, and a step-by-step guide simplifies cooking. By helping users plan portions and use existing ingredients, the system reduces food waste. Additionally, reusable lunch boxes minimize single-use plastic waste from food packaging.

Modular lunch box system

The portions and supplements are tailored to a modular transport system, where container volume varies only by height. Containers can be stacked, nested, and sealed with any lid. Handles function as connectors, protect from heat, and secure the closure.

Plan multiple meals in advance or decide spontaneously

Select meals to prepare for the next day, week, or your next dinner party. More of the spontaneous type? Scan your receipt for ingredients to receive meal proposals based on your last purchase. Select portion size from the matching box system and specify how many portions you want to prepare for each meal.

Adapt to your needs

Don't like an ingredient or is something not in stock? Simply choose an alternative. Create a shopping list, order ingredients for home delivery, or pick up a prepared food box from your local supermarket. Get guided through cooking different meals at the same time without hassle.

See the full end-to-end experience

To illustrate the overall user flow for my thesis presentation, I recorded the journeys of both the planner and the spontaneous user, and edited the video in After Effects. I also photographed various lunchbox dishes to use as app visuals (thumbnails, cooking steps, etc.).

Music credits: www.bensound.com

Research insights

I identified two types of behavior: "planners," who prepare shopping lists in advance, and "spontaneous" individuals, who are inspired by what they find in the store.

As part of my research, I conducted online studies with 100 participants, along with process analysis, desk research, and field research. The main insights showed that many people struggle to cook daily due to time constraints, and meal prepping was seen as a potential solution. However, it requires managing multiple tasks and adequate storage.

Most people prefer to place their lunch boxes horizontally in their bags, but they often only fit vertically. There is also a need for different volumes, and mismatched boxes and lids frequently lead to chaos in the storage. To prevent leaking, many people use additional plastic bags around their lunch boxes.

Ideation

Creating concepts for app, lunchbox and bag and consilidating everything into one concept

Based on research, I clarified the direction and defined the target group. I identified problems and needs, then generated numerous ideas for each. I prioritized these as must-have, should-have, and nice-to-have to consolidate the most valuable ideas into a single concept.

Prototyping and testing

Started with foam and cardboard prototypes for the lunchbox, then designed in SolidWorks, rendered different designs in Keyshot and created high-fidelity 3D-printed models.

For the app, I developed wireframes to high-fi prototypes in Axure, including storyboards and sitemap.