My Role
Timeline
THE PROBLEM
Users get frustrated with confusing menu layout and inability to contact delivery driver.
Chana’s Place faces a critical issue with its website, which is notably outdated, unintuitive, and lacks user-friendliness. The current design not only complicates navigation but also undermines the overall user experience, exacerbating language barrier obstacles, posing challenges for visitors, mostly foreigners, attempting to access the restaurant’s offerings efficiently.
THE SOLUTION
Clear, customisable menus and real-time driver update with multilingual support.
Clear, customisable menus with multilingual support, real-time delivery driver tracking, and a chatbox with automated language translation. Descriptive menus with customization options and access to information about kosher food and community events.
WHITE PAPER RESEARCH
People in a foreign country often struggle to find familiarity, including access to familiar foods, cultural understanding, and social support networks.
Migrants often face challenges with familiar foods, cultural understanding, and social support. A study on Afghan women refugees in Adelaide highlighted issues like trauma, discrimination, and food access, emphasizing the need for better health outcomes for refugees. This underscores the importance of culturally sensitive design to improve access to kosher food in Japan, addressing barriers like unfamiliarity, trust, and affordability.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS + THE GAP
Current kosher delivery services in Japan lack variety, consistency, and convenience.
Competitors struggle with slow or confusing ordering, unclear menus, and unreliable delivery. David’s Deli and Shamaim face slow checkouts and delivery delays. Falafel Brothers and Kosher Japan Kitchen have unclear menus and poor website usability. These gaps show the need for a more seamless, user-friendly experience.
USER INTERVIEWS
75% of interviewees struggled with finding kosher food and faced stress from language and delivery issues when ordering from abroad.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS:
- Can you tell me about the last time you placed a food delivery order online?
- What was the most challenging part about ordering food? Why?
- How often do you place food orders?
- What is your experience like trying to get kosher food in Japan?
- Can you tell me about a time you ordered kosher food online in Japan successfully?
Download and view full interview transcript
THE MAIN INSIGHT
Foreigners face communication issues with Japanese drivers, cultural disparities complicate accommodating kosher needs, but being part of the Jewish community offers support and resources for a smoother experience.
Key Pain Points
Theme 1: Language Barrier
Foreigners’ lack of local language fluency complicates online orders and communication with Japanese drivers during deliveries.
Foreigners experience frustration and intimidation due to language barriers, leading to heightened anxiety whilst in a foreign country.
Communication barriers hinder visitors from fully experiencing Japan authentically, restricting cultural immersion.
Theme 2: Cultural Difference
Cultural disparities between Jewish dietary practices and Japanese cuisine norms create complexities in accommodating kosher dietary requirements.
Adhering to a strict kosher diet while seeking traditional dishes like sushi prompts creativity and resourcefulness.
Foreigners sometimes exhibit a tendency toward last-minute planning/ changes or spontaneity, while Japanese people generally prioritise careful planning in advance and adherence to schedules.
Theme 3: Community
Accessing kosher food becomes easier when you’re part of Japan’s Jewish community, as you have access to a variety of resources, networks, and information.
Being part of Japan’s Jewish community fosters a sense of belonging, cultural connection, and support among individuals.
Both Japanese and Jewish communities in Japan share a mutual desire to learn and appreciate each other’s cultures.
32 Years Old | Software Engineer
User story
Hey! I’m Naomi, a software engineer and enthusiastic foodie fully immersed in Japan’s vibrant culture. I’ve been living here for three years now since starting my job at Rakuten. My Jewish heritage is a big part of my life and drives my love for exploring new cuisines. When I’m not coding, you’ll find me exploring local markets or trying out the latest restaurants. Balancing my love for Japanese food with my kosher dietary practices is a fun challenge. Despite the limited kosher options, I’m determined to find authentic flavors that match my values.
Goals
- Locate trustworthy kosher food sources in Japan.
- Order kosher meals online effortlessly.
- Explore Japanese culture while adhering to kosher dietary practices.
Motivations
- Maintain kosher dietary laws for religious and cultural reasons.
- Explore and appreciate Japanese culture and cuisine.
- Improve convenience and efficiency in food ordering and meal preparation.
Pain points
- Lack of convenience in ordering kosher meals when traveling.
- Limited availability of kosher food options.
- Difficulty finding kosher-certified establishments.
- Challenges in navigating language and cultural barriers.
USER JOURNEY MAP
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN
Design Setbacks + A New Direction for Kosher Delivery
While these ideas addressed specific needs, they fell short in convenience, flexibility, and user accessibility. Travelers to Japan needed a solution that combined reliable kosher food options with seamless delivery. This led to the creation of Chana’s Place, a delivery service focused on simplifying the process with clear menus, smooth ordering, and dependable delivery tailored for international visitors.
Initial Ideas Considered:
- Local Ingredient Box Delivery
Provides kits with pre-measured kosher ingredients and recipes for travelers to prepare their own meals. Challenge: Requires users to cook, which may not suit those without kitchen access or time. - Kosher Meal Pickup App
Connects users to kosher restaurants for pre-order and self-pickup.
Challenge: Limited convenience for travelers without transportation or unfamiliar with local areas. - Subscription Meal Plan Service
Offers weekly meal deliveries with kosher-certified options to hotels or homes.
Challenge: Long-term plans aren’t practical for short-term visitors.
- Local Ingredient Box Delivery
TESTING + IMPROVEMENTS
3 major improvements in my design
SCREENS
The final product
Style Guide
Link to my full Figma work file here
CONCLUSION + LESSON LEARNED
Whats I’d do differently next time.
The redesign of Chana’s Place focused on improving the user experience by addressing key pain points such as the confusing menu layout and lack of communication with delivery drivers.
By simplifying the menu and adding customizable options, real-time delivery tracking, and multilingual support, I created a more intuitive and accessible platform for users, especially foreigners, navigating kosher food options in Japan.
The inclusion of kosher food descriptions and cultural event updates fosters a sense of community and provides additional value to users. Going forward, I would conduct further user testing, especially with a more diverse group of international users, to refine these features and ensure even greater ease of use.
Additionally, enhancing the chat functionality to offer more personalized responses could further improve the service’s overall effectiveness.
For more work inquiries email me at contact@emitanimura.com
Thank you for reading! ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ