Brew Buddy
This project taught me how small design choices — like animations, spacing, and micro-interactions — can make a big difference in how friendly an app feels. I also learned the importance of structuring state for scalability, so new menu items or features don't break existing flows. Most importantly, it showed me how to balance practical UX with whimsical design to make a simple app more memorable.
Role
Full Stack Developer & UI/UX Designer
Duration
1 months
Category
Web Application
Client
Personal Project
Links
Tech Stack
React
Next.js
TypeScript
Tailwind CSSUX Research
Ethnographic study of home coffee brewing routines with 15 coffee enthusiasts
Analysis of existing coffee apps focusing on user engagement and retention
Survey of 120 coffee drinkers about their brewing habits and pain points
Competitive analysis of recipe apps across different domains
User Personas
Persona 1
Coffee Enthusiast: Wants to perfect brewing techniques and try new recipes
Persona 2
Busy Professional: Needs quick, reliable recipes for morning routine
Persona 3
Casual Brewer: Seeks simple guidance without overwhelming detail
Problem Statement
"Home coffee brewers struggle to achieve consistent results and discover new recipes due to scattered information, complex measurements, and lack of engaging brewing guidance."
Design Goals
Make coffee brewing feel approachable and fun for all skill levels
Create an engaging experience that encourages experimentation
Provide clear, actionable guidance without cognitive overload
Build a sense of community around coffee brewing
Wireframes & Ideation
Recipe discovery flow with filtering and search
Step-by-step brewing interface with timer integration
Recipe collection and personal brewing journal
Prototyping
Interactive Figma prototype focusing on brewing flow and animations
Paper prototype testing for recipe organization and discovery
Working prototype for timer functionality and user interactions
Key Features
A fun, interactive UI with animations and micro-interactions
Brewing timers and step-by-step instructions
Brewing recipe library with local storage
Custom validation rules and error messages
Form styling and theming options
Export to HTML, React, and JSON formats
Template library with pre-built form layouts
Form analytics and submission tracking
Responsive design for all devices
User Testing
In-context testing with users brewing actual coffee using the app
A/B testing of playful vs. professional design approaches
Usability testing focusing on timer and step navigation
Design Iterations
Added personality and whimsy after testing revealed desire for more engagement
Simplified recipe steps based on user confusion during brewing
Enhanced timer visibility and audio cues for hands-free brewing
Improved recipe discovery through better categorization
Design Decisions
Used warm, coffee-inspired colors to create emotional connection
Implemented micro-animations to celebrate small wins and maintain engagement
Chose friendly, conversational language over technical brewing jargon
Added personality through illustrations and playful interactions
User Feedback
"'This app actually makes brewing coffee fun!' - Coffee Enthusiast"
"'Love the animations, they make me smile every morning' - Daily User"
"'Finally found consistent results with my pour-over' - Home Brewer"
Accessibility Considerations
Voice guidance for hands-free brewing when handling hot water
High contrast timer display for easy reading in bright kitchen lighting
Simplified navigation for users with motor difficulties
Audio timer alerts for visually impaired users
Challenges Faced
Persisting user experience
Making the UI engaging without overwhelming
Implementing animation
Solutions
Used React DnD library with custom hooks for smooth drag-and-drop experience
Implemented a schema-based validation system using Zod for type safety
Created a centralized state management system using Zustand for real-time updates
Applied virtualization techniques for handling large forms efficiently
Built a template engine that generates optimized code with proper formatting
Solutions
Used React DnD library with custom hooks for smooth drag-and-drop experience
Implemented a schema-based validation system using Zod for type safety
Created a centralized state management system using Zustand for real-time updates
Applied virtualization techniques for handling large forms efficiently
Built a template engine that generates optimized code with proper formatting
Lessons Learned
This project taught me how small design choices — like animations, spacing, and micro-interactions — can make a big difference in how 'friendly' an app feels. I also learned the importance of structuring state for scalability, so new menu items or features don't break existing flows. Most importantly, it showed me how to balance practical UX with whimsical design to make a simple app more memorable.
Design Insights
Personality in design creates emotional attachment and increases engagement
Micro-interactions should reinforce the core experience, not distract from it
Context matters—kitchen environments require different UX considerations
User testing in real environments reveals insights impossible to get in labs