Too Many Cafés, Not Enough Clarity

People love exploring local cafés, but finding one that matches their vibe, whether cozy for studying, trendy for Instagram, or quick for a caffeine fix can feel overwhelming. Existing tools often surface the same generic options without personalization

solution

AI That Knows Your Taste

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS + THE GAP

Beyond Maps and Reviews: The Missing Ingredient

Apps like Yelp and Google Maps cover basic discovery, but they lack tailored suggestions. None combine local café data, user preferences, and AI-powered personalization into a seamless, intuitive experience

user interview

Brewing Insights from Real Café Lovers

Through interviews with students and young professionals, I learned that people want cafés for specific contexts like studying, socializing, or a quick grab-and-go, but struggle with review overload and inconsistent info. Users also value vibe (quiet, cozy, aesthetic) as much as menu quality

user persona

Designing for the Everyday Explorer

To keep user needs at the heart of the design process, I created a detailed user persona based on interview insights. Meet Yasmin—a coffee enthusiast and busy university graduate student who wants a more reliable way to find the right coffee spot

Paper Wireframes

Sketching to Solve

Early on, I used rapid paper sketches to explore layout ideas and interactions. These low-fidelity wireframes allowed me to quickly test different concepts before moving into digital prototyping

wireframes

From Sketches to Sips

Paper sketches helped me explore different layouts for the AI café finder and café profile pages. Moving into digital wireframes, I emphasized clarity in search results, with key details like vibe, amenities, and location surfaced upfront

ui kit

Crafting a Visual Flavor

The UI kit set the tone with warm café inspired colors, rounded typography, and clean components. The goal: make the app feel welcoming, approachable, and consistent across all screens

User testing + iterations

Taste Testing the Experience

After testing the mobile screens with four users, I received a 100% satisfaction rate. However, three participants suggested making a desktop screen to access product information. Based on this feedback, I spent the next two weeks wireframing and designing a desktop mockup to extend the experience beyond mobile

FINAL SCREENS

The Perfect Blend

The final design presents a clean, intuitive app where users can explore cafés through personalized AI suggestions, clear café profiles, and simple saving tools for future visits

CONCLUSION + LESSONS LEARNED

Brewing Better Experiences

Designing Brewway taught me the importance of listening closely to even small pieces of feedback. The one suggestion that stood out was the need for a responsive desktop version, which pushed me to extend the platform beyond mobile.

Key takeaways:

Positive validation matters: High satisfaction confirmed that the mobile experience was intuitive and enjoyable.
One strong insight can drive impact: A single suggestion about desktop use shaped the next phase of design.
Adaptability is key: Designing across multiple devices highlighted the importance of flexible, responsive systems.

If I were to expand on this project, I would focus more on developing the desktop experience to create a seamless cross-platform journey