Classroom Project
3 Weeks
Viswak Raja
Meghna Kaligotla
A subscription-based meal kit for GenZ, curated in partnership with regional food vendors. The service immerses the customer through real cultural stories and encourages sustainable packaging disposal.
Currently we are actively exploring the next steps to bring this concept to life.
Flavor Tales is a subscription-based meal kit for GenZ, curated in partnership with regional food vendors. The service immerses the customer through real cultural stories and encourages sustainable packaging disposal.
When it comes to sustainability and the food system, looking ahead five or ten years is not enough. There is a limited time to act if we want to head off the worst of what’s to come. That’s a challenging reality in the face of a climate crisis that can feel overwhelmingly abstract and a business environment that has long prioritized what is happening in the next quarter, not the next decade.
Flavor Tales impacts users by helping regional food vendors gain more visibility and promoting sustainable practices. By curating meal kits that highlight local products and immerse customers in real cultural stories, the service supports small businesses and encourages customers to make environmentally conscious choices, such as sustainable packaging disposal.
I was actively involved in user research, conducting interviews to gather insights directly from our target audience. Additionally, I contributed to both the product design and packaging design, ensuring that every aspect of the customer experience was engaging, culturally immersive, and aligned with our sustainability goals.
A Meal-Kit with all the ingredients sourced and quantified by the local vndor
A mobile app to personalize the kit and provide an immersive cooking experience
A Drop-off service to collect the used meal-kits and recycle them
Vendors and customers can subscribe to the service through our mobile application. Our service highlights one vendor’s kit every month.
Customers can personalize their meal kit based on their cooking expertise, desired immersion elements, and available materials directly in the app.
These customizations are reflected in kit contents, like the audio narration and methods in the recipe.
Customers receive their meal kits right to their doorstep. Kits use the vendor’s branding to promote their business.
Upon opening the kit, the customer unfolds their recipe placemat, which illustrates how the ingredients were sourced and the step-by-step recipe instructions.
The placemat contains a QR code on the inside flap. Upon scanning it, the customer will have access to the immersive, narrative version of the recipe.
The recipe and history behind it are told through the vendor’s voice. The soundscape consists of music, sound effects, and a narration that aligns with the regional meal.
The customer can learn about how to plate and present their dish through the app.
Customers can get a recap on their palate using the Digital Scrapbook in their profile. Their profile also contains their nearest drop-off box.
After their eating experience, customers can stop by their local grocery store to drop of their meal kit packaging and receive their deposit (5-10% of initial payment).
How might we educate and inspire Gen Z to develop sustainable food habits by immersing them in authentic food experiences?
Diversifies the possible movement of good and services
Uplifts regional and indigenous communities of color
Conserves traditional cooking and practices with new generations
are more concerned about the environmental sustainability of their food choices
tried more than one new beverage/new packed food in a month
of food waste occurs in residential homes
The nodes of interaction that our service focuses on has been simplified. It leverages the relationship between GenZ consumers and regional food vendors.
We conducted semi-structured interviews to gain insights into the experience of two stakeholders: Gen Z consumers and Regional food curators. We interviewed a total of 6 people; 3 consumers and 3 curators. Out of the Gen Z consumers we interviewed, 2 had an active interest and experience in exploring sustainable regional cuisine, while 1 did not have that interest.
Users frequently need to have ingredients sent from their home country.
Users have limited time for cooking due to demanding work schedules.
Users find it challenging to document recipes while actively cooking.
Users struggle to minimize waste from leftovers.
Users have difficulty accessing regional ingredients.
Users are concerned about the significant amount of waste generated from ingredient packaging
“The historical context of regional food is important to me because it helps me develop sustainable food habits.”
“I’m not experienced with cooking regional food. I prioritize convenience over sustainable cooking.”
“I sell my cultural food at a market! I want more people to learn about my culture’s food through my product.”
How might we educate and inspire Gen Z to develop sustainable food habits by immersing them in authentic food experiences?
“The historical context of regional food is important to me because it helps me develop sustainable food habits.”
“The historical context of regional food is important to me because it helps me develop sustainable food habits.”
Customers and vendors can discover our service through influencers we partner with, banners and ads in grocery stores, and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Vendors and customers can subscribe to the service through our mobile application.
Our service highlights one vendor’s kit every month.
Customers receive their meal kits right to their doorstep. Kits use the vendor’s branding to promote their business.
Customers can personalize their meal kit based on their cooking expertise, desired immersion elements, and available materials directly in the app.
These customizations are reflected in kit contents, like the audio narration and methods in the recipe.
Upon opening the kit, the customer unfolds their recipe placemat, which illustrates how the ingredients were sourced and the step-by-step recipe instructions.
The placemat contains a QR code on the inside flap. Upon scanning it, the customer will have access to the immersive, narrative version of the recipe.
The customer can scan the QR code directly in the mobile app.
The recipe and history behind it are told through the vendor’s voice. The soundscape consists of music, sound effects, and a narration that aligns with the regional meal.
The customer can learn about how to plate and present their dish through the app.
Customers can get a recap on their palate using the Digital Scrapbook in their profile. Their profile also contains their nearest drop-off box.
After their eating experience, customers can stop by their local grocery store to drop of their meal kit packaging and receive their deposit (5-10% of initial payment).
We used a combination of Wizard of Oz and roleplay techniques to validate our service.
As a whole, our participants felt that Flavor Tales was an accessible and delightful entryway into exploring regional cuisine and cultivating sustainable food habits.
As a potential customer, what is your perception of the narrative soundscape feature?
As a vendor, what is your perception of the services we offer to expand your customer reach?
Please describe how you perceive the usability of our mobile app to be.
“How do I change my subscription tier as a customer?”
“Instead of the app generating the scrapbook, what if the customer could?'
“It would be cool if I could also visually see the narration in the app.”
Each tag narrates part of the story as the specific ingredients are picked up from the placemat
In-person stores where people can pickup kits and buy regional handcrafted equipment, stores can offer workshops
Expand partnership for better reach through nationalized grocery store brands
