Team
Jon Rodz, Creative Direcror
Chi Quach, Project Manager
Fozzie Kretshmer, Content Lead
Our target user was difficult to narrow down, but so clear when found. Millennials are at the forefront of the restaurant industry today.
The influence of millennials in the restaurant industry is marked by their preferences for tech, experimental cuisines, social and environmental consciousness, experiences, convenience, and a desire for authenticity. But operating in one fo the most competitive industries comes with a unique set of challenges and needs...
Insights
As the insights started coming in, we began to realize that this problem was much more complex than we initially anticipated.
There is absolutely no communication between government departments, making it extremely difficult to get things done.
User Quote
The restaurant industry is required to comply with a multitude of local, state, and federal regulations, covering areas such as health and safety standards, zoning laws, food handling, and employment practices.
The intricate web of regulations can be overwhelming for restaurant owners, especially those without legal or regulatory expertise.
Critical Insight
Restaurant owners need a streamlined and guided regulation and application process to help them ensure they are on track and in compliance.
Research Process
So much to uncover, so little time.
Challenge
When diving into research, we had dozens of questions. The dilemma was, which research methods do we use to get them?
As a team we got together and laid out our research objectives to help guide our approach and methodologies.
The numerous research approaches we could have deployed prompted careful consideration and deliberation within the team to identify the best approach for our design objectives given the time frame.
The Problem Space
The overwhelming and complex world of restaurant regulations, inspections, and licenses.
Why this problem? We wanted to give back to the dozens of local restaurants in our city, Savannah, Georgia.
Navigating restaurant regulations is challenging for local owners due to complex and ever-changing standards. Our goal is to support local restaurants by addressing regulatory hurdles in the hopes of contributing to a more resilient and vibrant local restaurant scene, supporting the well-being and sustainability of these businesses.
We were slowed down by unexpected or new compliance and regulation laws, often causing major set backs.
User Quote
Regulations are not static; they evolve over time in response to changing industry standards, public health concerns, and legislative updates. Keeping on top of these changes requires constant work, making it challenging for restaurant owners to ensure ongoing compliance.
Critical Insight
Considering the wide variety of legal variables, restaurant owners need to be able to easily access the information they need to be in compliance.
Ideation
How Might We Streamline the process of navigating municipal compliance laws and regulations when opening a restaurant for the first time?
Jobs to be done
There were so many aspects to this process, so we broke it down using the “Jobs To Be Done” method to help guide our concept ideation.
Each member of the team wrote out the jobs to be done based on their understanding of the research, and then we affnitized it.
We affinitized based on the frequency of a certain job being mentioned by each team member, and then organized the data in to the chart below to visualize which jobs were most critical to our user.
Once our jobs to be done were determined, we individually wrote out features and voted as a team to decide which to move forward with.
This process was great. We used the crazy 8’s method, timing ourselves to push out the wildest ideas we could imagine. Every team member wrote out their ideas and we affonitzied again, grouping similar ideas.
Challenge
We ran into a roadblock here. With only 4 weeks left in the project, we needed to determine and prioritize critical features to deliver on time.
We then mapped our ideas based on their frequency, and through that determined foundational features through nice to have features.
These became our guide. Every design decision was tied back to these core features, which tied back to our insights. UX bliss.
A critical part of our research included mapping out every touch point users had with government departments, forms, and contractors.
Regulations and compliance is an extremely complex process involving many moving parts. Our goal here was to really understand how it worked, and determine where we could realistically step in and make improvements.
Pain Points
Convoluted Processes
We are always looking for the next step, often never finding a clear path.
Lack Of Support
Our local municipalities are scattered and do not provide the proper support, guidance, or knowledge without constant inquiry.
No Guidance
We rely heavily on those who are more familiar with the process for guidance.
Prototyping
Build quick, test often... At least that was the plan.
To begin, task flows were developed to help guide the wireframing.
These task flows acted as a blueprint for us, outlining the sequential steps and interactions to ensure a cohesive design that aligns seamlessly with the intended goals of our users.
Building out the wireframes took longer than expected, but they helped us visualize interactions that we hadn't anticipated.
We overshot our initial target due date for wireframes, but it wasn't all bad. We began to realize just how much we failed to consider when building out our task flows, and user testing brought up extremely valuable insights.
Global Nav
All Tasks
Task Manager
Task
Due Date
Step
Each task has numerous layers of work that needs to be done, how do we make it easy to follow and understand?
With this being such a complex process, UX writing became a key aspect of our design. Clear and concise language was critical in guiding users, making the complex steps more accessible and promoting a smoother experience. User testing agreed :)
Global Nav
Task Module
AI Assistant
Task
Step
So what do we call this??
Challenge
Each task has numerous layers of work that needs to be done, how do we make the process easy to follow and understand for our users?
Critical Failure
We made the assumption that our users would prefer a desktop app. We were entirely wrong, and had to quickly adapt our design to mobile.
There’s a clear gap in the market, and this is a process users don’t want to navigate through on their own.
While there are some great tools our target audience is already using to remedy some of their troubles, none truly fulfill their needs.
User Needs
Efficiency
To manage workloads and minimizing the administrative burden.
Support
To navigate the regulatory landscape with competence and control.
Awareness
To stay up to date and within compliance of regulatory laws and regulations
Why would you design this for desktop?! We are always on our phones and on the go.
We enjoy how every task is in order of what needs to get done first.
It’s difficult to determine which tasks are completed and which aren't.
The task manager is very easy to navigate and understand.
You don't need to include a due date. No one gives you deadlines, it’s all on your own time.
Task, step, then... step again? This isn't making sense.
We really love the AI assistant feature.
What if we haven't filled out the document? How do we do that? Are we walked through it?
We like how you can upload and scan documents, but again, how do we fill them out?
Takeaways
The UX process is ever evolving, and I better keep up.
Here are some of my biggest takeaways from this project.
Thank you so much to Jon, Chi, and Fozzie for such an amazing quarter full of fun and learning. Love you All!
Allocate more time and resources for user testing at to ensure a more user-centric design.
Really took the time to explore different approaches to solving the problem.
Really stick to the timeline, things can get out of hand quick.
Took my interaction design skills to the next level.
Find a better balance between the brand and the UI, not everything has to look like Apple.
The Solution
End to end guidance.
I wish I had something like this when I first opened.
User Quote
With features like Progress Tracking, Guided Walkthroughs, an intuitive AI assistant, and Simplified Form Filling, we're here to make every task, big or small, a breeze.
Progress Tracking - No more guessing. Every task you need to get done, packaged neatly just for you.
We've curated every task you need to complete, specific to your business and your local requirements, and in the order you need to get them done.
Guided Walkthroughs - Task, Phase, Step. We’re with you every step of the way.
We're not just an app; we're your dedicated companion. Clutch walks you through every regulation, form, and submission making your journey effortless and enjoyable.
AI Assistant - No more Google searches. Our assistant is always on hand to answer your questions.
Wtf is a “Material Safety Data Sheet”? I don't know, but our assistant does. Just ask! Always available on the bottom of the screen, ready to help you get the answers you need.
Simplified Form Filling - And no, it’s not digital forms. Just answer what we need, and we’ll take care of the rest.
We already have most of your information. Why fill it out every time? In fact, we’ll just ask you a few questions and we’ll fill out the from for you.
Overview
After interviewing new millennial first-time restaurant owners, it became evident that navigating municipal legal compliance at the beginning of the restaurant opening process is an overlooked and stressful challenge.
Clutch aims to minimize stress through a platform with features like progress tracking, guided walkthroughs, an AI assistant, and simplified form-filling.
This project was created for Professor Ascanio's Perceptual and Cognitive Human Factors class at SCAD.
My Role
Interaction Design Lead - UI Design, Interactions, Wireframes, User Flows, Prototyping
Team
Global Nav
All Tasks
Task Manager
Task
Due Date
Step
Global Nav
Task Module
AI Assistant
Task
Step
So what do we call this??
My Role
Interaction Design Lead - UI Design, Interactions, Wireframes, User Flows, Prototyping
Overview
After interviewing new millennial first-time restaurant owners, it became evident that navigating municipal legal compliance at the beginning of the restaurant opening process is an overlooked and stressful challenge.
Clutch aims to minimize stress through a platform with features like progress tracking, guided walkthroughs, an AI assistant, and simplified form-filling.
This project was created for Professor Ascanio's Perceptual and Cognitive Human Factors class at SCAD.
We were slowed down by unexpected or new compliance and regulation laws, often causing major set backs.
User Quote
Regulations are not static; they evolve over time in response to changing industry standards, public health concerns, and legislative updates. Keeping on top of these changes requires constant work, making it challenging for restaurant owners to ensure ongoing compliance.
Ideation
How Might We Streamline the process of navigating municipal compliance laws and regulations when opening a restaurant for the first time?
Each member of the team wrote out the jobs to be done based on their understanding of the research, and then we affnitized it.
We affinitized based on the frequency of a certain job being mentioned by each team member, and then organized the data in to the chart below to visualize which jobs were most critical to our user.
Once our jobs to be done were determined, we individually wrote out features and voted as a team to decide which to move forward with.
This process was great. We used the crazy 8’s method, timing ourselves to push out the wildest ideas we could imagine. Every team member wrote out their ideas and we affonitzied again, grouping similar ideas.
We then mapped our ideas based on their frequency, and through that determined foundational features through nice to have features.
These became our guide. Every design decision was tied back to these core features, which tied back to our insights. UX bliss.
The Problem Space
The overwhelming and complex world of restaurant regulations, inspections, and licenses.
Why this problem? We wanted to give back to the dozens of local restaurants in our city, Savannah, Georgia.
Navigating restaurant regulations is challenging for local owners due to complex and ever-changing standards. Our goal is to support local restaurants by addressing regulatory hurdles in the hopes of contributing to a more resilient and vibrant local restaurant scene, supporting the well-being and sustainability of these businesses.
Our target user was difficult to narrow down, but so clear when found. Millennials are at the forefront of the restaurant industry today.
The influence of millennials in the restaurant industry is marked by their preferences for tech, experimental cuisines, social and environmental consciousness, experiences, convenience, and a desire for authenticity. But operating in one fo the most competitive industries comes with a unique set of challenges and needs...
User Needs
Efficiency
To manage workloads and minimizing the administrative burden.
Support
To navigate the regulatory landscape with competence and control.
Awareness
To stay up to date and within compliance of regulatory laws and regulations
Research Process
So much to uncover, so little time.
Challenge
When diving into research, we had dozens of questions. The dilemma was, which research methods do we use to get them?
As a team we got together and laid out our research objectives to help guide our approach and methodologies.
The numerous research approaches we could have deployed prompted careful consideration and deliberation within the team to identify the best approach for our design objectives given the time frame.
A critical part of our research included mapping out every touch point users had with government departments, forms, and contractors.
Regulations and compliance is an extremely complex process involving many moving parts. Our goal here was to really understand how it worked, and determine where we could realistically step in and make improvements.
Pain Points
Convoluted Processes
We are always looking for the next step, often never finding a clear path.
Lack Of Support
Our local municipalities are scattered and do not provide the proper support, guidance, or knowledge without constant inquiry.
No Guidance
We rely heavily on those who are more familiar with the process for guidance.
Insights
As the insights started coming in, we began to realize that this problem was much more complex than we initially anticipated.
There is absolutely no communication between government departments, making it extremely difficult to get things done.
User Quote
The restaurant industry is required to comply with a multitude of local, state, and federal regulations, covering areas such as health and safety standards, zoning laws, food handling, and employment practices.
The intricate web of regulations can be overwhelming for restaurant owners, especially those without legal or regulatory expertise.
Critical Insights
Restaurant owners need a streamlined and guided regulation and application process to help them ensure they are on track and in compliance.
Critical Insights
Considering the wide variety of legal variables, restaurant owners need to be able to easily access the information they need to be in compliance.
Critical Insights
Considering the wide variety of legal variables, restaurant owners need to be able to easily access the information they need to be in compliance.
Prototyping
Build quick, test often... At least that was the plan.
To begin, task flows were developed to help guide the wireframing.
These task flows acted as a blueprint for us, outlining the sequential steps and interactions to ensure a cohesive design that aligns seamlessly with the intended goals of our users.
There’s a clear gap in the market, and this is a process users don’t want to navigate through on their own.
While there are some great tools our target audience is already using to remedy some of their troubles, none truly fulfill their needs.
Building out the wireframes took longer than expected, but they helped us visualize interactions that we hadn't anticipated.
We overshot our initial target due date for wireframes, but it wasn't all bad. We began to realize just how much we failed to consider when building out our task flows, and user testing brought up extremely valuable insights.
Why would you design this for desktop?! We are always on our phones and on the go.
It’s difficult to determine which tasks are completed and which aren't.
You don't need to include a due date. No one gives you deadlines, it’s all on your own time.
We enjoy how every task is in order of what needs to get done first.
The task manager is very easy to navigate and understand.
Critical Failure
We made the assumption that our users would prefer a desktop app. We were entirely wrong, and had to quickly adapt our design to mobile.
Each task has numerous layers of work that needs to be done, how do we make it easy to follow and understand?
With this being such a complex process, UX writing became a key aspect of our design. Clear and concise language was critical in guiding users, making the complex steps more accessible and promoting a smoother experience. User testing agreed :)
Task, step, then... step again? This isn't making sense.
What if we haven't filled out the document? How do we do that? Are we walked through it?
We like how you can upload and scan documents, but again, how do we fill them out?
We really love the AI assistant feature.
Challenge
Each task has numerous layers of work that needs to be done, how do we make the process easy to follow and understand for our users?
The Solution
End to end guidance.
I wish I had something like this when I first opened.
User Quote
With features like Progress Tracking, Guided Walkthroughs, an intuitive AI assistant, and Simplified Form Filling, we're here to make every task, big or small, a breeze.
Progress Tracking - No more guessing. Every task you need to get done, packaged neatly just for you.
We've curated every task you need to complete, specific to your business and your local requirements, and in the order you need to get them done.
Guided Walkthroughs - Task, Phase, Step. We’re with you every step of the way.
We're not just an app; we're your dedicated companion. Clutch walks you through every regulation, form, and submission making your journey effortless and enjoyable.
AI Assistant - No more Google searches. Our assistant is always on hand to answer your questions.
Wtf is a “Material Safety Data Sheet”? I don't know, but our assistant does. Just ask! Always available on the bottom of the screen, ready to help you get the answers you need.
Simplified Form Filling - And no, it’s not digital forms. Just answer what we need, and we’ll take care of the rest.
We already have most of your information. Why fill it out every time? In fact, we’ll just ask you a few questions and we’ll fill out the from for you.
Takeaways
The UX process is ever evolving, and I better keep up.
Here are some of my biggest takeaways from this project.
Thank you so much to Jon, Chi, and Fozzie for such an amazing quarter full of fun and learning. Love you All!
Allocate more time and resources for user testing at to ensure a more user-centric design.
Really stick to the timeline, things can get out of hand quick.
Find a better balance between the brand and the UI, not everything has to look like Apple.
Really took the time to explore different approaches to solving the problem.
Took my interaction design skills to the next level.
Thanks for reading! Check out these awesome projects too! :)
