Lupa app
[ Role ]
UX UI Design, Design system
[ Approach ]
Agile, Design Thinking
[ Description ]
We were tasked with creating an easy and accessible way to visualize allergen information, making it clearer and more intuitive, especially for users with low eyesight.
This project followed an iterative sprint-based approach, covering UX research, ideation, user testing, refinements, UI design, brand assets, and software requirements. Through continuous testing and refinement, we ensured the app was intuitive, inclusive, and user-friendly.
[ Client ]
Digital Catapult UK
[ Year ]
6 weeks projects. 2022

At a glance
Lupa is a mobile app designed to make allergen information easier to read and understand, especially for individuals with low eyesight and accessibility needs. With many food labels being unclear or difficult to read, our goal was to develop an inclusive, digital solution that simplifies allergen detection and enhances safety for people with allergies.
Challenges
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Data Governance & Accuracy: Ensuring reliable, up-to-date allergen information while complying with regulations.
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Improving Readability: Food packaging often presents allergen information in a way that is hard to read.
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Creating an Intuitive Digital Solution: Designing a user-friendly, interactive way to visualize allergens within a mobile app.
Outcomes
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A prototype that allows users to access allergen details through an easy-to-use mobile interface.
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2 interactive visualizations to A/B test how allergen information can be best presented digitally.
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Software Requirements & Accessibility Features: Defined key functionalities and accessibility to ensure success.
Contribution
In this project, I led user research, wireframing, and user testing. I focused on identifying key user challenges and streamlining the process to make it more intuitive. Additionally, I enhanced the app's visual appeal. The biggest challenges involved addressing data privacy concerns and ensuring full accessibility throughout the user flow, ensuring a seamless and secure experience for all users
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Impact
What did we achieve?
30%
Shopping time decrease.
53%
Increased desire to try new products.
70%
Increased trust in products.
The process


Testing & Iterating
With the high-fidelity prototype, we went to a physical supermarket to user test with real customers. We understood that:
Testing revealed the need for a more intuitive way to indicate whether a product was allergen-free or not.
Shifting the approach was an inclusive decision: Instead of relying on new-generation smartphones. We designed the second prototype for to A/B test. A supermarket-integrated scanner system, ensuring accessibility for elderly users and those less familiar with the technology.

The Discovery phase
We kicked off by identifying and mapping key assumptions to learn about them.
Methods Used: Conducted interviews, surveys, observations, and a literature review to identify pain points in the user journey.
Key Insights:
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Users with allergies and low eyesight struggled with missing or unreadable allergen information on packaging.
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Limited food choices and reluctance to try new products were major frustrations.
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Visual allergen icons often confuse the user due to their ambiguous meaning.
With regards to accessibility, we defined success as meeting the following criteria: good colour contrast, usable fonts, icons always accompanied by text, and designing in a logical flow so people using screen magnifiers know what to expect on the screen.

Ideation & prototyping
We collaborated with allergy sufferers, low-vision users, and our team to generate ideas. Using an Impact-Effort Matrix, we prioritized high-impact, feasible solutions.
We mapped user journeys, and information architecture, and built lo-fi and hi-fi prototypes to ensure an intuitive and accessible experience.
Some features of the developed prototype include barcode scanning, personalized allergen alerts, and safe alternatives, making shopping easier and safer.
To address undisclosed allergens, we designed a user-reporting system, allowing people to flag reactions and warn others in real time.










Conclusion
Using data-driven design and the lean startup methodology, we were able to move quickly and refine the product through constant feedback loops. By testing and iterating with real customer insights, we helped the client innovate their portfolio and create a product that really clicked with the target audience. We gathered quick feedback to make smarter decisions and get the right product out faster.
