UX Design - Recipe4
How might we integrate immersive language learning into learners' daily routines?
How might we integrate immersive language learning into learners' daily routines?
Personal Project
June 2022 - July 2022
UX Designer
This language app bridges learning with the universal love for food. The solution focuses on seamless daily integration, building habit, and strengthening cultural identity.
September 2024 - Current
I’m currently a UX Designer at Amazon Photos, where I lead the end-to-end experience of personalizing smart home devices with photos. The customer journey starts on mobile where they select the photos to display, and extending to the out-of-box, management, and ambient display experiences on Echo Show and Fire TV.
Context
Background
Learning my native language as an immigrant
As a second-generation Korean American, I grew up with plenty of Korean at home –watching Korean variety shows, listening to K-pop and enjoying my mother's home cooked Korean meals everyday. cooking. Despite this, every time I'd visit Korea or try to call my grandparents, I was suddenly reminded of a painful distance from fluency, making me feel disconnected from my own identity. And, now that I was older and away from home, I lacked even more opportunity to stay connected an immersed in my language.
As a second-generation Korean American, I grew up with plenty of Korean at home –watching Korean variety shows, listening to K-pop and enjoying my mother's home cooked Korean meals everyday. cooking. Despite this, every time I'd visit Korea or try to call my grandparents, I was suddenly reminded of a painful distance from fluency, making me feel disconnected from my own identity. And, now that I was older and away from home, I lacked even more opportunity to stay connected an immersed in my language.
Coming to college, I started to realize there were so many others like me – stuck at the doorstep of fluency. That shared struggle became the motivation for this project: designing a practical solution to bridge that cultural distance.
Coming to college, I started to realize there were so many others like me – stuck at the doorstep of fluency. That shared struggle became the motivation for this project: designing a practical solution to bridge that cultural distance.
Problem
Second-generation immigrants struggle to seamlessly integrate meaningful language practice into daily life.
Struggle to transition from passive understanding to confident fluency
Difficult to find time for meaningful and consistent practice
Hard to integrate language learning with genuine cultural context
Struggle to transition from passive understanding to confident fluency
difficult to find time for meaningful and consistent practice
Hard to integrate language learningwith genuine cultural context
Research
Research
Objective
While the personal experience informed this problem space, in order to create a real design solution, I removed myself and my assumptions and started by building an objective understanding of the research. These were the objectives of the Research stage:
Understand users’ current difficulties in learning languages
Understand gaps and opportunities in current language-learning technology market
While the personal experience informed this problem space, in order to create a real design solution, I removed myself and my assumptions and started by building an objective understanding of the research. These were the objectives of the Research stage:
Understand users’ current difficulties in learning languages
Understand gaps and opportunities in current language-learning technology market
User Interviews
Turning personal anecdotes into actionable data
I conducted a user interviews with a total of 8 participants between the ages of 18 and 25, all identifying as “intermediate” speakers of their mother tongue. Here were the key insights:
I conducted a user interviews with a total of 8 participants between the ages of 18 and 25, all identifying as “intermediate” speakers of their mother tongue. Here were the key insights:
Motivation for language learning: Admiration of/fascination by new language and culture
Motivation for language learning: Admiration of/fascination by new language and culture
Best exercises/practice: Watching TV, listening to music, reading news
Most difficult part: Learning natural nuances for fluency without getting overwhelmed
Best exercises/practice: Watching TV, listening to music, reading news
Most difficult part: Learning natural nuances for fluency without getting overwhelmed
Competitive Analysis
Analysis gaps and opportunities
There are countless language learning apps available, yet a significant number of learners still struggle to achieve the fluency they desire. I tore down 3 big competitors in the language learning space.
There are countless language learning apps available, yet a significant number of learners still struggle to achieve the fluency they desire. I tore down 3 big competitors in the language learning space.
In summary, competitors:
Lack Personal Focus: Content fails to align with the user's specific goals.
Miss Motivation: Does not clearly map the path to full fluency.
Have low daily Relevancy: Generic topics feel detached from real life.
In summary, competitors:
Lack Personal Focus: Content fails to align with the user's specific goals.
Miss Motivation: Does not clearly map the path to full fluency.
Have low daily Relevancy: Generic topics feel detached from real life.
Takeaways
Competitors offer a wide range of learning opportunities, but no specificity on what can be learned
Users want to reach fluency, but are overwhelmed by how much is left to learn
Competitors offer a wide range of learning opportunities, but no specificity on what can be learned
Users want to reach fluency, but are overwhelmed by how much is left to learn
Analysis
Analysis
Objective
Find patterns in research to establish a clear user persona
Define where in the customer journey this solution insert itself
Find patterns in research to establish a clear user persona
Define where in the customer journey this solution insert itself
User Persona
Empathizing with the user journey
I consolidated my research via affinity mapping and created a target user profile and journey map to summarize my findings.
I consolidated my research via affinity mapping and created a target user profile and journey map to summarize my findings.
My research revealed a key insight: intermediate learners don't need another app promising fluency, as that's a long-term process.
My research revealed a key insight: intermediate learners don't need another app promising fluency, as that's a long-term process.
Instead, users require easy, manageable daily exposure to their target language to break through their intermediate rut and find enjoyment in consistent practice.
Instead, users require easy, manageable daily exposure to their target language to break through their intermediate rut and find enjoyment in consistent practice.
Jobs to Be Done
Defining customer success
WHEN I'm going through my day, I WANT to use the language automatically, so I CAN make learning a true necessity in my daily life.
WHEN I commit to a language app, I WANT a variety of fresh, timely content, so I CAN stay motivated and intrigued long-term.
WHEN I complete a lesson, I WANT to see clear milestones and progress, so I CAN feel validated and confident in my learning journey.
WHEN I'm going through my day, I WANT to use the language automatically, so I CAN make learning a true necessity in my daily life.
WHEN I commit to a language app, I WANT a variety of fresh, timely content, so I CAN stay motivated and intrigued long-term.
WHEN I complete a lesson, I WANT to see clear milestones and progress, so I CAN feel validated and confident in my learning journey.
Takeaways
Target customers need not be promised fluency, instead consistent and easy exposure to keep them engaged throughout their “intermediate’s rut”
Target customers need not be promised fluency, instead consistent and easy exposure to keep them engaged throughout their “intermediate’s rut”
Ideation
Ideation
Objective
Define the product space
While the personal experience informed this problem space, in order to create a real design solution, I removed myself and my assumptions and started by building an objective understanding of the research. These were the objectives of the Research stage:
Understand users’ current difficulties in learning languages
Understand gaps and opportunities in current language-learning technology market
Initial Testing
"Integrate into daily life" - how does this feel most natural?
I started off by brainstorming aspects of our daily lives in which language could be incorporated. I explored three possibilities – food, music and fashion – in that they correspond to essential steps in daily routines: eating, commuting and getting dressed, respectively.
I started off by brainstorming aspects of our daily lives in which language could be incorporated. I explored three possibilities – food, music and fashion – in that they correspond to essential steps in daily routines: eating, commuting and getting dressed, respectively.
I showed each concept sketch to 8 language-learning college students with the following questions:
Which of these three do you see fitting into your life most seamlessly?
Which of these three is most influenced by culture?
In a language-learning context, which of these three is most exciting to you?
I showed each concept sketch to 8 language-learning college students with the following questions:
Which of these three do you see fitting into your life most seamlessly?
Which of these three is most influenced by culture?
In a language-learning context, which of these three is most exciting to you?
Results
The answer - food!
The concept with the most positive reactions was overwhelmingly, food! There were a three people with strong feelings towards a playlist mix and an outfit picker, but food captured the extreme foodies and everyone else that fell in the middle. Additionally, I felt the experience of food had a lot more opportunities to explore from a design perspective as well.
The concept with the most positive reactions was overwhelmingly, food! There were a three people with strong feelings towards a playlist mix and an outfit picker, but food captured the extreme foodies and everyone else that fell in the middle. Additionally, I felt the experience of food had a lot more opportunities to explore from a design perspective as well.
Takeaways
Recipe-learning would provide the flexibility and consistency in daily life that learners were looking for.
While the personal experience informed this problem space, in order to create a real design solution, I removed myself and my assumptions and started by building an objective understanding of the research. These were the objectives of the Research stage:
Understand users’ current difficulties in learning languages
Understand gaps and opportunities in current language-learning technology market
Iteration
Iteration
Objective
Make information digestible
Provide flexibility in learning
Make information digestible
Provide flexibility in learning
The Journey
Breaking down the art of a meal
In order to understand how this would integrate into the user's daily life, I had to understand where we'd be integrating into – a meal. I identified the process – choosing what to eat, making the meal, enjoying the food, and then cleaning up. I used this to help identify how the app would complement the user at each of these steps.
In order to understand how this would integrate into the user's daily life, I had to understand where we'd be integrating into – a meal. I identified the process – choosing what to eat, making the meal, enjoying the food, and then cleaning up. I used this to help identify how the app would complement the user at each of these steps.
Design Iteration
Finding the balance between recipe vs language learning
Between each round of designs, I consulted a group of three new users who gave me their feedback on how accessible and suitable the learning was for a daily basis.
Between each round of designs, I consulted a group of three new users who gave me their feedback on how accessible and suitable the learning was for a daily basis.
The main design obstacle I faced was figuring out how to balance the aspect of creating a fun learning experience, with an easy cooking experience.
The main design obstacle I faced was figuring out how to balance the aspect of creating a fun learning experience, with an easy cooking experience.
Feature 1 - Dashboard
Are users coming for a language lesson or a recipe?
At this stage in the journey, user are low on learning motivation, and high in hunger. Users were coming to learn, but ultimately, the motivation to do so would be a satiating recipe. So, with each iteration, I tried to focus on highlighting the appeal of the recipe so that user would be intrigued to get started.
At this stage in the journey, user are low on learning motivation, and high in hunger. Users were coming to learn, but ultimately, the motivation to do so would be a satiating recipe. So, with each iteration, I tried to focus on highlighting the appeal of the recipe so that user would be intrigued to get started.
Key changes:
Standardized image to unify appearance
Adapted editorial style for a “recipe book” aesthetic that makes the food shine
Key changes:
Standardized image to unify appearance
Adapted editorial style for a “recipe book” aesthetic that makes the food shine
Feature 2 - Recipes
How can the steps in a recipe be turned into language learning opportunities?
Yes, the users are trying to make something to eat, but they're also here to learn. With each iteration, I tried to find the balance building in moments of learn the language into the recipe process.
Yes, the users are trying to make something to eat, but they're also here to learn. With each iteration, I tried to find the balance building in moments of learn the language into the recipe process.
Key changes:
Added toggle between Korean and English view
Added ability to put words to bank
Key changes:
Added toggle between Korean and English view
Added ability to put words to bank
Feature 3 - Clean-up
How can we help re-inforce this information?
Finally, it's time to clean-up. This too is part of the art of a meal, and it's also time that can be used to reinforce the learning. Throughout the iterations, I worked on improving the interface so that it adapted to the user's modality – hands free.
The food is done, but not the learning! Users are often watching a show while watching their food, so this was also the perfect leverage for cultural immersion. In order not to lose users to Netflix or Tiktok, throughout the iterations of this feature I focused on framing content in the most valuable way.
Key changes:
Changing modality from touch to voice
Improving text contrast and size to account for distance from screen
Key changes:
Changing modality from touch to voice
Improving text contrast and size to account for distance from screen
The Solution
The Solution
Find recipes for any time of day or craving
See target culture and American favorites
Preview ingredients before beginning
See target culture and American favorites
Preview ingredients before beginning
Cook delicious meals and learn new words
Toggle between English and target
Add words to review set at any step
Toggle between English and target
Add words to review set at any step
Wrap it all up with a review
Hands free review with speech recognition for while you clean up after your meal
Create new review sets with customizable or randomized content
Hands free review with speech recognition for while you clean up after your meal
Create new review sets with customizable or randomized content
Evaluation
Evaluation
Objective
Evaluating whether the solution was successful in solving the problem
Evaluating whether the solution was successful in solving the problem
Back to the JTBD
WHEN I'm going through my day, I WANT to use the language automatically, so I CAN make learning a true necessity in my daily life.
The app addresses this by providing Daily Recipes, which eliminate the need to create extra study time, and Clean-up Review opportunities that offer integrated, robust practice moments throughout the cooking process.
WHEN I commit to a language app, I WANT a variety of fresh, timely content, so I CAN stay motivated and intrigued long-term.
This need is met by offering a wide range of recipes and a dedicated Content Page that guarantees diverse, fresh content directly applicable to everyday culinary situations, ensuring long-term user motivation.
WHEN I complete a lesson, I WANT to see clear milestones and progress, so I CAN feel validated and confident in my learning journey.
The app achieves this by tying progress to the "nativeness" of the experience. As users gain confidence, the recipes automatically introduce more of the target language, culminating in the ability to follow an entire recipe in their native tongue and validate their cultural connection.
WHEN I'm going through my day, I WANT to use the language automatically, so I CAN make learning a true necessity in my daily life
The app addresses this by providing Daily Recipes, which eliminate the need to create extra study time, and Clean-up Review opportunities that offer integrated, robust practice moments throughout the cooking process.
WHEN I commit to a language app, I WANT a variety of fresh, timely content, so I CAN stay motivated and intrigued long-term.
This need is met by offering a wide range of recipes and a dedicated Content Page that guarantees diverse, fresh content directly applicable to everyday culinary situations, ensuring long-term user motivation.
WHEN I complete a lesson, I WANT to see clear milestones and progress, so I CAN feel validated and confident in my learning journey.
The app achieves this by tying progress to the "nativeness" of the experience. As users gain confidence, the recipes automatically introduce more of the target language, culminating in the ability to follow an entire recipe in their native tongue and validate their cultural connection.
Expert Insight
Turning to an ed-tech specialist to get an expert opinion
Finally, I wanted to get more specific and constructive feedback on the learning value and content of the app. I reached out to a Learning Science and Technology student at UPenn’s Graduate School of Education to ask whether the structure of lessons and review was scientifically beneficial to users.
Finally, I wanted to get more specific and constructive feedback on the learning value and content of the app. I reached out to a Learning Science and Technology student at UPenn’s Graduate School of Education to ask whether the structure of lessons and review was scientifically beneficial to users.
Areas of success:
“Clean-up” review was helpful to reinforce information
Immersion into day-to-day life
Color-coded word map
Areas of improvement:
Areas of Success
Identifying clearer, more specific learning objectives of each lesson
Clean-up” review was helpful to reinforce information
Immersion into day-to-day life
Color-coded word map
Implement a more structured mechanism for learning
Think about “scaffolding” for increasing difficulty
Areas of Improvement
Identifying clearer, more specific learning objectives of each lesson
Implement a more structured mechanism for learning
Think about “scaffolding” for increasing difficulty
Takeaways
Always guide yourself with the question: what are the users’ goals to evaluate success
Sometimes, users don’t know what’s best for them either. So, get expert feedback!
While the personal experience informed this problem space, in order to create a real design solution, I removed myself and my assumptions and started by building an objective understanding of the research. These were the objectives of the Research stage:
Understand users’ current difficulties in learning languages
Understand gaps and opportunities in current language-learning technology market