Slab is an in-store user interface that helps shoppers at grocery stores make informed food choices. This project is my undergraduate capstone and it was a great learning experience for me as a budding researcher and a designer. Most importantly, it made me realize my own biases as a researcher, which not only led me to take a detour in the project, but also changed the way I make certain decisions in my personal life.
Before getting into the journey of how I got here, here’s a sneak peek of Slab:
The following sections walk you through my end-to-end process from research to design, concluding with the introduction to Slab and how it works.
To pick a topic of interest and define the problem space and user needs through generative research
→ 10 weeks
To design a solution to the problem and user need identified through design-thinking methodologies
→ 10 weeks
To test and refine the design through evaluative research
→ 10 weeks
In December 2018, I watched a documentary called “Cowspiracy”, which throws light into the unethical nature of factory farming and its ill-effects on the planet and our health. I was extremely moved by it and decided to turn vegan. I was motivated to inspire others to also make a shift in their diet towards plant-based food choices.
As a designer, my initial vision for this project was..
<aside> ☘️ I want to inspire social change towards a plant-based future
</aside>
But through the course of the project, the vision pivoted to..
<aside> ℹ️ I want to help people make informed food choices
</aside>