UX Designer and Researcher
Reheatly
The Background
Reheating food at work is often more inconvenient than expected, highlighting a common but overlooked experience in shared office environments. Limited access to microwaves, long wait times, and poorly maintained spaces create friction during short lunch breaks. Alongside inconsistent food quality, this turns a simple daily task into a frustrating and unsatisfying experience. All this to say I wanted to find a solution, prompting an exploration into how this everyday interaction could be redesigned.
I conducted a combination of surveys, desk research and ethnographic research. Surveys provided initial insights into common frustrations and behaviours, while analysing the physical environment helped identify spatial and usability constraints. Through observing how users interacted with shared kitchen spaces in real contexts, I was able to uncover key friction points such as hygiene concerns and time pressures that shaped the overall user experience.
78% 64% 30%
Survey Response (38 Participants)
said they felt dissatisfied with the process of reheating their lunch at work.
Mintel.com (2024)
of the UK prefer one-pot recipes due to the ease and fewer dishes.
Survey Response (38 Participants)
said meal repitition was their main barrier to meal prepping a hot lunch for work.
I conducted a POV observational study using a scrappy prototype, asking users to interact with it as if it were the final product. By comparing this experience to their usual microwave routine helped me validate the concept and spot any points of friction or confusion in the experience.
The final outcome addresses key usability issues with the current microwaving experience, creating a more streamlined and intuitive interaction. It reflects a user-centred approach, where research and iteration directly informed a more effective design solution. The project finished off with a proof-of-concept prototype that proves engineered aspects of the product and then the visual design decisions like CMF and form.
Reheatly is an intelligent heating solution designed for busy professionals that want a better solution to reheat their lunch at the comfort of their own office desk. It also encourages the user to cook within it, saving on washing up and creating a more streamlined process for a hot lunch. Whether you meal prep, which can be done all within Reheatly, save leftovers, or just want to skip the lines, Reheatly gives you the control. The power to reheat your lunch in the comfort of your own desk, anywhere.
The Challenge
-Challenge Scope
By scoping the challenge across the context, user, and process, I was able to uncover deeper insights into both behavioural patterns and environmental constraints. This strengthened my ability to design solutions that are grounded in practicallity and the users needs.
Designing the Solution
-Journey Mapping
Conclusion
