Mike’s Pizza
https://daiyidesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Mikes-Pizza-APP.mp4 About the Business Founded in 1964, Mike’s Pizza is an italian family owned company located in the northern suburbs of Chicago. Famous for its delicious pizza, Mike’s Pizza is a local favorite with heavy foot traffic. The restaurant offers delivery and pickup, with no dine-in option. Challenge App glitches, high demand, and inconsistent branding were negatively impacting customer satisfaction. The client needed a redesigned app that could reliably support increased traffic while delivering a more intuitive user experience. My Role As the Lead UX Designer, I conducted user research, created wireframes, developed low-fidelity prototypes, synthesized insights using affinity diagramming, and delivered a high-fidelity prototype. Project Date January 30, 2023 – November 19, 2023 Duration Eleven Months Project Overview App Summary I designed a new Mike’s Pizza app for busy professionals who need a fast, reliable way to order food. The Problem Flip ↻ The Mike’s pizza app needs to provide a fast, reliable, and easy user experience. The Goal Flip ↻ To create an reliable and fast user experience that allows users to easily schedule a pizza order. Scroll to Section Empathize Define Ideate Prototype Takeaway Empathizing with the User User Research: Summary User interviews were conducted. It was discovered that Mike’s pizza attracts working single professionals who work in medium to large companies and need pizza delivered for themselves and for everyone at the office 2-3 times a week. Mike’s pizza also attracts busy individuals on a tight schedule who multitask and wear multiple hats in their day-to-day lives. This individual prefers pickup. Before conducting the research, it was assumed that single individuals under the age of 30 would be the user group who would order pizza the most. After the research it became clear age was not the deciding factor but lack of time, whether people were in groups, and an individual’s energy level. People who are in a group (whether it’s a family or coworkers) are likely to order pizza for everyone. Individuals who are busy and do not have time to cook will also order pizza. Lastly, individuals who do a lot throughout their day become hungry around dinner time but do not have the energy to cook; they, too, will order pizza. Pain Points 01. Time Users are busy and do not have time to cook. Users need a FAST, EASY, and EFFECTIVE solution. 02. Accessibility Users do not enjoy an app that is not optimized and does not work well with assistive technology or alongside other apps. Users do not enjoy having a language barrier that makes it difficult to use the app. 03. UX Users have a difficult time ordering from food apps that do not have a friendly, logical, navigational experience. Food apps are inconvenient when users have to reorder the same order or go through a long series of steps that do not follow a logical order. 04. Communication User do not like how difficult it is to communicate with an actual person when problems arise. User also feel uncertain when ordering food without speaking to an individual. They dislike not knowing the progress of their order. Personas Based on user research findings, two personas — George (Group 1) and Natalia (Group 2) — were developed to represent the primary user segments identified through shared behaviors and needs during interviews. George Natalia George Age: 26Education: College-GraduateHometown: North Chicago, ILFamily: Single, Lives AloneOccupation: Mid-Level Researcher George is a mid-level researcher at a large biopharmaceutical company and often orders pizza for everyone to show his commitment to the team. His days are very busy especially because he wants to get a promotion soon. Due to this, George values efficient and effective food service. He does not want to worry about yet another responsibility. A smooth, easy, and reliable service is what George needs. “At work, I always have a lot to do. I love efficiency. The more efficient I can be, the more I can cross off my checklist.” Goals George likes to focus on work as much as possible without any distraction. He wants to receive a promotion soon and is taking on extra responsibilities. Frustrations “I often order food for myself and coworkers. I dislike the tediousness and find it time consuming. I reorder the same order three times a week and have to reselect all my options each time.” “It’s difficult to estimate when the pizza will arrive to the office. It often gives a range and it’s frustrating to not know when the driver is close. I wish communication could improve.” “It’s frustrating when the pizza does not arrive on time or arrives cold.” Natalia Age: 39Education: Online College ClassesHometown: Grayslake, ILFamily: 4 Children, 2 PetsOccupation: Stay at home mom As a busy mom of four and two pets, Natalia’s time is precious. Natalia orders food during dinner time when she does not have anymore energy from her very busy day or lunch time when she is deep in her studies. In both scenarios she is looking for a quick and easy option to obtain food. Natalia needs an application that is easy to use, works with supportive apps, and is effective. “Being a mom and a student is like having two full time jobs. I only use tools that are effective.“ Goals Go back to school now that her kids are all in school. To earn a degree by the time her kids go to college. To care for her family and ensure they feel supported. Frustrations “I have a visual impairment. It’s frustrating when my screen reader app cannot work with food apps because they are not optimized.” “Picking up food can be tricky. Sometimes I come earlier and have to wait or other times I come later and the food is cold.” “As a russian immigrant, it can be difficult to communicate, I enjoy apps that are efficient / effective and straight to the point.” User Stories Who, what, and why? George Natalia George As a working professional who frequently orders pizza for my
