Personal Project

Designing a Hands-Free Kitchen Assistant

Chef, Designer

Overview

One day in 2016—early in my mobile design journey—I found myself in the kitchen, wishing I had a hands-free helper to walk me through a recipe. Physical cookbooks were clunky, and even digital versions lacked usability in the real, messy, multitasking environment of a modern kitchen.

So I sketched out an idea and built a prototype to explore how digital recipes could be more dynamic—integrating voice interaction, checklists, timers, and step-by-step guidance. While cooking apps have come a long way since then, I believe many of these early concepts still have untapped potential today.

Skills

SketchingPrototyping

Duration

1 Day in 2016
An experiment…from 2016

Concept & Interaction Design

Abandoning static formats opened the door to a more intuitive experience. I envisioned interactive checklists, automatic step progression, and embedded media like videos and diagrams—all designed to reduce friction and improve focus during cooking.

Identifying the Problem
Many online recipes simply mimic print formats, offering little in the way of real-time interaction. Some apps add videos or timers, but few offer a fully integrated, user-centered flow. My goal was to reimagine the entire experience from the ground up—starting with usability in the physical kitchen context.

Early Explorations
Initial sketches focused on simplifying the cooking process:

  • Ingredient and step checklists that auto-progress.
  • Card-style views that isolate each instruction for clarity.
  • Built-in timers tied to recipe steps.
  • Voice assistant integration for hands-free control and audio step guidance.
First Sketches
Below shows the first steps of the app process

UI Concepts & Flow
I designed two flexible viewing modes:

  1. List View – for quick scanning or flexible prep.
  2. Card View – one focused step at a time, ideal for following in order.

The app also included:

  • An overview screen for browsing and planning.
  • An interactive ingredient list with editable options for preferences and dietary needs.
  • The ability to save custom versions for future use and sharing.

Select Ingredients Flow

Next Steps
Future iterations would explore:

  • Full “one-touch next” interaction models
  • Step-by-step videos
  • Deeper wearable and voice assistant integration

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