Coffee Machine Redesign

Group Project

Role: UX Researcher(Group Project)

Tools and methods: Adobe illustrator, Cardboard, Excel, Procreate, User interviews

Timeline: 6 weeks

Problem statement

"People have complaints about coffee machines for years. What's the root problem of current coffee machine designs? How can we enhance their functionality for a better user experience?"

Research

The group project focused on the issues with the currently common coffee brewing machine. Six participants aged from 20 to 21 were tested through the experiment. Among the six participants, four of them are males and two are females. The experiment uses Retrospective Probing method. The data was recorded in the analysis chart below

Design improvements suggested from the data include:

Better indicator Indicates where to pour water
How much coffee do users need
How to stop the coffee from brewing so the user can take out
Two coffee pots with separate heaters
Buttons have clear indications

Indicator light for “ready to brew” and “finish brewing”
Safety issues(don't touch the hot plate)
Ways to transfer the water to the machine (pot)
Clear order- buttons
Clear on/off switch

The group mixed together a variety of designs to come up with a final concept that includes:

An easier place to pour the coffee
Clear buttons and indicator lights
Clear place to put coffee grounds and water
Separated cup area for single cup use
Fill line
Color indications

Prototype

The team used cardboard to build the low fidelity prototype to show the final design idea. With the indications of coffee intensity, coffee refill unit, removable water tank feature, as well as heating function to keep coffee warm, all the pain points were identified and resolved.