01
Emma
Busy Professional HostAge 34 · Marketing Manager
Scenario — Plan a Mexican-themed dinner for 8 friends.
"I love hosting, but I need tools that save time, not add stress."
(Case Study 01) — Final Project2025
Home Cooking App/Smart Hosting, Made Simple
AI CoChef.
Designing an AI-powered platform that helps users plan and cook for home gatherings with ease and confidence.
Role
UX Research & Design
Timeline
6 months · Dec 2024 — Jun 2025
Team
Reichman University × Vinst
Platform
iOS · Mobile App
(01)OVERVIEW
Planning a meal for guests shouldn't feel overwhelming.
Vinst is a Tel Aviv–based startup that helps people host gatherings of 5–30 guests. For my final project at Reichman University, I led the UX research and designed their existing app.
The original experience scattered planning across too many screens: filters, servings, budget, and dietary needs, making it hard for hosts to see the full picture, they felt uncertain and stressed instead of guided.
My goal was to create a warm, intuitive, AI-supported flow that gives hosts confidence from planning to plating.
(02)Branding
A visual identity that feels cozy, modern, and inclusive.
Inspired by earth tones and accessible typography — guiding users gently through the planning process.
Chestnut#5E3A2F
Sage#A9B894
Cream#F9F6F0
Pumpkin#D35400
(03)User Flows
Three hosts. Three very different journeys.
We built task-based flows around three personas — each one stress-tested a different corner of the app, from planning to voice-guided cooking.
02
Liam
Newbie EnthusiastAge 21 · University Student
Scenario — Host a dinner party for 12 on a student budget.
"I need budget-friendly meal options."
03
Racheli
Hosting GrandmotherAge 60 · Grandmother
Scenario — Adapt Shabbat dinner using the AI assistant.
"I want to cook a special meal for my granddaughter."
(04) Usability TestingRound 1 · In-person · Round 2 · Maze
From confusion and misclicks to 100% task completion.
100%
Task completion in Round 2
−50%
Average time to complete flows
2
Usability rounds (in-person + Maze)
User suggestions led to checklist mode, an AI typing indicator, and clearer CTAs across every flow.
(05)Relevant Heatmaps from Maze
Where users actually tapped.
Maze heatmaps across key flows revealed friction points and confirmed which CTAs were pulling their weight — informing the final round of refinements.
(06)Outcome
A warm, intuitive, scalable event-planning app.
We turned overwhelming meal prep into a guided, AI-supported experience. The Vinst team praised the clarity of our flows and the tone of the final design.
What I Learned
- →How to adapt for diverse age groups
- →The value of meaningful AI design
- →How small UI tweaks impact task success
- →Collaboration with real-world startups
- →The importance of usability testing
Requirements — Prioritized Features
| Category | Feature | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Event Planning | Budget tracking & management | High |
| Event Planning | Guest count scaling for recipes | High |
| Event Planning | Theme-based recipe suggestions | High |
| Recipe | Dietary restriction handling | High |
| Recipe | Step-by-step instructions | High |
| Time | Multi-dish cooking timeline | High |
| AI | Smart scaling recommendations | High |
| AI | Dietary modification suggestions | High |
(07)Team & Credits
A six-month collaboration between students, a startup, and faculty.
01Adam Gamliel
02Jonathan Georlette
03Anielle Moreno
04Poeme Yaaran
MentorDr. Ayelet Segal
Special thanks for guiding us through this entire process.