Design tools used: Figma & Adobe XD

I had the exciting opportunity to work with Mangoes, a UK-based start-up focused on making plant-based living easier. As the lead UI/UX designer, I collaborated closely with the CEO, developer, and QA team, guiding the project from concept to launch.

Understanding User Needs

Our goal was to create an all-in-one app for vegans, vegetarians, and those transitioning to a plant-based lifestyle. Through user research — surveys and interviews with over 100 participants — we confirmed that our target audience was keen on features like easy-to-follow recipes, location-based restaurant suggestions, and a community aspect for meeting like-minded individuals. We also discovered that many meat-eaters transitioning to a plant-based diet struggled to find suitable restaurants, which led us to focus on developing a highly-requested interactive map of vegan-friendly restaurants.

Design Process

The design process began with creating wireframes and user flows, making sure the app was easy to navigate for all users. We aimed for a clean, minimal interface with a youthful and vibrant look to appeal to our 18-35 audience. I chose yellow and green as accent colours — yellow to evoke optimism and positivity, and green to represent health and sustainability. These colours, combined with minimalist typography and consistent design elements, helped create a cohesive and inviting UI.

Key Features

The app’s restaurant map, which featured over 2000 restaurants globally, became a central feature. We also added community-driven content like recipe sharing and a space for users to connect with one another. To keep things engaging, I designed a fun, vibrant UI with subtle animations, making the experience enjoyable while keeping the app functional and easy to use.

Beta Testing & Feedback

Before launch, we ran beta tests with micro-influencers in the plant-based community. Their feedback was invaluable for refining the app’s usability. During usability tests, we identified key issues, like users with location services off being unable to access the restaurant map, which we addressed before launch.

Results

We launched Mangoes in January 2020, and the app saw 1000+ downloads within the first three months. More importantly, we noticed a steady increase in daily active users, a key indicator that our UX was resonating with the target audience. Positive feedback and 5-star reviews confirmed that users found the app intuitive, useful, and enjoyable, reinforcing that our design decisions had met their needs effectively.

This project was incredibly rewarding, allowing me to apply thoughtful design principles to create a user-centric app that not only looked great but solved real problems for people living a plant-based lifestyle.