But first, Coffee
iOS Application
But first,
Coffee?
A commuter-focused iOS app that streamlines coffee ordering along daily travel routes.
Role:
UX/UI Designer
Duration:
10 weeks
Tools:
Figma, FigJam, Illustrator, Miro
Context:
Masters of Interaction Design
Background
Morning commuting and coffee are tightly connected, but congestion, long queues, and time pressure often turn this routine into a stressful or skipped experience.
This project explores how integrating discovery, ordering, and social coordination into commute routes can reduce friction and improve the start of the day.
THE PROBLEM
Commuters are skipping coffee
— not by choice
Increased stress and decision fatigue during morning commutes
Time wasted at long queues leading to skipped coffee runs
No tools to coordinate shared café trips with colleagues
Limited ability to discover quality cafés along a commute path
THE SOLUTION
A mobile app built for the commuter's rhythm
A mobile app that lets users discover cafés along their route, pre-order in advance, and even ask friends to pick up for them — all with built-in navigation and smart modes for different daily routines.
Target users
Users that were targeted for the app.
Target Audience
Daily
Commuters
Busy
Workloads
Coffee
Lovers
Core need
A fast reliable coffee experience that fits into the morning commute.
Key needs
01
Speed &
low effort
02
Predictability & trust
03
Routine
compatibility
04
Light social accountability
Primary Persona
Patcha Wongchai
Time-pressed commuter
Routine-driven
Behaviour
A fast reliable coffee experience that fits into the morning commute.
Pain points
A fast reliable coffee experience that fits into the morning commute.
Opportunity
A fast reliable coffee experience that fits into the morning commute.
Design strategy
Each feature was shaped around a specific commuter need
identified through research.
01
GOAL
Simplify the
coffee-ordering experience
FEATURE
Ordering made easy
Let's users quickly reorder favourites and place an order with fewer steps
02
GOAL
Help users save
time and reduce stress
FEATURE
Smart routines & Suggestions
Surfaces café options based on saved routes, timing, and regular commuting habits.
03
GOAL
Support both
routine and exploration
FEATURE
Integrated navigation
Connects café discovery with commute routes so users can choose options that fit their journey.
04
GOAL
Encourage, spontaneous, social cafe moments
FEATURE
In app messaging
Helps friends or colleagues coordinate shared coffee pickups without switching apps.
Research insights
Key findings that shaped the apps direction.
Morning coffee is
time sensitive
Users treat coffee as part of their commute, not a separate activity, so the experience needs to feel fast, predictable, and low effort.
Uncertainty breaks trust faster than delay
Users are more likely to skip a café when wait times feel unclear, even if the café is nearby or preferred.
Cognitive load is highest in the morning
During busy commutes, users prefer saved preferences, repeat orders, and route-based suggestions over manually comparing options.
Social pickups needs accountability
Shared coffee runs only feel useful when pickup timing, order status, and responsibility are clearly communicated.
Mobile Interface
Contributions
End to end UX design
Led the full design process from research and insights to final interactive prototype
User research & synthesis
Conducted interviews and analysed insights to define users needs and opportunities
Interaction design & prototyping
Designed key flows and created interactive prototypes to test and validate ideas
Usability testing
Tested with users, gathered feedback and iterated to improve features and experience
Conclusion
01.
Small structural changes reduce daily friction over time
02.
Designing for routine meant removing decisions, not adding features
03.
Commuters don’t want more options — they want certainty
04.
Speed is perceived through clarity, not animation