Work

About

Contact

Work

About

Contact

FoDi / Overview

FoDi

A habit companion for healthy eating—built for consistency, not perfection.

FoDi / Overview

From “I KNOW” to “I DO”.

A habit companion for healthy eating—built for consistency, not perfection.

Role

Research-led Product/UX Designer

Scope

Research · IA · UI · Prototyping

Scope

Research · IA · UI · Prototyping

Team

Solo (personal project)

Team

Solo (personal project)

Platforms

iOS / Android

Timeline

12.2024–04.2025

Status

lo-fi Prototype

What is FoDi?

FoDi

A habit companion for healthy eating — not medical, not cooking-first.

Core tension:

The gap wasn’t knowledge. It was sustaining a daily action.

Meal Planner:

The gap wasn’t knowledge. It was sustaining a daily action.

Discover + Seasonal picks:

Grocery:

One product. Three independent studies:

Product bet / Next-step clarity / Motivation sustain.

One product. Three independent studies:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Real-world follow-up:

Aligned with two dietitians on complementary roles: web coaching and app maintenance. (validation pending)

Real-world follow-up:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Signals I used (not performance claims):

(n=5 + expert input) hesitation 40→20 | control 0/5→4/5 | feedback loop needed (5/5)

Signals I used (not performance claims):

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

North Star:

From “What to eat” to “How to keep doing it”.

North Star:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Small note

Meal planning is just the controllable starting point — the goal is lasting habit change.

→ Pick a lens below (Study 01 / 02 / 03)

Meal Planner → Mission preview

See Food Diary UI

I2 feature-Daily "Why" Ritual

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

Low-energy next step

3/5

Enjoyment blocked by tracking (unprompted)

2/5

Study 01: Product Strategy

view Test clip

Perceived meaning signal (n=5)

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

Product bet

Study 01: Why healthy eating habits, not supplements?

Starting point

To improve health, I assumed supplements were the easiest entry.

Meal Planner:

To improve health, I assumed supplements were the easiest entry.

Discover + Seasonal picks:

Grocery:

Signal (interviews n=5 + dietitian n=2)

They showed up as occasional support, not a daily habit.

Signal (interviews n=5 + dietitian n=2)

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Trade-off:

Short-term fix vs daily practice

Trade-off:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Reset bet:

I dropped the “quick helper” direction and re-positioned FoDi around repeatable, actionable steps.

→ How I reframed the bet (Study 01)

Next-Step Orientation

Study 02: How to make the start feel like “my start”?

Starting point:

Home is the core-flow foundation, so “what’s next” must stay obvious without relying on onboarding.

Meal Planner:

Home is the core-flow foundation, so “what’s next” must stay obvious without relying on onboarding.

Discover + Seasonal picks:

Grocery:

Observation:

4/5 Users paused at Home.

Observation:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Trade-off: Guidance vs Autonomy.

More guidance reduces hesitation, but kills ownership.

Trade-off: Guidance vs Autonomy.

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Proof cue: (Pretest + 2 iterations; n=5 directional)

Decision pause 40→20 | Perceived autonomy 0/5→4/5 (observed).

Proof cue: (Pretest + 2 iterations; n=5 directional)

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Reset bet:

I gave users more freedom and kept one anchor, even though it increased IA complexity.

→ How Home stayed clear without onboarding (Study 02)

I2 - Multiple Entry Points Map

Compare with baseline

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

I2 - Multiple Entry Points Map

Compare with baseline

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

I3 feature-Adjustable Vision Board (On Home)

Compare with I2 (Why-only)

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

I3 feature-Adjustable Vision Board (On Home)

Compare with I2 (Why-only)

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

Motivation Design

Study 03: Why wasn’t vision enough to sustain motivation?

What I saw (briefly)

Motivation shifts by stage, but spark isn’t sustain.

Meal Planner:

Motivation shifts by stage, but spark isn’t sustain.

Discover + Seasonal picks:

Grocery:

Proof cue (Iterations 1-3 + direction bet):

Feedback gap 5/5 | Self-authored works 4/5.

Proof cue (Iterations 1-3 + direction bet):

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Trade-off: Spark is cheap. Sustain needs a system.

Inspiration is lightweight. Reinforcement needs a system.

Meal Planner:

Inspiration is lightweight. Reinforcement needs a system.

Discover + Seasonal picks:

Grocery:

Reset bet:

I stopped iterating static “vision” and shifted the bet to post-action feedback.

→ Why inspiration didn’t sustain (Study 03)

Solo → Collaboration

Real-world collaboration (alignment — validation pending)

We explored how FoDi could complement a 6-week coaching program with dietitians.

Tension:

High-accountability coaching vs low-pressure maintenance.

Evidence:

Interviews suggest drop-off after the program ends; the transition is fragile when accountability fades.

Reframe:

People’s intent changes over time—“push” and “maintenance” can complement.

Aligned:

Web = 6-week coaching program; App = low-friction long-term companion.

Tension:

Proxy: pause ≥3s before primary CTA

Evidence:

Interviews suggest drop-off after the program ends; the transition is fragile when accountability fades.

Reframe:

People’s intent changes over time—“push” and “maintenance” can complement.

Aligned:

Web = 6-week coaching program; App = low-friction long-term companion.

Small note

Details generalized. Validation pending.

Meal Planner → Mission preview

See Food Diary UI

I2 feature-Daily "Why" Ritual

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

Meal Planner → Mission preview

See Food Diary UI

I2 feature-Daily "Why" Ritual

Back to I2 "Why" ritual

Takeaway

How the three layers connected.

Study 01: defined the bet worth repeating. Study 02: reduced “what next” hesitation at the start. Study 03: exposed what’s missing after action.

System trade-off:

Autonomy reduces friction, but requires stronger feedback loops.

Big takeaway:

Making the start feel free is only half the job. If users get more agency, the product must pay it back with feedback.

Deep Dive

Want the full reasoning?

Study 01 Product Strategy

From “I know” to “I do”: why this product bet.

#Product strategy

View Study

Study 01 Product Strategy

From “I know” to “I do”: why this product bet.

#Product strategy

View Study

Study 02 Next-Step Guidance

How to make the start feel like “my start”?

#Core flow #IA

View Study

Study 02 Next-Step Guidance

How to make the start feel like “my start”?

#Core flow #IA

View Study

Study 03 Motivation Design

Why vision wasn’t enough — and what feedback needs to do.

#Motivation design

View Study

Study 03 Motivation Design

Why vision wasn’t enough — and what feedback needs to do.

#Motivation design

View Study