Texas Monthly BBQ Finder App
Texas Monthly BBQ Finder app is your one-stop shop for all of the best barbecue joint recommendations in the great state of Texas.
The challenge
Though Texas Monthly is widely known as the authority on Texas BBQ, the original BBQ Finder app did not effectively showcase the breadth of knowledge the magazine has on the subject, and did not reflect the brand’s modern look and feel.
In addition to user-reported bugs, the app also lacked the intuitive experience users have come to expect from mobile applications, and functioned more as a static directory than an interactive (and helpful) tool for finding the best ‘cue in the Lone Star State.
Goals
Redesign the existing BBQ Finder app using insights gained from user research; surface Texas Monthly’s unique BBQ content and showcase the new 2021 Top 50 BBQ list; provide a useful resource for the BBQ community in Texas.
User Flows
After interviewing project stakeholders, I created a basic user flow for three user types: logged-in TM BBQ Club members, logged in users without a club membership, and users who do not log in to or sign up for an account.
Wireframes
With the user flows finalized, I analyzed common design patterns in comparable applications and translated the finalized ideas into wireframes, using Figma to build an interactive prototype for validation testing.
Usability Testing
We selected five participants from our subscriber base who are highly engaged with BBQ content on TexasMonthly.com, actively seek out and visit Texas BBQ joints, and use apps for travel and restaurant reviews.
Product Errors: Did anything within the prototype not meet user expectations? Did users accomplish what they wanted, but encounter an experience that wasn’t predicted?
Ease-of-Use: How easy was it for the user to learn how to use the app? How many tries did it take the user to complete a task? What features were unclear to the user?
Tools: Zoom, Figma, Ethnio
Look & Feel
Beyond ease-of-use and functionality, another vital principle to increase engagement of an app is familiarity. Given the Texas Monthly brand is well-known through the state, I used aspects of the website's design system to create that sense of familiarity with the users while maintaining a unique interface.
Live Results
Since the app's re-launch, we increased our user base from 300 to 10,700, the average engagement time from 3 minutes to 12 minutes per session, and TM BBQ Finder has gained a 5-star rating on Google Play with 600+ reviews.
You can download the app on Google Play and the App Store.