Designing a swipe-based, mobile recipe discovery app that transforms everyday cooking into a more intentional and personalized experience.
Savor was inspired by a moment many college students know well, after a long day of classes, feeling exhausted, hungry, and overwhelmed by the endless search for a quick, healthy, and budget-friendly recipe.
I envisioned an easier way to discover meals tailored to users' needs while also celebrating the stories, memories, and cultures behind them. Savor combines personalized recipe discovery with meaningful storytelling to make cooking feel both effortless and personal.
I conducted user interviews with college students to uncover their cooking habits, frustrations, and the role food plays in their daily lives.
"I spend more time looking for a recipe than actually cooking."
Students described feeling overwhelmed by open-ended searches, too many results, too little guidance on where to start.
"I want something for two people, under 30 minutes, with what's in my fridge."
Existing apps don't adapt to dietary needs, skill level, or pantry constraints, so users resort to generic keyword searches instead.
"Cooking my grandmother's recipes makes me feel connected to home."
Participants wanted to discover recipes tied to culture and community, not just ingredients, but the stories and people behind the dish.
How might we make recipe discovery feel as effortless and personal as scrolling through a social feed?
A color palette centered around a rich red, a color often associated with hunger and appetite, complemented with warm yellows and oranges to create a friendly, inviting tone.
The design system emphasizes simplicity and clarity. Pops of color are used strategically to guide attention and highlight interactive elements, creating a balance between visual interest and usability.
Savor brings discovery, collection, community, and creation together in a single app built for the way people actually cook.
Browse recipes the way you scroll through a social feed. Swipe right to save, left to skip. The more you interact, the smarter Savor gets, surfacing meals that match your taste, skill level, and time constraints.
Organize saved recipes into themed collections, like weeknight dinners, meal prep Sunday, or grandma's favorites. Collections make it easy to find exactly what you need, exactly when you need it.
Build a feed of cooks you trust and admire. Follow home cooks, cultural food creators, and culinary storytellers, and see their latest recipes appear right in your discovery queue.
Share your own recipes with the world. Add stories, cultural context, and cooking tips, then watch your audience grow as others save, recreate, and follow your culinary journey.
