Green Bean Online Order Site
Designing a fast, low-friction ordering experience for a student-run campus café.
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
2 weeks
Team
3 designers
Early Mapping & Concept Development
Context
Green Bean is a student-run coffee lounge on campus with high foot traffic during peak hours. Long lines and limited staffing often created bottlenecks, increasing wait times and reducing the quality of the in-person experience.
Our goal was to design an online ordering experience that allowed students to order drinks in advance, see wait times, and reduce congestion at the register — without disrupting Green Bean’s identity as a community-focused space.
Problem Statement
How might we enable students to order drinks quickly and confidently, while reducing operational strain on a small, student-run café?
- Peak-hour lines slow down service and frustrate customers
- Drink customization can be time-consuming at the register
- Staff are split between taking orders and making drinks
- Existing solutions risk feeling impersonal or overly complex
Research & Inspiration
As a group, we analyzed existing ordering flows from platforms like Starbucks, Dunkin’, and Blue Bottle to understand how large systems handle speed, customization, and visual clarity.
We paid particular attention to:
- How featured drinks are surfaced to reduce decision fatigue
- How customization options are revealed progressively
- Where users hesitate or abandon the flow
These references helped us identify patterns worth adapting — while keeping the scale and culture of a student café in mind.
Process
We began with collaborative mapping sessions to define goals, constraints, and desired user feelings. Rather than jumping straight into screens, we focused on aligning around what the interaction should *feel* like.
- Mapped the ideal ordering flow from entry to pickup
- Defined emotional goals: quick, simple, efficient, satisfying
- Sketched low-fidelity flows before moving into Figma
- Iterated on layouts to reduce steps and unnecessary choices
Key Design Decisions
1. Speed Over Novelty
We prioritized efficiency over visual experimentation. The interface is clean, predictable, and optimized for repeat use — reflecting the reality that many users would order the same drink regularly.
2. Featured & Suggested Drinks
Highlighting featured drinks helps first-time users make decisions quickly, while encouraging returning users to explore beyond their usual order.
3. Progressive Customization
Drink customization options (size, temperature, add-ins) are revealed only when relevant, reducing cognitive load and speeding up the main flow.
4. Wait-Time Transparency
Showing estimated wait times helps users decide when to order and sets clear expectations, reducing frustration at pickup.
User Testing & Iteration
We conducted informal usability testing with students to evaluate clarity, speed, and ease of use. Testing surfaced moments of hesitation around drink customization and navigation between categories.
Based on feedback, we simplified language, reduced the number of visible options at once, and clarified call-to-action buttons.
Outcome
The final prototype demonstrates a streamlined ordering experience that:
- Allows students to order ahead and skip long lines
- Reduces pressure on staff during peak hours
- Keeps the experience aligned with Green Bean’s campus identity
Reflection
This project emphasized the importance of aligning interaction design with real operational constraints. Working in a group also highlighted how early alignment on goals and user experience can make later design decisions more focused and defensible.